Mayor John Hickenlooper announced Wednesday the creation of a task force to identify strategies to help Denver prepare for the anticipated “age wave” of rapidly aging baby boomers, while continuing to ensure a high level of service and engage for the City’s current aging population.
The Age Matters Task Force includes City Council Members Carol Boigon and Doug Linkhart. The idea for the panel emerged from recommendations of the 2006 Mayor’s Summit on Aging and the 2007 Denver Aging Steering Committee.
“Over the next thirty years, the Denver population of people age 65 and older is projected to more than double, and will comprise nearly 17 percent of our total population,” Hickenlooper said. “This cross-disciplinary City team is our first step toward engaging every sector of our community to prepare for the challenges and opportunities of this demographic shift. Our goal is very clear: We want to make Denver the best place to live for people of all ages and abilities.”
“The ‘silver tsunami’ is coming. Aging adults have a lot to offer and a lot of needs. Focusing on these needs and assets will ultimately make the city a better place for everyone,” Linkhart said.
“Aging affects everyone,” noted Lucía Guzmán, executive director of the City’s Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations, “However, not all of us are able to experience a quality of life that brings respect, dignity, stability and successful living as we age. How can aging become a positive aspect of who I am and what I do? The Task Force will seriously consider this question.”
The Age Matters Initiative Task Force includes the following individuals:
- Anthony Aragon Denver Office on Aging.
- Carol Boigon Councilwoman At-Large
- Jan Brennan Denver Office of Cultural Affairs
- Valerie Brooks Denver Department of Human Services
- Amber Callender Denver Mayor’s Office
- Brian Elms Denver International Airport
- Jeff Dolan Career Service Authority
- Laureen Ferris Denver Office of Disability Rights
- Susan M. Gallo, Ph.D. Office for Education and Children
- Paula Gomez Farrel, Ph.D. OED’s Division of Workforce Development
- Lucía Guzmán Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations
- William C. Kralovec Office of Economic Development
- Connie Larscheidt Denver Department of Parks and Recreation
- Doug Linkhart Councilman At-Large
- Mike Major 311
- Dolores Martinez Hernandez Denver Office on Aging
- Sandra Ramirez Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations
- Molly Urbina Denver Department of Community Planning and Development
- Robin Valdez Denver Department of Environmental Health
- Guillermo “Bill” Vidal Denver Department of Public Works