November 6, 2014 VOLU M E 1 0 | I SS UE 23
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Caregivers in the spotlight
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Jeffco Aging Well reaches out to those looking after family, friends By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com More than 34 million Americans are caretakers, providing unpaid care to a loved one or friend over the age of 18 who is ill or has a disability. About half of unpaid caregivers in the U.S. reported their health has continuously declined due to caregiving, and has affected their ability to provide care. These are just some of the statistics that are being shared across the nation through various senior centered organizations Network of Care/DRCOG and health denverregion.co.networkofcare. groups like org/aging AARP, the 303- 480-6700 or toll-free 866Alzheimer’s 959-3017 Association Seniors’ Resource Center and the Cenwww.srcaging.org/ ters for Dis303-238-8151 ease Control. Alzheimer’s Association For the www.alz.org/co/ month of 303- 813-1669 or 24-hour Nov e m b e r, Helpline 800-272-3900 Aging Well Jefferson County Mental Health in Jefferson www.jeffersonmentalhealth. County is org/index.cfm promoting 303-425-0300 National Jefferson County Human Caregiver Services Month — a jeffco.us/human-services/ campaign 303-227-4216 aimed at r a i s i n g awareness for unpaid caregivers that resources are available to them. “Elder care is becoming more and more of an issue,” said Susan Franklin, project manager for Aging Well in Jeffco, a collaborative strategic planning group that addresses the increasing need of seniors in the county. The campaign was conceived by one of Aging Well’s workgroups; care giving and support services, comprised of members from different areas of senior care from the Senior Resource Center to the Alzheimer’s Association to the Jefferson Center for Mental Health. “There is a whole community of support that is available,” said Amy Miller, director of family services at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Colorado Chapter. But while millions of American’s are reported caregivers, there are many who are still taking care of a loved one or friend either directly or indirectly and are unaware they are in fact a caregiver, too. “I think one of the biggest challenges we are facing is loved ones are not recognizing themselves as caregivers,” Miller said. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, care giving refers to attending to another individual’s health needs. This can be done in a variety of ways that may include assisting with daily activities or making arrangements for paid-in home, nursing home, or assisted living care. Even if the individual is only hiring and supervising others who provide care or only handle the finances of another person — by definition — they are a caregiver. Franklin discussed outreach efforts by care giving and support services through Aging Well Jeffco with the organization
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Faith Christian’s Nick Lamb (2) and Cameron Lucio (20) celebrate as they run off the field after recovering a fumble by Bayside High School. The team went on to win the game 40-14 on Saturday at Arvada. See sports on Page 19. Photo by Pam Wagner
Jeffco open space talks trails, apps Workgroup in the works for single use trails By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com Jeffco Park and Open Space trail specialists are busy constructing, maintaining and cleaning up trails around the county. On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the department held a trail talks forum to update the public on its updates at the American Mountaineering Center. Flood recovery efforts have been one of the primary focuses for Jeffco Open Space, and with the help of dedicated volunteers who have pitched in with trail repairs, majority of the work has been completed, reported David Davenport, outdoor recreation management coordinator for Jeffco Open Space. But it hasn’t been an easy year, and three trails remain closed off from the public after financial assistance from FEMA took longer than expected. “Anytime you take money from federal government, you are then subject to federal procedures and federal regulations,” Davenport said. “Anything that we were going to apply for FEMA funding with, we had to go through a fairly long and involved process that would result in what is called an environmental assessment.” Jeffco Open Space requested $375,000 from FEMA last year. In early October of this year, the nearly 50 page environmental assessment was approved, and trail specialists can now move ahead on repair work for Mustang Trail, Mesa Top and Wranglers.
Flood waters gushed down the sides at North Table Mountain Park during the September floods last year. The Mesa Top loop at the park is one of three trails remaining that are in need of repairs and are closed off to the public. Courtesy photo
WORKING GROUP To be considered for the Working Group for Single Use Trails interested citizens must submit a resume and letter of interest to Dave Davenport, Outdoor Recreation Management Coordinator, by end of business, Friday, November 14, 2014 to ddavenpo@ jeffco.us or 700 Jeffco Parkway, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80401. Selection criteria of Working Group members will include but is not limited to: residency or business interest in Jefferson County; involvement with JCOS as a volunteer, advocate, or have conducted permitted activities in the Parks; and individuals who identify themselves with more than one user group. The rest of Apex park is expected to open on Sunday, Nov. 26, pending weather conditions. The re-routing of Pick ‘n Sledge is being pushed until Spring 2015, but trail specialists said nothing is planned but getting trails open. The North Folk Trail opened on Oct. 11. The 9.3 mile trail
connects to Reynolds Park, Pike National Forest and Pine Valley Ranch Park creating a 36.2 mile pathway of smooth cement. “There’s a number of ways you could use the trail,” said Tom Hoby, director at Jeffco Parks and Open Space. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback.” Serious runners have taken to the trail and were able to complete it in under three hours, Davenport said. The department announced they are working on new interactive maps for the website that will also be mobile compatible. “You will be able to get a lot more information and be able to plan routes and trips much better,” Davenport said. “Instead of the world just ending at our park boundaries you’ll actually be able to see connecting properties with Denver mountain parks, with other conservation easements.” Open Space is starting discussions again on single use trails — i.e., only bicycles,
or only hikers — and will be taking applications for those wanting to be part of a workgroup on the subject. Staff compared and contrasted the 2011 Citizen Survey with a live survey taken at the trail talks forum, which showed conflict in opinions between users of Jeffco’s parks and trails, primarily between mountain bikers and hikers. According to Hoby there was a time when multi-use trails was a solution but after speaking with several residents and users of the county’s trails it is clear that experiences on the trail have degraded. When the audience of different trail users began arguing for their side, Hoby replied, “If we start to fragment and say well this user group does more than this user group for economic development — that will erode very quickly,” he said. “I really caution the whole mentality of us against them, we’re all in this together.”
Caregivers continues on Page 5