For more information about the author, click to view their website: Hunger Free Colorado
Good nutrition is one of the most powerful tools for healthy aging, yet thousands of older adults across Colorado face barriers to accessing enough nutritious food. Fixed incomes, rising living costs, transportation challenges, and health limitations can quietly push seniors toward food insecurity—often without their families realizing it.
Hunger Free Colorado works statewide to ensure that older adults and their caregivers know where to turn for food assistance and nutrition resources. Through education, advocacy, and direct support navigation, the organization helps seniors maintain health, dignity, and independence.
Food insecurity among older adults is often overlooked. Many seniors do not identify as “hungry,” yet they may skip meals, reduce portion sizes, or choose less nutritious foods to stretch limited budgets.
Common contributors to senior food insecurity include:
Fixed retirement income
Rising housing and medical costs
Limited mobility or transportation
Social isolation
Lack of awareness about available programs
In urban areas like Denver and across Northern Colorado, these challenges affect seniors from all backgrounds.
As people age, proper nutrition becomes even more critical. Adequate meals support immune function, cognitive health, muscle strength, and chronic disease management.
Poor nutrition can increase risks such as:
Falls and frailty
Hospitalization
Slower recovery from illness
Worsening chronic conditions
Depression and social withdrawal
Ensuring consistent access to nutritious food allows seniors to remain healthier, more independent, and more engaged in their communities.
Hunger Free Colorado does not operate food pantries or meal sites directly. Instead, they focus on helping individuals and families navigate food assistance programs and advocate for stronger food systems statewide.
Key areas of support include:
Connecting seniors to SNAP (food assistance benefits)
Helping individuals understand eligibility and application steps
Educating communities about nutrition resources
Advocating for policies that reduce hunger
This navigation-focused approach ensures seniors receive the support they qualify for—without unnecessary confusion or barriers.
Many seniors qualify for food assistance but never apply due to misconceptions or lack of information. Some believe benefits are only for families with children, while others worry about stigma or complicated paperwork.
Hunger Free Colorado works to remove these barriers by:
Providing clear, respectful education
Offering one-on-one assistance navigating applications
Ensuring seniors understand how benefits can be used
Supporting caregivers who help manage food needs
This guidance empowers seniors to access support confidently and privately.
Food assistance is not about charity—it’s about access and dignity. Hunger Free Colorado approaches food security through a lens of respect, ensuring older adults feel supported rather than judged.
Becca Lee-Simpson, who works closely with statewide hunger initiatives, emphasizes this perspective:
“Food is a basic need, and no one should have to choose between groceries and medication. Our work focuses on making sure seniors know help is available and that asking for support is okay.”
This message resonates strongly with seniors who value independence but deserve support.
Caregivers often play a key role in managing nutrition for aging loved ones. Hunger Free Colorado supports caregivers by providing information, tools, and referrals that make meal planning and food access more manageable.
Caregivers benefit from:
Guidance on available food programs
Help understanding eligibility requirements
Reduced financial strain
Confidence that loved ones’ nutritional needs are met
These resources allow families to focus on care and connection rather than constant worry about food access.
Senior hunger affects entire communities. When older adults have access to proper nutrition, they are healthier, more independent, and less likely to require emergency care or hospitalization.
Addressing food insecurity supports:
Better public health outcomes
Reduced healthcare costs
Stronger, more resilient communities
Greater quality of life for older adults
Hunger Free Colorado’s advocacy ensures that senior nutrition remains a priority at both local and state levels.
Many do. Eligibility depends on income and household size, and assistance is often underutilized.
No. Seniors and individuals without children may qualify.
In most cases, food assistance does not negatively affect other benefits.
Yes. Caregivers are often encouraged to assist with applications.
Yes. Hunger Free Colorado supports individuals across the entire state.
Access to nutritious food should never be a barrier to aging with dignity. Hunger Free Colorado helps seniors and families across Denver and Northern Colorado navigate food resources with clarity, compassion, and respect.
To learn more about available nutrition resources or get help navigating food assistance programs, visit their Seniors Blue Book listing and connect with a trusted statewide advocate for senior food security.
When an older adult needs help at home and sees several clinicians, a coverage decision can affect everything from prescription refills to rides. If youre considering TRU PACE in Lafayette, start by asking how enrollment would change the care and coverage you already use. How Medicare and Medicaid Fit Into PACEPACE is the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. It coordinates healthcare and support for eligible adults who meet a state standard for nursing home-level care and can live safely in the community with PACE support at enrollment. Applicants must also be 55 or older and live in the programs service area. TRU PACE and Your Current CoveragePhone: 303-665-0115Medicare says people with Medicaid pay no monthly PACE premium. Medicare beneficiaries without Medicaid pay premiums for the long-term care portion and Medicare Part D drugs. Medicare also says participants owe no deductible, copayment, or coinsurance for drugs, services, or care approved by their PACE team. Ask TRU PACE for an estimate based on your individual coverage before enrolling. Doctors, Prescriptions, and Existing ServicesTRU PACE says it becomes the participants insurance provider at enrollment. Participants generally receive care through the programs provider network. Bring a list of your doctors, medications, and scheduled services. Ask which providers are in the network and how the team would coordinate any changes. Why This Matters in LafayetteIf you regularly see a clinician near home or have a specialist visit scheduled outside Lafayette, give the enrollment team the names and dates. Ask which appointments can continue and what to do about any refill due around the enrollment date. How to Get Started1. Gather Your Coverage InformationHave your Medicare and Medicaid information, if applicable, along with details of any current plan. List the appointments and prescriptions you rely on most.2. Ask for an Enrollment and Cost ReviewCall TRU PACE and ask for your expected monthly cost, when any coverage change would take effect, and who would help coordinate the transition. Related Seniors Blue Book CategoriesPACE Adult Day Services Care Management
After a death, families may have to make several decisions in a short time. Others prefer to talk through their wishes ahead of time. In either situation, it helps to separate the practical arrangements from the decisions about how to gather, remember, and say goodbye. What Funeral and Mortuary Services CoverA funeral home can help arrange transportation and care of the person who died, assist with paperwork, and coordinate burial or cremation. A family may also arrange a viewing, funeral, memorial, or private gathering. Ask which decisions need to be made immediately and which can wait. The Natural Funeral in LafayettePhone: 720-515-2344The Natural Funeral lists natural burial, flame cremation, water cremation, and terramation, also called natural organic reduction. Water cremation uses an alkaline water process, and terramation transforms remains into soil. If one of these options interests you, ask what the process involves, how long it typically takes, and what the family receives afterward. Planning a Gathering and Reviewing CostsThe Lafayette funeral home is at 102 W Chester Street in Old Town. Ask what can take place at the Lafayette location and which parts would involve another venue or a cemetery. Request a General Price List and a written breakdown of your choices so you can see which fees cover the funeral homes work and which come from outside providers. Why This Matters in LafayetteIf relatives are coming from out of town or some guests have limited mobility, ask about parking, step-free access, and how many people the gathering space can accommodate. If you plan to hold a service and burial at different locations, check how much time guests will need between them. How to Get Started1. Write Down the Persons WishesLook for written instructions and note any cultural or religious preferences. If youre planning ahead, tell a trusted person where you keep your instructions and whom to call.2. Ask for a Written PlanCall 720-515-2344 and ask what is needed on the first call. Once youve discussed options, request the expected timeline and itemized costs before approving arrangements. Related Seniors Blue Book CategoriesCounseling Hospice Advance Care Planning
When an older adult spends most weekdays alone, families may need more than a place for them to go. They may also be juggling transportation, appointments, and help at home. TRU PACE in Lafayette offers a day center as part of a program that coordinates those needs for eligible older adults. What Are Adult Day Services?Adult day services offer daytime support outside the home. Depending on the program, participants may spend time with peers, eat a meal, take part in activities, or receive help with daily needs. Some centers accept people directly. The Lafayette TRU PACE center serves people enrolled in its broader Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. TRU PACE in LafayettePhone: 303-665-0115TRU PACEs Lafayette center is at 2593 Park Lane. The program coordinates medical and social services and arranges transportation to the day center and medical visits as needed. Ask the enrollment team what a typical center day includes, how often a participant might attend, and how the team decides what support to arrange at home. Who May QualifyPACE applicants must be at least 55, live in the programs service area, meet the states standard for nursing home-level care, and be able to live safely in the community with PACE support at enrollment. Ask how enrollment would affect access to current doctors and prescription coverage before making a decision. Why This Matters in LafayetteWhen family members already drive someone to several appointments a week, a coordinated schedule can change who needs to be available and when. Ask how pickup would work at the persons Lafayette address and who to call if a ride or appointment changes. How to Get Started1. Ask for an Eligibility ReviewCall TRU PACE. Have the participants ZIP code, current coverage, and a short list of the help they need. 2. Ask to Visit the CenterFind out what the participant might do on a center day, how transportation works, and what changes to their current care arrangements enrollment would involve. Related Seniors Blue Book CategoriesCare Management Transportation Respite Care
Toll-free, bilingual hotline is a free "one-stop" resource that offers geographically based referrals to both public and private assistance programs throughout the state.Hunger Free Colorado, a statewide nonprofit organization launched in 2009, connects families and individuals to food resources and fuels change in systems, policies and social views, so no Coloradan goes hungry. By leveraging the power of collaboration, innovation and partnership, we eliminate barriers to the access of affordable, nutritious food, so all Coloradans can thrive and reach their full potential