The Parish Seniors Program was developed to enhance the health, social well being and quality of life for residents 55 years and older living in West Denver.
The Parish Seniors meet four times a week to share a meal together.
• Wednesday through Friday, Parish Seniors meet at 1212 Mariposa Street, in the Community Room where hot lunch is provided by Volunteers of America.
• On Saturday, Parish Seniors meet beginning at 9am with coffee, rolls, and conversation with friends. Lunch is served at noon followed by BINGO; winners receiving bags of groceries.
• Excursions are taken regularly, transportation and refreshments are offered free or at nominal cost. Parish Seniors offers every opportunity for participants to offer feedback, help or lead events for the program.
Other services include individual counseling to discuss social and health concerns, health monitoring, emergency food and commodities distribution.
For the past three decades, Parish Seniors has grown from a handful of friends meeting weekly for lunch to a program with an active client base of over seventy individuals.
In 2004, the Colorado Department of Human Services, Aging and Adult Services Division, conducted a telephone survey of older adults to identify issues that impact their quality of life, among these issues are three that we see most affecting the West Denver community: poverty, access to health care, and social isolation.
Over 100,000 Colorado adults 65 and older were poor or “near poor” in 1999. Statistics show 26.5% had income below 200% of the poverty level. Minorities suffer greater poverty levels, with 32% of older Hispanic adults reporting having financial problems. Financial problems have resulted in 5% of older adults reporting that they do not have enough food to eat. When 45% of older adults state that physical health is a problem, then a system must be established to provide the proper
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