By Laura M. Strother
On July 3, 2026, the State Unit on Aging (SUA) at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) received formal notice from the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging (SJBAAA) regarding a transition in regional services.
SJBAAA has made the decision to voluntarily relinquish its designation as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) serving Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan counties.
This decision was reached after lengthy, thoughtful discussions and is rooted in a shared commitment to ensure that older adults in the southwest region continue to receive the dedicated care, resources, and advocacy they deserve without interruption.
Next Steps and Continuity of Care
The SUA is prioritizing a smooth transition to minimize any impact on older adults and their caregivers.
Moving forward, the state will execute the following plan:
- Identifying a New Agency: The SUA is immediately initiating a process to identify and vet a qualified agency to assume the official duties and responsibilities of the AAA for the region.
- Service Continuity: During this transitional period, the SUA is working closely with regional leadership to ensure that vital community programs—including nutritional support, transportation, legal services, and caregiver resources—remain fully operational. Current service recipients do not need to take any action.
Our primary focus is the well-being of older Coloradans in these five counties. We appreciate SJBAAA’s years of service and their collaboration during this transition to ensure there is no gap in the essential services older adults rely on every day.
Public Comment Period
The SUA believes that the voice of the local community is vital to this process. We invite service providers, elected officials, community partners, and the public to share their perspectives on the transition of management of the AAA to a qualified entity.
Please submit your thoughts via this Google Form.
Alternatively, you can email your comments to laura.strother@state.co.us with the subject line “SJBAAALeadership Transition Feedback.” The window for public comment will remain open until August 10, 2026.
Laura M. Strother is Director, State Unit on Aging.