CSU Extension hosts Aging Mastery Program graduation

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Photos by Marie Mccolm Monica Wolfe speaks at the graduation for the Aging Mastery Program hosted by the CSU Extension office in Monte Vista. Janae Naranjo of Colorado State University Extension San Luis Valley Area office speaks during the graduation for her Aging Mastery Program on Thursday, May 25, at the Alamosa Senior Citizen Center.

MONTE VISTA — Janae Naranjo of Colorado State University Extension San Luis Valley Area office hosted a graduation for her Aging Mastery Program on Thursday, May 25, at the Alamosa Senior Citizen Center.

The Aging Mastery Program consisted of a series of 10 classes, with multiple topics on aging including:

  • Longevity as a gift: understanding the realities of aging.
  • Exercise and you: understanding how aging relates to fitness.
  • Healthy eating and hydration: understanding the importance of good nutrition and the warning signs of dehydration.
  • Social connection and healthy relationships: understanding the benefits of staying social, and the risk of isolation.
  • Financial fitness: understanding personal finances.
  • Advance planning: understanding the importance of having a plan to manage your health care.
  • Sleep: understanding the importance of sleeping well.
  • Medication management: understanding the importance of managing medication.
  • Falls prevention: recognizing that most falls can be prevented.
  • Community engagement: understanding the benefits of helping others.

Each class was targeted to helping people learn how to age gracefully. The topics included in the class targeted specific areas of aging and gave advice and relevant information on each topic. At the end of the program, students in the class graduate and talk about what their favorite part of the classes were, and what they learned.

Executive Director of South-Central Seniors and Housing and Director for the Area Aging Agency, Monica Wolfe was the guest speaker of the graduation and spoke about her position and gave some insight on aging to everyone.

“As the Area Agency on Aging, I am not sure if all of you know what the Area Agency is,” Wolfe said. “We are a government entity. There are 60 of these triple A agencies as we call ourselves, in the state of Colorado. Our agency is a little bit different than other agencies. We do serve the entire San Luis Valley. We are a standalone agency for aging though. What that means is that we provide our own direct services. We hire our own providers. We hire our own nutrition, regular employees, and drivers. We supervise them, instead of the council of government supervising them, we do it. There is only one other agency in Colorado like this, and that is in Pagosa Springs. It’s good and it’s bad because we have to rely on a lot of funding to make this happen. We do get state and federal dollars, but sometimes as the needs grow it’s hard for us to be able to meet those needs.”

Wolfe said that as an Area Aging Agency their role and mission is to advocate for older adults. The agency works to keep older adults in their homes, as long as possible. Wolfe explained that if some residents are already in a long-term facility and want to go home, the agency's goal is to assess the residents and make sure they can go home safely. The agency also offers nutrition, delivering meals to residents’ homes. There are currently 10 meal sites that residents can also eat at throughout the San Luis Valley.

“We do employee over 40 employees to help with our different services,” said Wolfe.

Wolfe also explained that the agency also offers respite services, to give caregivers of older adults at home a break. The agency also offers legal services for older adults. In the instance that someone has a small case that needs to be handled, and Colorado Legal Services picks this up, the agency would then cover the cost.

There is also help available to aid with different types of insurance needs for older adults through the agency, as well as help with transportation for older adults who need transportation to doctors’ visits.

Wolfe explained that if any older adults need any of the services that the agency offers, there must be an initial screening done to see if the adult would qualify. Wolfe said that despite the screening, the agency is non-income based and qualifies adults on a needs-only basis.

The residents who took the class and successfully passed it were Helen Taylor, Erma Defee, Jim Defee, Tamra Garner, Jean Maddex, Margaret Jones, Emily Sandoval, Naomi Salazar, Donna Theimer, Sheryl Farley, and Maria Ulloa.

Erma and Jim Defee received their diplomas at the ceremony and Jim said, “I would say that my wife has some very critical health issues, and you think you have it all together. You plan well, you have a good retirement. We have a good home. We came here and heard people talk about aging and how unexpected health conditions can occur, that information was very beneficial. We needed that information, like you wouldn’t believe.”

Taylor received her diploma and said, “This course gave me a lot of information about how to live longer. My aunt is still taking care of herself at age 94, and one of my biggest goals is to be the same way and live independently at that age.”

Naranjo congratulated the graduates and took pictures with them. The Aging Mastery Program will be available in different areas of the Valley. For more information, contact Naranjo at 719-852-7381.


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