Are you over age 60?

Date: June 9^th, 2025

Boulder County Nutrition Counseling Program now called……… THRIVE60+counseling

If you have enjoyed our services or simply want to support Thrive60+counseling, there are a few things that can help!

1. 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. Sign our petition. Let decision makers know this is an essential program. Continued funding is needed to sustain this service for our community! As they have seen the growth and success for 12 years! https://www.change.org/BCAAANutritionCounselingProgram60-or-older
3. Send a testimonial to info@bouldernutritionexercise.com We will be honored to add your story to our program.
4. Share this information….call/email a friend or neighbor! Pass it on. Thank you!

We just found out, May 16^th, 2025 at a special session of the Aging Advisory Council (AAC) that our partnership with The Boulder County Area Agency on Aging (BCAAA) will be terminated July 1, 2025. The BCAAA recommended the Aging Advisory Council vote to cut and/or reduce the programs for Nutrition Counseling as well as home modification, audio/visual services and legal services. Funding from state and federal monies was the explanation. The decision makers were not given the information on the success, demand and impact our Nutrition Counseling Program has had on the health and wellbeing of our 60+ community members. It has been an honor to be a part of this program’s creation and then growth over the past 12 years.

The funds for nutrition counseling in Boulder County have been allocated by The Older Americans Act.  Enacted in 1965, the Act provides essential federal financial support through a broad range of community-based social services programs. BCAAA is our local agency that allocates the grants by contracting with providers to deliver services to this very important and growing population in our community.

BCAAA made cuts in preparation for possible funding cuts. The source of federal funds providing the grant for nutrition counseling were not cut or reduced but in turn reallocated in its entirety! We know these are uncertain times for federal funding and understand decisions are hard but…

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 1^st 2025.  

Moving forward! New Name for the program: THRIVE60+counseling We are committed to our community and will honor the nutrition counseling program. 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

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