CU Anschutz Center on Aging

Did you know the University of Colorado Anschutz has a Retired Faculty Association? 💡

The original RFA was established in 2007, but went dormant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in 2025, a committed group of faculty and campus leaders has worked to revive it as an official CU Anschutz organization.

The RFA welcomed back dozens of retired faculty to campus for the relaunch luncheon in late May. Read more about the event and the new RFA 👉

Retired Faculty Association Reconnects Faculty with CU Anschutz The CU Anschutz Retired Faculty Association (RFA) officially relaunched, bringing together retired faculty members who want to stay connected to the university.

What if your primary care visit could also help drive your own health goals? 🤝

The UCHealth Seniors Clinic at the University of Colorado Anschutz is transforming care for older adults, making it easier to get support in one place with their specialized integrated behavioral health team.

Built by program director Samantha Farro over the last decade, the behavioral health team helps older adults address a health goal in real-time during a primary care visit, be it improving sleep, changing medication habits and much more.

Read the article by Tayler Shaw here: ➡️

Streamlining Care for Older Adults: CU Anschutz Leaders Combine Primary Care and Behavioral Health Services Samantha Farro, PhD, directs the integrated behavioral health program at the UCHealth Seniors Clinic, which helps patients get care faster.

We visited earlier this week to bring the Research Roadshow to the Pueblo Senior Resource Fair 🧩

Over 200 older adults from the community joined us at the fair for the Research Roadshow to learn about research studies in aging, and to even sign up for currently-recruiting ones. Study teams present included cancer screenings, mobility and balance, osteoarthritis and Veteran health.

Featuring a guest appearance from Ryan the Robot! A big thanks to the University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Center for their partnership to make the Research Roadshow possible.

We hope to see you in Aurora, CO for our next Research Roadshow in June!

Read the Multidisciplinary Center on Aging's 2025 Annual Report today 📚

The past year has been packed with exciting work - we worked with experts in aging on preventing falls in older adults, brought research studies to Colorado communities, had conversations about aging at the Community Geriatrics Symposium, and much more.

Explore the latest advancements in aging research, community engagement, and educational initiatives. We invite you to explore our programs, and join our mission to improve the quality of life for older adults💡

Read the 2025 Annual Report ➡️ https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/center-on-aging/about-us/annual-report-2024

It was a pleasure to bring the first Research Roadshow of 2026 to the Centennial YCMA Center of Generations on February 20! 🧠

We had over 150 older adult and community members join us to participate in research studies and learn about current efforts in aging. A big thanks to the University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Center for their joint effort in making this event possible.

Research and studies showcased at the event included:

➡️ Learning about how your diet impacts your health with a skin test
➡️ Interact with SMILEi the Robot
➡️ Trying out a balance board activity to promote balance
➡️ Getting a test for sun damage on your face
➡️ Getting a hearing screening and learning about hearing aid studies

We hope to see you for the next Research Roadshow!

New research shows financial warning signs of dementia may appear years before diagnosis, often hidden in everyday money decisions💡

A new National Bureau of Economic Research study, co-authored by the University of Colorado Anschutz's Division of Geriatric Medicine professor Dr. Lauren Nicholas, reveals that impaired financial decision-making can begin six years before dementia is clinically recognized, leading to significant declines in financial and non‑financial wealth.

The findings underscore how early cognitive changes can quietly affect checking accounts, investment choices, and major life decisions years before families notice what’s happening.

👉 Read the full story:

Impaired Financial Decisionmaking Begins At Least 6 Years Before Dementia Diagnosis | PLANSPONSOR A new NBER paper recommended participants implement safeguards early.

Retirement age sees a sharp increase in chronic health conditions among older Americans, something that can significantly affect quality of life 🪴

Simple habits, medical checkups, and strong social connections can make all the difference in health. Read more about retirement and chronic health conditions, including advice from the University of Colorado Anschutz's own Dr. Maria Vejar.

➡️https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/retirement-often-comes-with-a-side-effect-chronic-illness

Retirement Often Comes With a Side Effect: Chronic Illness Older Americans are almost certain to have at least one chronic condition in retirement.

Dementia screening doesn’t give you all the answers - but it starts the conversation. 🧩

University of Colorado Anschutz geriatrician Dr. Hillary Lum explains why combining a range of tests with thoughtful patient-provider dialogue can pave the way to early diagnosis, better planning, and improved quality of life.

Read more ➡️ https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/dementia-screening-diagnosis

In Dementia Care, Screenings Often Offer Insight, Not Diagnosis Screenings, physical exams, and imaging all tell a different piece of a larger story in cognitive impairment, says CU Anschutz geriatrician Hillary Lum, MD, PhD.

At the University of Colorado Anschutz, geriatric nurse practitioner specialist Maria Vejar, DNP, GNP, and ophthalmologist Mina Pantcheva, MD, work together to ensure older adults with vision impairments get the care they need. An otherwise uncommon pairing of professions, Dr. Vejar and Dr. Pantcheva have collaborated over the years to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults. 👓

Read the full story from Tayler Shaw here ➡️ https://news.cuanschutz.edu/ophthalmology/older-adult-eye-health-collaboration

How a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and Eye Doctor Collaborate to Help Older Adults Ophthalmologist Mina Pantcheva, MD, and geriatric nurse practitioner Maria Vejar, DNP, GNP, frequently collaborate to improve care for older adults.

When 94-year-old JoAnn met her COAST-IT student partner Colton for the first time, CBS Colorado captured a heartwarming surprise that shows the power of intergenerational connection. 🔗

JoAnn, a resident at The Ridge Senior Living at The Ridge Pinehurst in Lakewood, is a part of the COAST-IT program from the Multidisciplinary Center on Aging, an initiative that connects CU Anschutz students with older adults in the community for mentorship and learning. She sat down with CBS News Colorado to share her experiences in the program.

What JoAnn didn’t know was that her student partner, Colton, a pharmacy student, had secretly traveled to The Ridge Pinehurst for their first in-person meeting—captured live on camera! The two shared stories from the program and family photos before heading to lunch together. This surprise visit reflects COAST-IT's mission: building meaningful, intergenerational connections that last the semester and beyond. 🤝

Read (and watch!) the story here ➡️ https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/university-colorado-anschutz-program-friendship-pharmacy-student-great-grandma/

University of Colorado Anschutz program sparks friendship between pharmacy student and 94-year-old great grandma A program at University of Colorado Anschutz is connecting its healthcare students with seniors to help prepare them for future interactions with older generations.