2008 Larimer County Senior Citizens' Property Tax Work-Off Program
Established in 1981, Larimer County's Senior Tax Work-Off Program is a way for senior citizens to work off a portion of their property taxes. The program was developed because many older adults on fixed incomes find it challenging to afford the higher property taxes that rising housing costs incur. Participants are placed in temporary jobs within Larimer County government departments. Placements are made according to the person's skills and interests. Participants can work off up to $400.00 of the Larimer County portion of their taxes, at a rate of $7.02 per hour.
Applicants must be at least 60 years of age or older. They must own property in Larimer County and live on that property. They must have a gross monthly income at or below $1,702 (for 1 person) and $2,282 (for 2 people). (Waiver of income guidelines will be considered on a case by case basis.) People who are receiving the Homestead Exemption can apply, but priority will be given to those not receiving the exemption.
Senior citizens can apply at one of the following upcoming application sessions:
| Fort Collins Larimer County Human Services, 1501 Blue Spruce Drive |
Loveland Chilson Senior Center, 700 East 4th Street |
| Tuesday, February 5, 9:00 a.m. - Noon. Thursday, February 7, 1:30-4:30 p.m. |
Monday, February 4, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 6, 9:00 a.m.- Noon |
| Applicants should bring their current property tax notice with them. (Property owners should have received this notice in late January.) | |
For more information contact Katy Mason with the Office on Aging by email or at 498-6812.
Larimer County Office on Aging Lead Agency in Newly Formed Caregiver Coalition
Partnership to receive $240,000 in Grants to Support Family Caregivers
Larimer County's Office on Aging is the lead agency in a partnership that includes Colorado State University's Center on Aging, Elderhaus Adult Day Programs, Inc., Spiritual Health Partnership, and Volunteers of America to receive grants averaging $240,000 over four years in a newly announced Colorado Trust initiative. Colorado Trust last week announced $6.5 Million will go to 20 senior serving organizations throughout the state in a Healthy Aging Initiative, to strengthen services for Colorado seniors.
Family caregivers are the underpinning of the nation's long-term care system. About 80% of long-term care in the United States is provided free by family and friends. Over two-thirds of current health care dollars go to treating chronic illness; for older persons the proportion rises to almost 95%.
An estimated 44 million Americans age 18 and older provide unpaid assistance and support to older people and adults with disabilities who live in the community. The value of this unpaid labor force is estimated to be at least $306 billion annually.
A substantial body of research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. Emotional, mental, and physical health problems arise from complex caregiving situations and the strains of caring for frail and disabled relatives.
This new project "Establishing a Continuum of Caregiver Support Services: Using a Community Coalition Approach" will take a multi-pronged approach and provide a continuum of support services to caregivers through the activities of the Larimer County Caregiver Coalition, as well as other community-based service providers. The Coalition's mission is to help family caregivers maintain their health and well-being by supporting them in their caregiving roles and responsibilities.
If you would like to know more about this new project and about services to support family caregivers in Larimer County, please contact the Family Caregiver support Proram Coordinator, Lynette McGowan by email or at 970-498-6820, Monday through Friday.
ARCH (Adult Resources for Care and Help)
Where do you go for information about long term care services?
The hope of the federal government is that you will turn to your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). The Larimer County Department of Human Services, more specifically, the Office on Aging is where Colorado's ADRC is located. The name of Colorado's ADRC is ARCH, which stands for Adult Resources for Care and Help.
ARCH is a pilot program funded by a 3 year grant from the Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. ARCH is unique to the Office on Aging in that the program serves people over age 60 and people over 18 with a disability. The overall goal of ARCH is to streamline access to long term care information and services. In this case, long term care does not refer to just nursing homes. Long term care refers to the spectrum of services that fall between living independently and needing the level of care provided at a nursing facility. The program is designed to help people understand all the available options and then choose what is best for them now and in the future.
There are two parts to the program:
- Information and referral for anyone
- Short term case management for those with more complicated questions or needs.
For more information or to access ARCH, contact Laura Sutherlin by email or at 970-498-6453, Monday through Friday. For information 7 days a week, please call 211.
The Four-Year Area Plan
Every four years the Administration on Aging (AoA) which oversees the Older Americans Act at the national level requires that each state and territory submit a plan for how they will use the Older Americans Act funds and how they will work on the initiatives set forth by the AoA. In turn each individual Area Agency on Aging in the state must also submit a plan to the State Unit on Aging so that they can incorporate these plans into the state plan. The Larimer County Office on Aging submitted their four year plan in December of 2006 and it has been approved by the State Unit on Aging.
The The Four-Year Area Plan is posted here so that interested parties can see what the Office on Aging sees as the challenges and opportunities for our county in the next four years and beyond. Like all plans, it is subject to change, particularly in the areas driven by funding. If you have questions regarding the plan please feel free to contact Margaret Long, Program Manager, at the Office on Aging or (970) 498-6801.