‘Aging in place’ means remaining in your own home and community, safely and independently, as you grow older. Successfully doing so requires planning ahead before help is urgently needed.
Start by making your home safer and easier to navigate by removing tripping hazards, improving lighting, installing grab bars where needed, and making frequently used items easier to reach. Maintaining good health through regular medical care, nutritious meals, physical activity, and social connections can also help seniors remain independent and active.
Just as important is building a strong support system. Family, friends, neighbors, senior centers, meal programs, transportation services, and other community resources can provide help with everyday tasks while reducing isolation. Aging in place does not mean doing everything alone, it means knowing when to ask for help and planning for changing needs.
By preparing ahead, staying connected, and taking advantage of available community services, older adults can continue to enjoy the comfort, independence, and familiar surroundings of home for as long as it is safe and practical.
Holiday Closure
Archuleta Seniors, Inc. will be closed Monday, September 7, for Labor Day. There will be no dining services or activities that day.
Senior Conversations
The very popular Senior Conversations with local Bill Salmansohn is usually held on Mondays at the Pagosa Senior Center, but due to the Labor Day
holiday on September 7, the meeting will be held on Thursday, September 10, at 1:15pm.
Salmansohn brings to the conversations a variety of topics designed to stimulate discussions within a safe and comfortable environment as we explore our well-being and shared experiences. This is a unique opportunity to connect with others in the Archuleta community, fostering sharing and friendships. Snacks will be provided.
Afterward, hosted by Robin Williams, stay for a get-together created for those who wish to continue the conversation. This opportunity is typically from 2:30 – 3:30pm, following Senior Conversations. The group occasionally reconvenes as an informal gathering at various local restaurants.
Community Cafe
Join local elders, their friends, family, and community at the Community Café, also known as the Silver Fox’s Den, in person for delicious meals Mondays through Fridays downtown at the Ross Aragon Community Center between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Grab ‘N’ Go pickup via our convenient portico is also available all week, including Fridays.
Our dining hall is open to all ages and welcomes you with kindness and warmth. We provide hot/cold meals for anyone in the community interested in a nutritious and delicious meal. For those 60 or older, we request a suggested donation of $6.00, but no one will be turned away. There is a $10.50 charge for guests under the age of 60.
Meals include a main course, side dish, fruit or dessert, garden salad, plus a beverage. Call or text 970-264-2167 before 8:45 a.m. Please note that occasionally the menu
must be changed on short notice.
Thursday, August 27 – Sliced Ham with Apricot Glaze, Scalloped Potatoes, Carrots, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.
Friday, August 28 – Cod with lemon Butter, Rice Pilaf, Broccoli, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.
Monday, August 31 – Honey Garlic Chicken, Snow Peas and Mushrooms, Fried Rice, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.
Tuesday, September 1- Southern Shrimp and Grits, Zucchini Sauté, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.
Wednesday, September 2 – Beef Spaghetti, Broccoli, Garlic Bread, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.
Thursday, September 3 – Grilled Turkey, Swiss and Tomato Sandwich on Sourdough, Vegetable Chips, Garden Salad, Fruit, Mini Danish, Milk.
Friday, September 4 – Sliced Ham with Cherry Sauce, Scalloped Potatoes, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.
Stretching & Mobility Weekly Class Now Twice A Week
Community members are invited to attend free weekly classes every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 11:00am at the Pagosa Springs Senior Center at 451 Hot Springs Blvd., in the back of the Ross Aragon Community Center. The stretching and mobility classes for adults aged 55 or better are designed to help build balance in the body through functional exercises that aim to improve mobility and flexibility.
Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of techniques that can help enhance overall movement efficiency. Though not necessary, a mat is recommended for this class. The program is instructed by local dance instructor Dee Pitchon, who will provide modifications to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the exercises.
Meals on Wheels
We deliver fresh Meals on Wheels five days a week (and provide frozen Meals on Wheels for weekends) to homebound Archuleta County residents. The meals are delivered by our wonderful volunteers, whom we so greatly appreciate. Call or text us at (970) 264-2167 for information on how to sign up for the program.
American Mahjong
American Mahjong is played using a set of tiles and the current year score card. Play includes groups of three or four players and follows a pattern of division exchange and display of tiles. Bring your card and come to play or watch and learn from 1:15 to 3:45pm. Tuesdays at the Senior Center.
Bridge
The game of Bridge is held on Tuesdays at 1:15pm. every week. It has also been added on Wednesdays at 1:15pm. Bridge is a four-player card game with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. It is a trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. Come alone or bring a partner.
Emotional Freedom.
On the second Thursdays of the month, from 1:30 to 2:30pm, join the “Tappers,” who practice the self-regulation technique of EFT to relieve symptoms of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and more. Everything you need to get started is included in this fun, engaging, supportive class. Taught by Judith Newman, LPC.
Mindful Drawing
Mindful Drawing is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Join our friendly instructor, Roberta Strickland, CZT. Classes are every Wednesday from 1:30 to 3pm in the Pagosa Senior Center. This activity is open to all ages. Help us create an intergenerational community. For those under 18 and/or with disabilities, you are welcome to join us, but we kindly ask you to please bring an adult chaperone with you.
Ruby’s Writers Guild
The Ruby’s Writers Guild meets from 8:45 to 10:30am on Thursdays. The Guild is an informal group that supports writers of all genres and experiences. The Guild support writers through friendly critique, resources, discussion, and literary and cultural activities. Bring your secret idea drafts or completed manuscripts. Come join the group.
Tai Chi, a Moving Meditation
Starting in May, Tai Chi classes will be held at Yamaguchi Park on Thursdays, 1:30 – 2:30pm. Tai Chi is not a martial art, but rather a tool for self-healing. Softness, flow and effortlessness are the guiding principles in this meditative practice. The 19 movements and 1 pose are designed to stimulate, circulate and balance the vital energy which is inherent in all of us.
Scrapbooking & Crafters Club
The Pagosa Springs Scrapbooking Club and Crafters club continues to hold monthly meetings the second Saturday of each month at the Ross Aragon Community Center from 10:00am – 3:00pm at 451 Hot Springs Blvd., within the dining hall in the Pagosa Senior Center. This creative tradition has been happening since 2005, and we invite all creative individuals to come and share ideas, connect with new and old friends, learn/share creative techniques, share supplies, and indulge in a potluck lunch together. Bring your scrapbooking projects – or any crafting project that you may want to work on with the group! Help us create an intergenerational community. Ages 18 and older welcome, and for those youth aged 17 and younger, we kindly request that an adult chaperone accompany them.
Mountain Transit Express Senior ParaTransit Services
Seniors over the age of 60 can be verified to receive services through discounted ParaTransit services, free bus rides, and pick up at your home to bring you to the Senior Center for lunch. To become eligible, there is a form to complete. Older adults needing a ride to a local food pantry can contact the Archuleta County MET to schedule a ride with their paratransit service. Call the Archuleta County MET at (970) 264-2250 for information.
Board Vacancies
ASI Board of Directors has positions open. Terms are 3 years with an option to renew for an additional term. Potential candidates should be at least 21 years of age or older and must have a passion for adult and aging services. Please stop by our offices at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. to pick up an application form or call (970) 264-2167 for more information.
Support the Senior Center
New, starting in 2026, small donations can be deducted without itemizing your tax return. It is the Permanent Universal Charitable Deduction.
Here’s what this means: For tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, non-itemizers can deduct up to $1,000 for individual tax filing and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. The goal of this provision is to recognize and encourage charitable giving across all income levels, potentially boosting donations from middle-income households who may not itemize their deductions. This change has the potential to significantly impact charitable giving patterns by incentivizing a broader base of donors.
You may mail your donation to ASI, PO BOX 3444, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147, or please visit our website: http://www.psseniors.org/ (donation button). Donation checks can be written to: Archuleta Seniors, Inc.
Another way to donate: Are you 70.5 years old or better? Do you have an IRA from which you need to take a distribution? Did you know you can make charitable donations directly from your IRA without paying taxes on the distribution, up to $100,000 per year? The donation from the account would be payable to Archuleta Seniors Inc and sent to PO Box 3444, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147. This gift option is called the IRA charitable rollover or qualified charitable distribution (QCD).