July 31, 2014 VOLU M E 1 4 8 | I S S UE 34 | 5 0 ¢
GoldenTranscript.net J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Forms of dementia likely to increase as county ages By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com Editors Note: This is part one of a four-part series, exploring the challenges of Alzheimer’s in the county. George’s name has been changed to protect his privacy. Future installments will be published in consecutive issues. Experts call it the “silver tsunami”— the 850,000 centenarians living in the country by 2050 will represent one the largest pools of people to reach “senior status” in the country’s history. In the nation, Colorado ranks third as the fastest growing senior population, according to the State Demographer’s Office. Jefferson County alone is planning for a 54-percent increase of older adults between the years 2011 and 2021, the Colorado Department of Human Services reported. But as officials prepare for the many impacts of an aging population, mental health is also on the forefront as experts warn of an associated rise in mental illness, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. In this four-part series which begins with a look at one man living with Alzheimer’s, this special report will explore the initiatives of the nation’s leading organization on Alzheimer’s as well as law enforcement agencies
Alzheimer’s continues on Page 5
George spends time writing letters to friends and even writes poetry when he is not participating during weekly activities with the Alzheimer’s Association. He logs his daily activities in a small calendar that he views often, which helps him to remember what he did earlier in the week and what he has planned in the days to come. Photo by Amy Woodward
IT DIDN’T RAIN ON THIS PARADE POSTAL ADDRESS
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Golden Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO.
Crowds lined up along Washington Avenue on a sunny Saturday to watch this year’s Buffalo Bill Days parade. Left: Several equestrian groups, including Jeffco’s own Westernaires, above, along with rodeo royalty from across the state participated in the parade.
POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
Above: Balloons, frisbees, frozen juice treats, and of course candy were among the goodies handed out to children along the parade rout this year. PLE ASE RECYCLE T HIS C OPY
PHOTOS BY GLENN WALLACE