(From 50 Plus Marketplace, July 2017)
Karin Stewart, Program Manager for Jefferson County Human Services Aging and Adult Servicesand Project Coordinator for Jefferson County Aging Well, has been appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper, to be a member of the Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging (SAPGA). Stewart brings over 24 years of experience and expertise on seniors’ issues to the group.
SAPGA examines the impact of the shifting aging demographic on the economy, workforce, businesses, market based products and services; state and local revenue budgets and fiscal policies; Medicaid and other safety-net programs and the collateral impact on other non-related state programs; family caregiving and public and private options for long-term care, services and support; federal entitlement reforms; and transportationservices and infrastructure. Its mission is to develop a vision for Colorado and its seniors through 2030, and identify a plan to move the identified goals forward. SAPGA’s members represent a diverse array of experts on issues vital to Colorado’s aging population and its emerging needs. They represent communities across the state.
In November of 2016, SAPGA submitted a plan to address issues listed above. The plan lays out how policymakers and other key stakeholders, including community leaders and local government, can ensure Colorado is a place where everyone — regardless of age — can live life on their own terms, stay engaged, and thrive throughout their lives.
“I am very excited to be participating in this state-wide effort to address the needs of Colorado’s aging population. We have the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on how our state addresses these needs in a progressive and proactive, strategic effort,” Stewart shared.