The Colorado Gerontological Society was established in 1980 to provide advocacy, information and assistance to Colorado older adults as well as education and networking for aging professionals. Older adults and their families are encouraged to call or visit CGS for assistance regarding housing options; nursing home placements; questions regarding health insurance; food supplies, or location of a geriatric physician. A counselor will consult with the individual to understand the problem, work to identify and prioritize solutions, and help to arrange services. Services may be provided by our staff, other agencies or volunteers. In addition to counseling and referral, older adults are assisted with filing forms for government benefits such as tax rebates, Medicaid applications, food stamps, Social Security, Medicare and supplemental insurance benefits. CGS also administers grant assistance programs for dental, eyeglasses and hearing aids for Denver metro area older adults 60+. Among other services, CGS produces several publications for the aging community. Seniors may be interested in signing up for our STA-Well News, a quarterly newsletter on issues facing Colorado seniors. We also publish the Senior Resource Guidebook, a listing of home care and housing options in Colorado with information on payment options and advance directives. Professionals in aging may be interested in out Benefits for Seniors Sourcebook, a manual of public benefit programs available to Colorado older adults with information on eligibility and applications. CGS is a professional membership organization of aging professionals including Area Agencies on Aging, social workers, health care organizations, retired persons, geriatric physicians and others. The agency works to promote information dissemination among our members by hosting educational trainings, leading advocacy efforts and providing opportunities for coordination and networking. As part of our mission to serve Colorado's aging community and professionals, CGS bestows several awards including the Al Berger Distinguished Service in Aging Award, the Distinguished Pioneer in Aging Award, and the Corporate Award. The Society is also dedicated to promoting the future of the field of aging and annually awards the Henry Welch Scholarship to two gerontology students at Colorado universities and colleges. For more information, to get involved with The Society or for help for you or your loved ones, please contact us. One of the easiest ways to reach us is by calling 303-333-3482. We look forward to working with you for the betterment of the Colorado older adult community.
