Former Florida Governor and 2016 presidential candidate Jeb Bush, along with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, introduced a senior living awards ceremony Tuesday at the Colorado Convention Center.
The two spoke at Argentum’s Executive Senior Living Conference Hero Awards ceremony.
Bush, through his experience as governor in Florida, has long established ties with senior communities.
As governor, Bush served from 1999 to 2007. He steered reform of Florida’s Medicaid system, including moving recipients to private managed care systems.
Bush told conference attendees about the challenges of serving senior communities, especially during severe weather events — such as hurricanes — when power goes out and large groups must be moved for safety reasons.
“People should not be living in isolation,” he told the group, thanking them for their ongoing service, dedication and hard work.
Hickenlooper talked about the increasing need for senior services in Colorado, and the challenges of meeting the demand.
By the year 2030, Colorado’s senior population is expected to rise to about 1.2 million, he said. As this segment of the state population grows, demands for housing, health care and other services are increasing.
“We’ve increased our capacity to serve seniors,” Hickenlooper said.
Funds earmarked to state agencies on aging have increased from $9 million in 2013 to $21 million in 2015, he said.
Colorado must continue to “engage” its seniors and aid them to “lead real and meaningful lives.”
Argentum on Tuesday recognized six “heroes” in the industry from around the country for their dedication, caring and excellence in serving seniors.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or @kierannicholson
