Larimer County Honors Family Caregivers, Announces Support Programs
Larimer County proclaimed November 2025 as National Family Caregivers Month on November 4, highlighting services available to an estimated 1 million unpaid caregivers across Colorado who provide approximately $600 billion annually in uncompensated care nationwide.
The proclamation recognizes the 34,000 Larimer County residents serving as family caregivers, including those caring for aging parents, spouses with chronic illnesses, children with disabilities, and grandparents raising grandchildren.
"One in five caregivers report their own health has declined because of the stress of caregiving, and half of these caregivers face financial strain," said Mark Sleeter, a specialist with the county's Family Caregiver Support Program, during the commissioners meeting.
This year's national theme, "Plug into Care," emphasizes connecting caregivers to support tools, educational resources, and trusted networks.
Respite Vouchers Provide Critical Relief
The county's Family Caregiver Support Program offers respite vouchers allowing caregivers to hire in-home help or arrange household services such as meal preparation and cleaning. The reimbursement-style program serves caregivers supporting adults age 60 and older, or individuals of any age with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders.
A separate voucher program assists grandparents and relatives age 55 and older raising grandchildren, covering costs including after-school programs, daycare, and sports fees.
Mitch Myers, a Loveland resident caring for his mother, described how the respite voucher transformed his caregiving experience. "What it's done for me is it's made me a better caregiver because I've been able to watch a professional with my mom and then have someone to talk to who can give me advice, give me guidance," Myers told commissioners.
Myers said he hires a certified nursing assistant once weekly to bathe his mother, providing him a brief break while ensuring professional care. "She's the only person my mother remembers in the last few years," he said.
Free Classes Address Caregiver Stress
The program provides free caregiver education classes including "Powerful Tools for Caregivers" and stress management workshops. Danny Martin and Mark Sleeter, both program staff and caregivers themselves, conduct in-home consultations reviewing available long-term services and community supports.
Laurie Pascoe, who has cared for her husband Terry through 39 years of progressive neurological disease, credited the county's Office on Aging with providing critical support when she felt overwhelmed. "I laid my head down on my dining room table and started crying because I knew there was help," Pascoe said, recalling her first meeting with county staff.
The program also organizes caregiver social events allowing participants to connect with others facing similar challenges.
Contact Center Serves Hundreds Monthly
The county's Aging and Disability Resource Center receives approximately 500 emails and speaks with 430 individuals monthly, providing information about caregiver services and other aging resources, according to ADRC Program Supervisor Tiffany Ballou.
Staff can connect callers with interpreters to ensure all residents can access services in their native language. The center operates a phone line accepting both voice calls and text messages.
Caregivers can access services by visiting larimer.gov/seniors, calling the ADRC, or emailing [email protected]. The office publishes an "Answers on Aging Resource Guide" available in English and Spanish online.
National Crisis Demands Local Response
Approximately 63 million Americans provide unpaid family care, representing one in five adults nationwide, according to data presented at a U.S. Aging Innovations summit. The intensity of caregiving is increasing, with 40 percent of caregivers now performing high-intensity medical tasks previously handled only by healthcare professionals.
The demographic shift presents additional challenges. Twenty-three percent of Americans age 50 and older never had children, meaning fewer family members will be available to provide care as the population ages, Sleeter said.
Colorado faces particular strain as approximately 1,032,000 state residents provide largely unsupported care to aging relatives and loved ones. Two and a half million children nationwide are being raised by grandparents or other relatives who stepped in during family crises.
Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally, herself a caregiver for both her mother and mother-in-law, emphasized the isolation many caregivers experience. "It is very hard to take care of your parent when they are maybe not open to all the changes in their life and very frightened, especially when medication is maybe getting complicated," she said.
The proclamation urges Larimer County residents to recognize caregiver contributions, raise awareness of the emotional and financial toll, and support systems ensuring caregivers never shoulder responsibility alone.
Human Services Director Heather O'Hare praised the program's innovation despite budget constraints. "Our Colorado Works team continues to be highlighted as one of the models in Colorado," O'Hare said. "We continue to seek out opportunities like this and continue to build how we offer case management."
Residents seeking caregiver support can contact Larimer County Human Services at 970-498-7750.