Older folks in denver (Fort Collins, Boulder: home, neighborhood, college)

[Mike from back east]

LC, the Union Printers Home is still going strong. I love old buildings and wish I could tour the place.

I do see some people around COLO SPGS with oxygen but not that many. I too have apnea and at 65 am breathing fine with a pulse-ox in the upper 90s, about as good as it gets. Never smoked. I got me Medicare card last week; is that an excuse for a party?

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by denverian

I do notice a lot more older people with oxygen tanks here than anywhere else I've lived. I think if you have breathing problems, you wouldn't want to live here in your older age.

The altitude is a problem for people with chronic lung disease, moreso than at lower altitudes. It depends on the individual.

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

LC, the Union Printers Home is still going strong. I love old buildings and wish I could tour the place.

I do see some people around COLO SPGS with oxygen but not that many. I too have apnea and at 65 am breathing fine with a pulse-ox in the upper 90s, about as good as it gets. Never smoked. I got me Medicare card last week; is that an excuse for a party?

Yes, let's party! I have a couple years to go on the Medicare thing, but I agree with everyone who says Denver is not just for the young.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by livecontent

I disagree strongly with that statement. You are noticing more people because you are at the age where you notice more old people. When you are young, we fade in the background.

Keep in mind, you will see more people who are aged using oxygen that young people, because they are suffering the continual deterioration of age with other maladies which require oxygen therapy. It is not always the case because they cannot get enough oxygen at this elevation on the front range.

Oxygen therapy and equipment is smaller and more efficient with advanced technology, so you will see more mobile people using oxygen than when I was younger. The equipment has changed dramatically, just in the last few years, and there is tendency for people to treat people with oxygen because is easier and simply available, when it would have been more questioned in the past.

The big issue with oxygen deprivation happens at higher altitudes than the City of Denver, about 8000 feet. It is more of a severe issue with people who come here and visit for a short term the mountain areas. People who live in those areas are already acclimated. When I worked for the Antarctic program, when going to the Pole is a very severe issue--I was told the same issue and problems with elevation. This is the information I got from my pulmonologist as I use respiratory supplies, specifically a CPAP for sleep apnea but I use no oxygen--I am in my 60s. I have talked to numerous specialist about the issue whether moving will improve my problem and they said it is not an issue with living in Denver.

In addition, Denver and this area with its dry mountain air has historically been a area that was a destination for people suffering from consumption (TB) which was though as the best treatment, at that time, for that malady. At that time, they knew about altitude problems with issues of breathing and it still was recommended. When I first came here, I visited the Printers Home in Colorado Springs on Printers Parkway which was set up to treat the lung problems coming from the printer's industry--I have no idea if that large facility is still there on Printers Parkway. It is also the reason for the establishment of National Jewish Hospital, a specialist facility for the treatment of lung problems. It is the origin of name of the JCR shopping center on Colfax, named after the adjoining facility which owned the land, Jewish Consumptive Relief.

There are many people living long lives in Denver and they do not use oxygen. I regularly visited many assisted living with most people at the these advanced ages, over 80, are not using oxygen. My father is alive at 91 in an assisted living facility, and he does not use use oxygen nor does most of the other residents, again most over 80 and some over 90 and even some over 100 with one lady at 106 who does not use oxygen. My mother in her 80s, before she died, did not use oxygen.

There are oxygen problems at the Front Range elevation for some people who have underlying medical problems such as from smoking and require oxygen therapy but they would require the same therapy at lower elevations. Each person is different and may have problems, even healthy, but that is rare. Also, after a brief period of acclimation most people, by far, do fine at the elevations in Denver and the front range. My parents moved here in their 60s and acclimated and they lived most of their lives at a much lower elevation in New York. They would regularly go to Central City/Black Hawk and meet their friends, have a lunch and get all the freebies--they had no problem.

There are many retirement homes and facilities in this area and the area is a big destination for those in retirement. Respectively, your statement is very wrong and gives a big misconception to those seeking to move here, even with most breathing problems, there is not that big issue as you have indicated.

Livecontent

Well, I noticed the higher oxygen use the first time I came to Denver in 1993, when I was lower 20s. My guess is that older people who smoke/smoked have a more difficult time breathing in Denver. If you're healthy and 80, you have no issues. But seriously, I've never seen so many people hauling around oxygen tanks anywhere else.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Katiana

The altitude is a problem for people with chronic lung disease, moreso than at lower altitudes. It depends on the individual.



Yes, let's party! I have a couple years to go on the Medicare thing, but I agree with everyone who says Denver is not just for the young.

My parents just got their Medicare cards... you people are old

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by denverian

My parents just got their Medicare cards... you people are old

My next door neighbor likes to say "Getting old isn't for sissies" to which I like to reply, "It beats the alternative".

[slw268]

My health concerns are arthritis and some nerve and muscular stuff. Respiratory wise I'm fine. But I do remember decades ago when I was in Denver getting quite a buzz from a Camel non-filtered!

[denverian]

Originally Posted by slw268

My health concerns are arthritis and some nerve and muscular stuff. Respiratory wise I'm fine. But I do remember decades ago when I was in Denver getting quite a buzz from a Camel non-filtered!

Well come on back. We have something you can smoke legally now that will be stronger than a Camel

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Katiana

My next door neighbor likes to say "Getting old isn't for sissies" to which I like to reply, "It beats the alternative".

lol! If I'm gonna die young, the Grim Reaper better hurry up!

[slw268]

Originally Posted by denverian

Well come on back. We have something you can smoke legally now that will be stronger than a Camel

That might not go over so well with my tentative employer, seein' as I am an addictions counselor

[slw268]

Me thinks I was referring to somewhat of a different slant to the age issue. Being from back east one sees more of a less open attitude and we older folks tend to become just that - older. Personally, I have a lot more to do, ambitions to fulfill and dreams to realize. I definitely don't fit here.

It's funny, I met a lady the other day who is from Denver and we got to talking. She had the same thoughts about here as I did. So, one more inspiring epiphany to move there.

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