Are you over age 60?
July 2025
The Nutrition one-on-one counseling program for anyone in Boulder County, 60 years of age and older through BCAAA (Boulder County Area Agency on Aging) was defunded July 1, 2025 due to Federal funding cutbacks after 12 years of building this program. Boulder Nutrition & Exercise Services is on a mission to find funding to honor this essential service. We are looking to partner with like-minded organizations and find funding to keep this essential service available to our community to prevent and manage chronic disease, improve quality of life and support this important sector of our community to live and thrive their best life as they define it!
If you have enjoyed our services or simply want to support the nutrition counseling program 60+, there are a few things that can help!
- Contribute to the program. Nutrition Counseling for 60 and over or mail a check to 1067 S Hover St Suite E-2022 Longmont CO 80501.
In the check memo denote “nutrition counseling program contribution, 60+
2. Send a testimonial to: info@bouldernutritionexerciseservices.com We will post them on our website and compile for other grant and funding opportunities.
The demand for this program exceeds the contracted grant budget every year. We rely on program fundraising and private contribution to complete every fiscal year to meet the needs of the community.…the Boulder Area Plan years 2024-2027 for Older Americans Act and State Funding for Senior Services deemed our nutrition counseling program as “high priority” by their technical review committee (TRC). bcaaa-area-plan-sfy-24-27.pdf Our dietitians act as liaisons for our aging population with the medical community, their families, caregivers, and physicians. We advocate, support, educate, meal plan, connect with affordable healthy food acquisition to prevent and improve chronic disease.
We have met with thousands of community members 60+, their families, caregivers and physicians over the past 12 years and continue relationships/support every year. This news was devastating with so many on our schedule far past July 1st 2025.
The program offers 2, on-on-one nutrition counseling sessions per calendar year at no cost to anyone 60 and over and a Boulder County resident. We now suggest a voluntary copay of $35 per session but there is NO obligation.
The health and wellbeing of our community members 60 and over is far too impactful to terminate the Boulder County
Nutrition Counseling Program. The relationships with our clients over the years have made just as powerful of an impact on OUR lives.
Testimonials
Laura Erben
I have been a primary care provider in Boulder County for 20 years. I can speak for my
partners at the Boulder Medical Center that program has been invaluable to our group in
providing quality care to our most vulnerable population. Our county cannot risk losing this
resource if we want to keep our population as a healthy vibrant community (and to keep our
patients out of the hospitals!)
Preventive care is the backbone of health and our Boulder patients NEED this support and
resource.
Laura Erben, MD
Boulder Medical Center
Brenda Kaylor
I’m very excited to learn you are meeting to look at potential funding sources for this
program. As a senior who has benefited from the support, I can attest to the effect it’s had
on me. I understand nutrition better, make better choices, look forward to the ongoing
support. I feel healthier overall! I’ve missed working with Lindsey over the last few months. I
wish you the best in returning the program to seniors.
Sheila Ling, MD BCH
As an internal medicine physician that provides primary care in Boulder, I feel strongly that the nutrition counseling provided to my patients 60 and over through the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging program, and specifically with Boulder Nutrition and Exercise, has been invaluable. My patients have a variety of conditions which are highly impacted by diet, including diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, low body weight, digestives diseases, and nutritional deficiencies. This program has been essential in providing personalized, evidence-based counseling that my patients could not otherwise have received.
Kristin Miller
I have worked with Lindsay Lawes Francis for nutritional counseling and have found this
program to be exceptionally helpful. With Lindsay’s help and support I have lost 45 pounds
in the last year. She provides excellent suggestions on food and exercise choices which
have greatly improved my quality of life. This program has been a tremendous help to me.
Hillary Browne, MD BCH
I am an internist in practice in boulder for more than 30 years and without the county
supported nutrition consults, I have very little to offer to my patients who are overweight or
have medical problems that respond to diet, such as hypertension, diabetes and heart
disease. I have been utilizing this service for several years now: there are no dietitians
covered by insurance in our town, maybe in our county. Thank for your consideration.
David Brower
I think God everyday for finding out about the BC nutrition counseling program via cultivate
and the seniors Blue book. After contracting sepsis in January, having to endure eight
surgeries and having my body weight drop 25 lbs I fell into a deep depression about the
state of my body. Cannot express how important it was for me to have Lindsay Lawes guide
me back with nutrition advice and non-stop encouragement to get me through this difficult
rehabilitation. I am now back to 162 lbs and gaining muscle with just two more surgeries to
go. Can’t imagine not having her guidance and support. Nutritional counseling is an
invaluable resource that should always be made available to Boulder seniors. Please
continue funding this program. Appreciate it! Thanks, David Brower
Carol Smith
I have received very helpful nutrition advice from Lindsay Frances. As I have been told not
to eat gluten the rest of my life, she has helped me with alternatives. I also have some food
allergies and she has provided me with recipes and ideas. She has helped me considerably.
Diane Diesh
I have used the services of Boulder Nutrition & Exercise’s dietician through the senior grant
program on several occasions. Lindsay has been helping me identify triggers in my diet that
cause distress. I truly appreciate her help, and I especially appreciate the availability of this
program to help seniors like me. I’m not sure I would have sought help otherwise.
Annie Russell
When I first started working with Lindsay Laws about 3 years ago I was prediabetic and
heading for diabetes. Since then I’ve worked with Lindsay regularly to change my diet. She’s
taught me how to read labels to pick out the best products, how to make healthier
substitutions in my diet and still keep the flavor. Up until then I had been a life long yo-yo
dieter. Now for the first time my weight is stable and my A1C is normal. Please don’t cut
this life saving program.
Lisa Gillespie
I’ve only recently discovered this nutrition program for Boulder seniors and felt a real benefit
from working with Lindsay.
She helped me figure out tweaks to my diet that reduced bloating, increased my energy
level, and build more muscle – pretty important for overall health and balance while aging.
I was pretty disappointed to hear that this program was being cut. I hope that you’ll
reconsider saving it as it has been a great help to myself and several friends.
Jacqueline McKenna
I have been receiving invaluable guidance and counseling from Lindsay Lawes Francis for
the past 3 months as part of the program “Nutrition Counseling for 60 and Over.”
I was diagnosed with late onset Type 1 Diabetes (no family history) 11 years ago and it has
been a struggle to make the necessary adjustments to my life and diet – taking into account
this 24/7 disease as well as the challenge of aging. Lindsay has so much insight into both
and very practical guidance on how to adjust my diet and exercise to manage both in a
more healthy and sane manner.
I am very grateful for this program that provides this counseling for free and though I have
benefitted from this I would be happy to pay a co-pay to help make sure the program
continues and to help assist those who cannot afford to pay but cannot afford to not have
the guidance and insight of these wonderful counselors.
Danielle Otto
This program helped my mom so much! I had been trying to help her eat better for a while but it was hard and as she got older she wanted to eat less. But through this program I got tons of help, including advice and recipes to make nutritional meals that were relatively easy. We were able to find a nice plan that mom liked and I could help with when she needed it. Mom could still get a treat now and then, but she really enjoyed the meals too. We didn’t need a ton of meetings to get started. But we improved on it each year with the next round of meetings. It does take time to change. I don’t think I could have done it without this program providing the guidance. Please consider continuing the program, a small investment can help so much!
Danielle Otto
Nancy Kiehl
I have type one diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis – Lindsay has been amazing at suggesting
ways to incorporate higher protein into my diet. She’s also made invaluable suggestions for
good snacks to maintain blood sugar while walking, hiking and other forms of exercise.
My husband has two diabetes and working with Lindsay has helped him lose and maintain
weight loss and find foods that he’s happy with. We are just of many who have benefited.
This program should continue to be funded, Nutritional education is a pathway to better
health that should be accessible to all!!! Most especially the underserved in Boulder
County.
Robin Salcido
I was struggling with unknown health issues that interfered with my energy level after
Covid. Boulder county’s nutrition program, and Lindsay in particular, made all the
difference in my physical and mental health. I learned to balance my carb/protein/fat ratio
and strategies for avoiding’bonking’ while hiking and doing what I love. After losing
confidence in my own strength and ability I rebounded back to my active self with Lindsay’s
help. With the focus on a healthy body and strength, I have the tools to move into older age
with excellent quality of life. Having this service was a game changer and I am grateful for
such a supportive service!
William Otto
Joanne Jacoby
I began working with Lindsay because I had a blood test that showed I was borderline
diabetic. After 3 months of working with her which included increasing my protein intake,
watching the ratio between carbs and protein and learning many tidbits about my diet, my
A1C was in the normal range. If it wasn’t for Lindsay’s knowledge and help I probably would
have become a diabetic and be on insulin. Whatever the cost of this program, in both the
short and long run it will save a tremendous amount of money and enable people to live a
long, healthy life.
Nicole Ewing
I am writing due to my concern that the nutrition counselling program is no longer being
offered in the county. Individualized nutrition counselling is essential for the health and
longevity of our aging community. This program is not typically covered by Medicare even
though it has endless health benefits for our community members. The team at Boulder
Nutrition & Exercise services has provided my family and myself life-saving nutrition for 6
plus years. They have played a vital role in not only my physical health but my mental
health as well. I will never be able to put in words how grateful I am for them. To take this
service away will truly be detrimental to the health of those who seek it. Please consider
investing in this nutrition and exercise service as an investment in the long-term health and
well-being of our community. Doing so will allow them to be empowered to take control of
their health in meaningful and lasting ways.
John M
This is a critical program for seniors and individuals seeking nutritional support and
guidance. Improving the quality of life through this program provides citizens of Boulder
County with a valuable service.
Ardell Fitzgerald
My doctor recommended the Boulder nutrition program when I was diagnosed with
prediabetes. I needed help to change my diet to prevent diabetes and Lindsey provided
expert help and guidance with convenient zoom and phone sessions. I am 79 years old.
This program was a lifesaver.
Jerome McQuie
I am writing to advocate for continued support of the elder nutrition program. I did not
expect when I hit age 65 to also need specific nutritional advice to combat health problems
that seem to hit us older people. The Boulder County advice has been very helpful.
Michael Fitzgerald
It was very helpful to consult with Lindsey about nutrition when I started losing weight
because of low appetite due to GERD. I only needed about 3 sessions. Iam 81. I fully
support this program.
Patricia Taylor
I have been the very fortunate recipient of services from Lindsey Lawes through this
program for several years. I was referred to the program by my physician, Dr. Hillary
Browne. My sessions with Lindsey are always helpful and I have made many lifestyle
changes based upon her recommendations concerning foods, diet and supplements.
Every session has useful takeaways and Lindsey has a wealth of information. This program
is invaluable to people my age and I feel grateful to live in Boulder County so that I can
participate in this program.
Bruce Kirschner
I am 72 years old have been a regular client of Boulder Nutrition and Exercise (BNE) since
2014. I have always been interested in taking good care of my health and wellness and
recognize that nutrition and exercise are very important components. I have also been an
active runner for over 50 years and a serious race competitor for almost the same length of
time. I have been a professional runner since 2015. That is, I win prize money for performing
well in national and international championship races. BNE has played a key role in helping
me understand the importance of good nutrition and paying attention to those practices
that will optimize my day-to-day functioning as well as my athletic performance. I don’t
believe that I would be able to realize my full physical and mental well being without their
expert assistance. All older adults could benefit from their services. Thank you, BNE and
please keep up all your excellent work!
Nancy Bednar
As I get older, it is so important to understand the nutrients my body needs and the
importance of healthy meals. Lindsay helped me with this understanding and answered my
questions. I hope this program can continue to help with my overall health and wellness as
I age. Lindsay’s calls and advice are very important to me for my nutritional health. Thank
you.
Sylvia Hultkans
This Boulder County program that provides a licensed dietician like Lyndsey for seniors is
very important for someone like me with dietary restrictions after my gallbladder was
removed. Please return the funding to this essential program!
Fran Sullivan
I have benefited greatly from being able to work with a nutritionist. As an older person living
with more than one chronic condition I have learned how much good nutrition can help
with my health. I’ve also learned that eating well doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult to
maintain. I’m very grateful for the tools I’ve learned since being a part of the program. I
would not have access to a nutritionist without the program.
Wendy Clough
I was able to have 2 phone conversations with a nutritionist. As a breast cancer survivor
this was invaluable! Lindsay gave me specific suggestions about my diet and made it very
easy to follow her advice. I wish everyone had more access to nutritional information, it’s
such a basic part of preventative health care. Primary providers are often reluctant, in my
experience, to talk about diet.
Joshua Lipton
I received nutrition counseling from Lindsay Lawes after having surgery. The counseling
was really helpful and set me up on a path to post-operative rehabilitation. What an
incredible program to offer the community!
Kathy Williams
The guidance by phone from dietician Lindsey Francis has been invaluable to me. She
answers questions I have and helps me stay on track diet-wise.
Minh Tran
I am very thankful to receive this service from the city of Longmont. I believe it is very
effective in helping aging people to manage their health during their golden age. I myself
benefited from this program and I learned a lot too. I think this program should continue to
help our senior community.
John Casey
I was given a referral to Boulder Nutrition and Exercise by Boulder Community Health in
2018 after a couple of serious, potentially life-threatening events. I’ve always led an active
lifestyle, and maintained a healthy weight, but the nutritional guidance I have received from
Lindsay Lawes has been invaluable in keeping me from having a recurrence of the events
that led me to her in the first place. I consider this service as important as any health care
provider I have, without exception. It’s my hope others can continue to receive this
important service.
Kathy Ewing
I am very disappointed to see the funding come to an end for Boulder Nutrition and
Exercise. The team there, is fabulous and their services literally saved my daughter’s life
during a time when she was in need of a kidney transplant and during her recovery. I would
also like to emphasize that my daughter was initially referred to Boulder Nutrition and
Exercise via her nephrologist. The services they provide are very individualized towards the
personal need and medical needs of each person. They have also helped me with a weight
loss program in a very healthy way. As a community member, I was very pleased that there
was a program available within reasonable proximity to my home. I am extremely
disheartened to think that we will be taking a step backwards as far as improving personal
health in our community by not offering funding.
Jeff Ferreira
The nutritional advice I’ve received from Katie Filkins has made it possible for me to
succeed in my struggle with type-2 Diabetes. Without the understanding I’ve gained
through our sessions over the last decade, I know that I would be far less capable of
continuing this fight. Funding Katie’s work serves the best interest of everyone who faces
significant challenges with conditions where proper nutrition is critical. Her work helps
people to maintain their health, which extends their lives, and reduces the many costs they
would otherwise surely have to endure, both medical and financial. This funding is a wise
investment for all concerned.
Cynthia Henderson
The nutrition program has been life changing. Lindsey has been a fabulous guide in helping
me get more protein in my diet, eliminating sugar, and overall eating in a healthy way. I’ve
lost weight and Ann still losing I feel confident that this is a lifestyle change. I’ve tried
many”diets” but the individual counseling via the phone is very successful. Keep the
program.
Jeffrey Kiehl
This program has been extremely helpful to me. I have been able to create a nutrition
regime aiding in the treatment of my type 2 diabetes.
Linda Yarr
I am grateful for the recommendations and information I received through the nutrition
program from Lindsay. She helped me to adjust my diet to mitigate the gut issues that were
seriously impeding my quality of life. it is important to keep this service available to
community members.
Barbara Fernandez
I have benefitted from this service and it has made my life so much better by making me
healthier. I was pre-diabetic and my doctor recommended this nutritional service. Katie is
very knowledgeable, puts the factual information in understandable terms and is a great
cheerleader getting you to eat healthier and lose the weight. Her guidelines are simple to
follow — we all just need the willpower to do so and her encouragement does that. For
many of us, this may be the only county social service that we use.
Katherine Romine
Having a nutritionist to meet with has been quite beneficial. She has kept me on track with
eating the right foods, getting the exercise I need and guiding me in the right direction when
life throws me in the wrong direction. My health has improved and she has helped me stay
steadily on the path to obtain my weight loss goals. My husband’s illness keeps me in a
stressful day to day, which has made losing weight a real challenge. The nutritionist works
with this challenge with me.
Elizabeth Smith
I very much want the Senior Support Program to continue for others in need as well as
myself.
My success with weight loss, meal preparation, portion control and needed exercise
guidance. I would not have been ready for a knee replacement. My surgeon encouraged me
to loose weight which I had tried many times before without success. Katie has made a
huge difference in my life in more ways than I can express. She a very knowledgeable and
dedicated woman to those of us who need her coaching and her tried & true programs.
Each client that crosses her door step with unique & varied needs she is prepared for our
special request.
Consider your senior parents, aunts. & uncle’s
who may benefit from this terrific program. In our state or any state. Obesity is a serious
problem in this country. Boulder County was once the most fit county in the country.
Evaluated what you are considering. This is SERIOUS.
Elizabeth Smith
Please THINK long & hard before you terminate this program. This will be a Terrible
Disservice to your own community.
Kelly Lawyer
Katie Filkins nutrition education program is INVALUABLE to our patients here at Boulder
Community Health. Please continue her funding.
Sincerely, Kelly Lawyer, RN
Paul Sueltenfuss
I’ve been using the services for a couple of years. Lindsay has been most helpful in guiding
me through different meals, giving me suggestions, and accolades. I value her input greatly!
Marcie Smith
I am sending this for the second time as I feel it’s critically important.
I have been working with Lindsay Lawes, one of your registered dieticians through the
above mentioned program. In 2-3 years I have lost 35-40 pounds, my MD has cut my high
blood pressure medicine in half and she has also cut my type 2 diabetes medicine,
metformin, in half, I am now able to exercise 3-5 days a week without chronic pain and
because I eat healthy I barely take any vitamin supplements. I’m on the path to getting to
the appropriate weight for my age and size and I now am gaining an eating intelligence that
addresses proper nutrition and helps me manage my food allergies and intolerances, I
expect to one day be able to manage and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Hopefully I’ll also be
off blood pressure and metformin completely when I reach this goal.
This program has changed my life. It probably saved my life as well.
Please continue to support it. There are not enough words to describe its impact.
Barbara Benzin
The Nutrition program has helped me have a balanced and nutritious meal on my plate
every meal. It has also helped me lower my cholesterol levels that meet my cardiologist
approval. I am very grateful for this program.
Warren DeHaan
Lindsay has provided valuable guidance to help me recover from total hip surgery. I’m mid
80s and it takes more to get back to normal at this age. She has many good ideas that I
never would have thought of. Her follow-ups provide motivation to work towards my goals.
Gail Polk
No service has helped me manage my type 1 diabetes more than the Nutrition Program the
Aging Advisory Council has supported. With recommendation for apps, products, foods
and where to buy them, as well as specific recommendation for exercise and how to
develop it, their resources seem absolutely limitless. The meetings are brief but power
packed with help. My father was a food nutritionist but I still get practical help I need.
Please support them. Thank you
Benji Silverman
I wanted to share my positive experience with the senior nutrition program. Lindsay Lawes
Francis has been a huge help. She’s great at showing me how to get the nutrients I need in
ways I actually enjoy, even with my picky eating habits. She’s full of creative suggestions
like adding vegetables to smoothies and baked goods, and she responds to my texted
questions.
This program, along with exercise, has been incredibly important for my health. I tell other
people about the program, as I know it may help them live better lives. Lindsay has a
wonderful, friendly approach that works!
Lifestyle modification (changing diet and exercise patterns) is the key to improving the health of most of my patients. The amount of information available to patients on the internet and from their social contacts is overwhelming and often just wrong. Patients are motivated but at a loss for how to improve their health. As a primary care provider at the Boulder Medical Center, over 35% of my population base is over 65 years old (and on a fixed income). I have relied heavily on the free nutrition visits for my patients. They become more engaged in their well-being, learned to make important choices in their diet and improved their health by leaps and bounds. This program has been invaluable to myself in the care of my patients.
~Laura Erben, MD
I have been working with Lindsay Lawes, one of your registered dieticians through the above mentioned program. In 2-3 years I have lost 35-40 pounds, my MD has cut my high blood pressure medicine in half and she has also cut my type 2 diabetes medicine, metformin, in half, I am now able to exercise 3-5 days a week without chronic pain and because I eat healthy I barely take any vitamin supplements. I’m on the path to getting to the appropriate weight for my age and size and I now am gaining an eating intelligence that addresses proper nutrition and helps me manage my food allergies and intolerances, I expect to one day be able to manage and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Hopefully I’ll also be off blood pressure and metformin completely when I reach this goal.
Katie Filkins, RD, has provided a much needed service with her nutritional expertise and kind manner. I am grateful to Boulder County and to Katie at Boulder Nutrition and Exercise for helping me learn more about moderate, healthy eating. Katie’s style is helpful and encouraging while she meets her clients where they are. Thank you for providing this opportunity for residents over the age of 60 who otherwise might not be able to engage in these essential nutritional services.
~Belle
I’d like to comment about funding for the Boulder County nutrition program. I met Lindsay Lawes in 2015 through the monthly Diabetes meetings in Louisville and Lafayette. The information she has shared in these meetings and especially in private nutrition counseling meetings with me has been incredibly helpful for me. Her enthusiasm for helping me and trying new things is contagious. I have learned about balancing my food intake – what, when, how to eat as a diabetic who is rapidly losing body functions because of the aggressive form of my diabetes. Lindsay has helped me with food plans and learning how to balance carbs with exercise (again, when to eat them, then when/how to add the protein I need, etc.) She has taught me how to accurately count how and what I eat. She has suggested adding some fat back into my non-fat eating plan and counseled me not to cut my calories so very (unhealthily) low. Her encouragement and knowledge have been so very helpful and greatly appreciated. Please continue funding for the nutrition program so that people like me can learn what we need to do to improve our quality of life and hopefully extend our lives.
~Judy McKercher
I have been a very satisfied client of the Boulder Nutrition & Exercise for a couple of years. I am 62 years old, retired, and a serious athlete. BNES has been instrumental in getting me on the right nutritional track and keeping me there. Without their excellent professional knowledge and support I don’t believe I would be in such great physical condition now. I also don’t believe I would have known about or taken advantage of this wonderful citizen service had Boulder County not been so instrumental in making it happen. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, BNES and Boulder County!
~Bruce Kirschner
Katie Filkins was initially recommended by Rocky Mountain Cancer Center to guide my nutrition and exercise recovery after a difficult cancer surgery and treatment. Katie has helped me to gain weight and muscle mass. I have regained much of my pre-Cancer fitness, and am now better prepared for any future health challenges.
~Regards Alan
“I was referred to Boulder Nutrition and Exercise after I went to my doctor to determine a cause for my sudden weight gain and it was determined that I didn’t have any specific health issues. Lindsay was very sensitive to my situation and took quite a bit of time to talk to me. She shared some valuable nutrition information and helped me develop a manageable diet plan. As a result, I lost ten pounds in three months and I will be forever grateful to Lindsay for her wisdom and on-going support.”
All the best,
Cheryl
Please take a moment to fill out of the following document (PDF):CIA Consumer Form