Colorado Respite Coalition

Memory Cafe: Memories in the Making Watercolor Painting
2025-09-30 13:30 - 14:30 (America/Denver) | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States
Memory Cafe is a fun place to socialize, relax, and engage with people experiencing memory loss and their families/caregivers. Each cafe has a focus—such as music or art—to facilitate the main goal, which is a social connection for individuals with shared experiences.
Theme: Memories in the Making Watercolor Painting
Description: Memories in the Making is a watercolor class for people experiencing Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other forms of memory loss. This class will help you to find the artist within yourself! Our wonderful teacher Jody will guide you in creating imaginative and colorful watercolor paintings. Everyone is welcome — you don’t need painting experience to participate. Come explore and find joy in the creative process of watercolor!

Memory Cafe at the Denver Library – Memories in the Making Watercolor Painting
2025-09-30 13:30 - 14:30 | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States

When Will I Know It’s Time? The Dilemmas of Moving a Loved One with Dementia into a Care Community
2025-09-24 11:00 - 13:00 | Online
This workshop is designed for anyone who is concerned that they may one day have to make the agonizing decision to move a loved one living with dementia into a care community, and the dilemmas that care partners and families often face when confronted with this emotionally-loaded aspect of caregiving.
The workshop will be facilitated by Kay Adams—Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder of Compassion Works, LLC. Kay is a dementia coach, educator, writer, speaker and trainer. Compassion Works engages care partners and organizations impacted by dementia through coaching, consulting, education and training, so they are empowered to effectively face challenges with confidence, clarity, and connection.

Elbert and Lincoln County Circle of Parents Group — Connections for Families
2025-09-23 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-09-09 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-26 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-12 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Elizabeth Middle School, 34427 County Road 13, Elizabeth, CO, 80107, United States
Circle of Parents groups are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, either in person or virtually. Join other parents and caregivers in our community to share support, tips and advice or just talk. This is a safe space to vent, cry, laugh, joke and find out how other parents are navigating this new world. Drop-ins are welcome, and snacks are provided.

Memory Cafe at the Denver Library – Music & Play Therapy with Anastasia Canfield
2025-09-23 13:30 - 14:30 | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States
Memory Cafe is a fun place to socialize, relax, and engage with people experiencing memory loss and their families/caregivers. Each cafe has a focus—such as music or art—to facilitate the main goal, which is a social connection for individuals with shared experiences.
Theme: Music Therapy & Play Therapy with Anastasia Canfield
Description: Join Anastasia Canfield, Board-Certified Music Therapist and Registered Play Therapist, for an afternoon of music, movement, and play! During this session of Memory Cafe, we will sing songs, play musical instruments, and engage in games designed to cultivate joy, offer creative opportunities for self-expression, create opportunities for community-building and connection with others.

Parenting Through Generations – Parenting Children and Supporting Aging Parents
2025-09-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
Training Topic : Parenting Through Generations – Parenting Children and Supporting Aging Parents
Training Date: September 17, 2025
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Trainer: Kia Moore and Courtney Stryker
Location: Virtual (Registrants will receive a zoom link via email)
*Please note, this training will be combined with our Early Childhood Professionals group and will not be recorded.
For questions about this and other parent and caregiver trainings email communitysupports@dpcolo.org. Certificates are not provided for attending this training.

Statewide Caregiver Webinar: The GUIDE Model
2025-09-17 09:00 - 11:00 | Online
Join us for our next statewide webinar on the GUIDE Model. Launched in 2024, the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model is a voluntary nationwide model test that aims to support people with dementia and their unpaid caregivers. The GUIDE Model focuses on comprehensive, coordinated dementia care and aims to improve quality of life for people with dementia, reduce strain on their unpaid caregivers, and enable people with dementia to remain in their homes and communities.
Learn from a panel of GUIDE providers on how the model works and how to access GUIDE services right here in Colorado, or become a guide provider yourself.
The webinar will take place on Wednesday, September 17th from 9am-11am and registration is FREE! Reserve your spot today!

Memory Cafe at the Denver Library – Jenga Social
2025-09-16 13:30 - 14:30 | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States
Memory Cafe is a fun place to socialize, relax, and engage with people experiencing memory loss and their families/caregivers. Each cafe has a focus—such as music or art—to facilitate the main goal, which is a social connection for individuals with shared experiences.

Alzheimer’s/Dementia 101: Facts, Research, Treatment, Care, Risk Reduction
2025-09-11 10:30 - 12:00 | Online
Dementia Friendly Denver is an affiliate of Dementia Friendly America, a not for profit, volunteer-based initiative announced at the White House Conference on Aging in 2015. Our mission is to make communities across the nation more dementia friendly, reduce dementia stigma, and improve the quality of life for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their family care partners.
Dementia Friendly Denver offers free dementia education programs to government, business, academic, faith, and community groups throughout the greater Denver area.
Topics include:
– What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?
– What are the most common types of dementia?
– Cognitive issues might not be dementia
– What are the risk factors and warning signs for dementia?
– Ten things you can do at any age to reduce dementia risk
– How to get a dementia diagnosis
– Promising research updates
– The latest information on treatments
– Dementia communication, interaction, and behavior tips
– Community dementia resources
Audiences report feeling better about the topic after attending this optimistic overview!
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PAeA_JNSRpGkBOdYBVzFCw
Presenter – JJ Jordan
After a corporate management career, JJ Jordan reinvented herself in the field of Alzheimer’s/Dementia after three of four parents in her immediate family were diagnosed with the disease. She was their family care partner for 16 years.
JJ is the CEO of the Jordan Consulting Group, where she lectures, teaches, and consults on dementia topics. She also teaches at DU, CU, the Denver Public Library, and AARP. She was recognized by AARP with their Community Partner Award for her dementia education work. JJ is an associate with a business psychology firm serving as their client dementia coaching and training provider. JJ also sits on the Dementia Action Coalition team for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
JJ is the volunteer Community Chair for Dementia Friendly Denver. She has also been a volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association’s for over 20 years. She served a six-year term on their Board of Directors and currently serves as their Public Policy Ambassador to Capitol Hill.

Memory Cafe at the Denver Library – Memorable Landmarks with Denver Public Library's Special Collections
2025-09-09 13:30 - 14:30 | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States

Calling All Caregivers: Collaborative Care
2025-09-03 10:30 - 12:00 | Online
For most people rooted in Western culture, it is difficult to ask for and receive help from other people. However, the reality is that we will all need help due to the challenges posed by aging and/or illness. So, how are we to overcome our resistance to assistance? Well, our friend the goose has much to teach us about giving and receiving care. Look to the skies. As geese fly in formation, they embody the essential ingredients of collaborative care: shared leadership, interdependence, self care, encouragement, and trusted relationships. This is not a “fly by night” approach to care! If we choose to emulate the collaborative flight of geese, all involved in the caregiving journey will be well served.
September 3, 2025 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Speaker: Jane W. Barton, MTS, MASM, CSA
To Register, email CardinaLife@msn.com noting your name, zip code, the program name, and date. Once registered, a link to the Zoom event will be provided as well as a call-in number.

Memory Cafe at the Denver Library – Colorado Symphony Performance
2025-09-02 13:30 - 14:30 | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States

Plan with the End in Mind
2025-08-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Join AARP Colorado on August 28th for a virtual presentation on planning for the end in caregiving.
Having companioned many people at the end of life – family members, friends, and clients – I know that endings matter. I also realize that without thoughtful consideration and planning, a good death may not be experienced.
There are countless things that could – and often do – go wrong. Sadly, some decisions made months if not years prior to death negate the possibility of a preferred ending.
Hence, understanding the implications of each medical decision is vitally important. What are the potential benefits and burdens of every option? What are the realistic odds that an intervention or therapy will be effective – leading to a higher quality of life?
Possessing the needed information, perhaps we can mitigate the risk of a tragic ending.
SPEAKER: Jane W. Barton, author of Caregiving for the GENIUS, is a passionate national speaker, writer, and listener. As the founder of Cardinal, LLC, she provides educational programs, books, videos, podcasts, and blogs to assist people in confronting the daunting challenges posed by aging, serious illness, and the end of life. Jane is well versed in the areas of grief and bereavement, caregiving, hospice and palliative care, change and transition, and spirituality and health. She presents innovative, transformational programs to community members, healthcare providers, pastoral caregivers, clergy, funeral service providers, and national audiences. As a Local Aging Expert collaborating with AARP Colorado, Jane offers educational programs throughout the state of Colorado.

Memory Cafe at the Denver Library – Qi Gong
2025-08-26 13:30 - 14:30 | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States

Mindful Movement and BrainDance Workshop (in person)
2025-08-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Developmental Pathways, 14280 E. Jewell Avenue, Suite A, Aurora, CO, 80012, United States
Training Topic: Mindful Movement and BrainDance
Training Date: 8/19/2025
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Trainer: Colorado Ballet
Location: In Person – Developmental Pathways Office located at 14280 E. Jewell Avenue, Suite A Aurora, CO 80012
This interactive workshop combines the BrainDance—a movement sequence developed by Anne Green Gilbert to support neurological health—with simple mindfulness strategies rooted in neuroscience. Learn how movement can enhance focus, energy, flexibility, and emotional regulation. Participants can expect to do gentle movements in this workshop and will leave with techniques they can use to support well-being through movement.
*Please note this workshop is in person and will have a limit of 30 attendees. Onsite respite services may be available but not guaranteed.
For questions about this and other parent and caregiver trainings email communitysupports@dpcolo.org. Certificates are not provided for attending this training.

Memory Cafe at the Denver Library - Fun with Printmaking!
2025-08-19 01:30 - 14:30 | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States

Dementia: Reduce Your Risk!
2025-08-14 10:30 - 12:00 | AARP Colorado State Office, 303 East 17th Avenue, Denver, CO, 80203, United States
Join AARP Colorado and JJ Jordan of Dementia Friendly Denver for an in-person presentation as we discuss Alzheimer’s and dementia, the latest research, treatment of the diseases, caregiving challenges and risk reduction.

Topics include:

The difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
The most common types of dementia
The warning signs for dementia
Cognitive issues that might not be dementia
How to get a dementia diagnosis
Dementia communication tips
Caregiver challenges and self-care
Community resources available
How we can make communities more dementia-friendly
The latest promising research updates
10 things you can do at any age to reduce dementia risk or delay onset

This event will take place at the AARP Colorado State Office located at 303 E 17th Ave, Suite 510 in downtown Denver. Class size is limited so please only register if you are able to attend and be sure to cancel if you won’t be able to join us. A waitlist will be offered.
There will be light refreshments. Free parking is offered in the attached parking garage located on Logan Street halfway between 17th & 18th Ave, but you need to bring your license plate number to the event in order to get your parking fee validated.

Memory Cafe at the Denver Library - Sing Along with Swallow Hill Music
2025-08-12 13:30 - 14:30 | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States

Disability Webinar Series
2025-08-12 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-05 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-29 08:00 - 17:00 | Online
Our mission is to help people understand and acquire Social Security disability benefits so they can improve their financial situation as well as their health. Our webinar series is designed to simplify Social Security’s complex application process so an individual can successfully apply for benefits at the initial level without the need for representation. We have chosen six topics that are relevant to anyone assisting in or preparing for the SSA disability application process, including individuals applying for SSI/SSDI, families of individuals with disabilities, clinicians, case managers, advocates, and staff who provide services to individuals in need of accessing disability benefits. There are Four 6-Week Webinar Series for 2025. You may register for one webinar or all 6 webinars in the series. Webinars take place weekly on Tuesdays from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. MST.
2025 Dates:
Series 1: January 21, 28 and February 4, 11, 18, 25
Series 2: April 15, 22, 29 and May 6, 13, 20
Series 3: July 8, 15, 22, 29 and August 5, 12
Series 4: October 7, 14, 21, 28 and November 4, 11
Topics include:
The SSA Disability Programs and Process
The SSA Application Forms
The Medical Eligibility Criteria
Transition from Child to Adult Disability
The SSA Work History Report
The SSA Adult Function Report
CLICK HERE for ONLINE registration for Disability Webinar Trainings.
CLICK HERE for the 2025 flyer and PRINTABLE registration for Disability Webinar Trainings.
For more information on Webinar Trainings, please contact Byron Kish at (303) 515-1653 or email bkish@eastersealscolorado.org.

Memory Cafe at the Denver Library - Creative Movement with the Colorado Ballet
2025-08-05 13:30 - 14:30 | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States

Navigating the Changes: Community First Choice in Colorado
2025-08-01 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Join PASCO’s Kara Delgado with special guest Emily Harvey for a virtual event to learn more about Community First Choice, Colorado’s newest Medicaid program. As part of Health First Colorado, CFC offers home and community-based services to support personal care, homemaking, and health maintenance activities, among others.
In this session, we’ll dive into:

What’s New: An overview of the services introduced under CFC, such as Personal Care, Homemaker Services, Health Maintenance Activities,AME (Acquisition, Maintenance, and Enhancement of Skills), and more.
What’s Changing: Insights into the transition of certain services currently available from other Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers to CFC, along with strategies on how to prepare for current waiver participants.
And More! We’ll discuss eligibility criteria, the potential benefits of CFC for your loved one, and highlight the key difference between agency-provided and self-directed care models – the two main service delivery options for CFC.

We hope to see you there!

Memory Cafe at the Denver Library - Air Dry Clay Sculpting
2025-07-29 13:30 - 14:30 | Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S Dahlia St., Denver, CO, 80222, United States

Southern Colorado Regional Respite Coalition Meeting
2025-07-28 15:00 - 16:00 | Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment, 3rd Floor, Conference Room C, 101 W 9th St, Pueblo, CO, 81003, United States
Regional Respite Coalitions coordinate services available to caregivers in regions across Colorado. They are a space to collaborate and share resources and opportunities!

Vibrant Watercolor: Relax & Rejuvenate
2025-07-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Avenue, Fort Collins, CO, 80525, United States
Explore your creativity and support brain health in this beginner-friendly watercolor class. Supplies provided.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or have some experience, this class is perfect for you. Enjoy the therapeutic benefits of painting with simple watercolor paints on forgiving mineral paper.
Engage your creativity with vivid colors and enhance your brain health through this relaxing and stimulating activity.
All materials will be supplied.
Note: This event has limited capacity of 24 people. If you register, but can’t attend, please modify your registration to allow someone else to attend.
