Retirement
Colorado Springs can have a snowy, cold winter, which means that a good number of retirees go south for the season. Still, there are plenty of year-round senior residents, and a number of services and resources are here to support them. Both Silver Key and the Area Agency on Aging have many programs designed to help seniors stay living independently, in their own homes. There are meals, transportation, and activities that help retirees stay healthy, social, and active. And the housing choices are so deep and varied, we can only give a small glimpse of the options available. Health and hospice care are also here to tend to the ailing and lend dignity and compassion when needed most. So although it might be cold outside, the Pikes Peak region has a warm place in its heart for our seniors.
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
2. Pillar
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (719) 633-4991
Address: 202 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., Suite 10
Description: Pillar is for those who want a vibrant, interesting life at any age. Pillar brings opportunities for new interests, new friends, and new excursions through classes, tours, trips, and strolls. Past classes have run from the screening and then discussion of a foreign vampire movie to downsizing a home to the impact of German Americans and Irish Americans on Baltimore and Boston to watercolors for the holidays. Classes and excursions are open to any age. The nonprofit organization keeps fees to a minimum so that many can afford the mind and body adventures.
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Address: 2250 Bott Ave.
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
5. Fountain Valley Senior Center
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (719) 520-6470
Address: 5745 Southmoor Dr.
Description: Located on the south end of Colorado Springs, this center offers trips and tours, health education and screening, support groups, and legal assistance. They also offer fitness classes as well as arts and crafts from crocheting to porcelain doll making to wood carving. There are also indoor recreation opportunities, such as going to movies or bowling.
6. Acacia Park Apartments
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (719) 387-6700
Address: 104 E. Platte Ave.
Description: These are subsidized apartments, with the rent based on 30 percent of a resident’s income. Located downtown across the street from Acacia Park, this handsome brick building—a former hotel—offers 61 units in either an efficiency or one-bedroom configuration. There are elevators and laundry facilities on-site, and the Golden Circle noon meal is served here every day except Sat.
7. Housing Authority Of Colorado Springs
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (719) 387-6700
Address: 831 S. Nevada Ave.
Description: This affordable housing organization is a resource for apartments for low- to moderate-income seniors. Located in the same facility are the housing authorities for both El Paso County and Manitou Springs. Tenants must meet income guidelines. This organization also oversees the Golden Circle nutrition program.
8. Namasté Alzheimer Center
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (719) 776-6300
Address: 2 Penrose Blvd.
Description: Operated by Centura Health, Namasté is a 64-bed Alzheimer’s facility configured into four pods, depending on a patient’s level of functioning. There is also an adult day program specializing in Alzheimer’s clients. The lovely campus is tucked behind The Broadmoor and features big pine trees and a small lake that family members can walk around with the patients. In the highest functioning pod, a large cage of songbirds is in the sitting room, and staff and volunteer groups come in often with craft projects and for companionship. It can be hard to reserve a space as Namasté is quite often at capacity.
9. Regency Tower Apartments
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (719) 633-2121
Address: 921 Green Star Dr.
Description: These are non-subsidized apartments for adults 55 years and older. The 124 apartments feature either one or two bedrooms and elevators to each floor. Located near The Broadmoor, the building features a common lounge with TV and piano, and a coffee and game room with fully equipped kitchen. Outside is a heated pool and patio with barbecue. Each floor contains a laundry room and extra storage facility. Group social programs are offered.
10. Village At Skyline
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (719) 667-5360
Address: 2365 Patriot Heights
Description: Run by the national firm Brookdale, which has three other facilities in Colorado Springs, Village at Skyline is a multilevel community. The housing choices run the full gamut of continuing care: independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and skilled nursing care. Accommodations run from garden homes to apartments to rooms. Set just west of downtown near Bear Creek Park, the large campus is well maintained and convenient to family in south, central, or north Colorado Springs. Services and amenities include meals in a restaurant-style dining room, arts and crafts studio, a golf putting green, a computer center, beauty/barber shop, and fitness center with pool.
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Address: 104 E. Platte Ave.
12. Marion House Soup Kitchen
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (719) 475-7314
Address: 14 W. Bijou St.
Description: Run by Catholic Charities since 1985, Marion House provides hot, nutritious meals to anyone who needs them. Open 365 days a year, guests include struggling families, seniors on a fixed income, the working poor, veterans, people with disabilities, unsupported teens, and, at only about 30 percent of the guests, the homeless. Most days, more than 600 people are served, although that number rises toward the middle and end of the month. Marion House is operated by a small staff and an army of volunteers.
13. Meals On Wheels
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (719) 884-2330
14. Senior Corps
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (800) 424-8867 (National Servi
Description: Senior Corps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, an independent federal agency. The program recognizes that people 55 and over have both the time and experience valuable to a community, and connects willing seniors with myriad needs. Senior Corps has programs for foster grandparents and senior companions. Also available is the RSVP program, which connects seniors with a variety of service opportunities that match their particular skills and availability, from building homes to immunizing children.
15. Silver Key Senior Services
City: Colorado Springs, CO
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (719) 884-2300
Address: 2250 Bott Ave.
Description: Silver Key runs on volunteers. Not only do volunteers assist in the services for seniors, Silver Key actively uses seniors as volunteers. There are plenty of jobs for able-bodied seniors, and even those with mobility and/or other issues. In fact, Silver Key is more willing to work with seniors as volunteers than many other nonprofits in the community. Jobs run from meal delivery to fund-raising to giving companionship, among others. From all aspects of services delivery, Silver Key is very social and prides itself on overall family atmosphere.