As America marks its 250th birthday and Colorado celebrates 150 years of statehood in 2026, this special episode of Colorado Matters turns its focus to a population growing older alongside both. Today, we hear from everyday Coloradans who are part of the state’s fastest-growing group, people ages 65 and older. Their personal reflections are featured in a sub-series of our ongoing Aging Matters series, called "Portraits in Aging." Host Chandra Thomas Whitfield takes a closer look at what life is like for older adults across Colorado, exploring how they are living, aging and thriving at this stage of life in their own words.
Among those featured are: Grace Gillette, of Denver, a longstanding leader of the Denver Pow Pow event who sits on the commission leading the celebration for the state's big milestone, Ed and Linda Archer, former Peace Corps volunteers and U.S. diplomats age 86 and 83 respectively, who retired in Fort Collins to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren, Vince Rogowski, 83, of Gunnison, who retired just this month after a wide-ranging career that included both work and volunteer service, Cathy Sena, of Aurora who puts family and community first while navigating her own health and financial challenges, and Deborah Taylor, 73, also of Aurora who manages caregiving for her aunt along with a busy social calendar on the local line dancing circuit! We also hear from Kristine Burrows, Colorado’s Senior Specialist on Aging, talking about the state’s first-ever 10-year Multi-Sector Plan on Aging, which she says aims to make Colorado an “age-friendly state.”
