Dear Editor,

At the time I was a much younger woman with an extensive human services background, who was the person that mountain people would seek out for human services types of assistance. I seemed to have the knack, and primarily assisted solo older adults. People found their way to me by word of mouth, and I did not charge for my service as a private social worker. That was all prior to there being human services satellite offices up here.

Now I am a young elderly woman. I’ve called some human services resources lines in Boulder. What struck me is that while the person on the other end was trying to be helpful, they weren’t able to really understand my concerns. It reminded me of the “back in the day” 411 telephone operators’ “How can I direct your call?”

Up here, although we are spread out in different communities, we are one community from Ward to Magnolia and areas in between along the Peak-to-Peak. I want to give recognition and accolades to Colleen Sinclair for her work as the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging Mountain Resources Navigator.

Her job title is a misnomer, making her akin to the 411 telephone operators. Colleen lives up here and she fits in well. She often goes above and beyond the job description, and the quoting of rules and regulations to assist older adults in need with empathy, understanding, flexibility, compassion, follow-through, and integrity. And, equally important, she is trusted.

I hope the aforementioned doesn’t get her into hot water with her bosses. More aptly and necessary, I would describe her role as that of “AAA Mountain Caseworker.” She is valued in our community.

I’ve often heard the following said by (younger) workers about us older mountain folks needing assistance: “Well, what do they expect living up there in the mountains away from everything? If they want or need services they should move into the city.” So much for understanding, and compassion.

Many, if not most, of us moved up to the mountains in our 20s and 30s, created homes, developed a sense of place, and have lived up here over half our lives. We made a choice. Many of us are now alone. Some have limited resources; however, we are resilient, doing whatever we can, sometimes with help from others, to not become disenfranchised from that which we’ve known the majority of our lives.

Most younger people can’t relate, and lack the understanding. Moving from, say, Boulder to Gunbarrel may be a disruption or inconvenience to the lifestyle and habits of some. However, it doesn’t change things much. For solo older mountain adults, especially those of limited resources, it means becoming disenfranchised from everyone and everything we’ve known and are familiar with.

It’s very difficult and challenging to start over, especially later in life. Not the same thing as moving to another town on the flatlands. I can hear some thinking that “Well, you’ll get over it’.” I remember an instructor saying to me, when I was deciding where I would do an internship prior to getting my degree, “Working with elderly people can be difficult because it reminds us of our own mortality.” I didn’t agree then and still don’t.

I have younger, and older friends, sometimes by more than a few years. Experiencing the changes and decline in friends and loved ones through accidents, illnesses, aging, and circumstances, what I’ve come to understand is that I see myself in them. It became motivating for me. The stress and difficulties that come along with aging in place when one has limited resources, especially for affordable housing, is what motivates my passion for affordable housing for solo older mountain folks.

Atashnaa Medicineshield Werner

Nederland