Fort Collins, CO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021

Project Category: Addressing community health

Description: Many older adult residents in Fort Collins' two manufactured housing communities lack access to basic resources, such as fresh food, medical care and community connections. These challenges are especially difficult in the winter months when health complications tend to be exacerbated. The City of Fort Collins, in collaboration with local partner organizations, hosted two MCH WELL events for residents of the parks. These events connected older adults with community supports and organizations, social services, weatherization equipment and handyman assistance for their homes, as well as fresh produce and health services, such as COVID-19 vaccines and blood pressure checks. This helped residents lower their utility bills, avoid fines and fees from code violations and improve their physical and mental health.

Fort Collins, CO

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Public or private transit access

Description: To help older residents navigate the region without needing to drive themselves, the PAFC held a full-day transit training on how to use the regional, fixed-route bus service connecting the Larimer County communities of Fort Collins and Loveland to downtown Denver. Project organizers recruited older adults to fill a bus for a daytrip to Denver. Participants learned how to read bus route maps and schedules, pay fares and make transfers. Videographers were on hand to film the experience, providing clips for educational videos. After the experience, all participants reported being more at ease using public transit. Organizers also used feedback from participants to advocate for additional transit service and stops Since the bus trip, PAFC has continued to partner on travel trainings, including adding offerings in Spanish.