It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Lakewood, CO is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Our thanks to ABC for the wonderful nursing care and general management and coordination”
“Amazing customer service and follow up regarding services for my mother-in-law”
“I'm sending this thank u to thank you, not only for being the best company”
“Thank you to all the caregivers who took care of our mom. We are forever”
“I am deeply grateful for the love and support you have shown me during this”
“Thank you for the wonderful care you have provided, specifically Simone, for my mom the”
“Thank you so much for the coordination of our parents care. Your loveliness and dedication”
“I didn't think they could do better than I could on my own. They found”
“I have referred my families to Always Best Care and they have been very happy”
“I had a wonderful experience working with the company. Very helpful and dedicated to providing”
“Thank you so much for coming by to visit our community with the Always Best”
“I had a wonderful experience working with the company. Very helpful and dedicated to providing”
“To Always Best Care Giver Cynthia C. H., “Thank you for taking the time to”
“I can't find Sarah S, Alyssa, Paula, and the rest of the teams direct emails”
“Our care giver Evelyn L. was wonderful, and such a great help to our family.”
“I recommend the services of Always Best Care. The several months I have employed Always”
“HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! If you or anyone in your family is looking for quality, sincere care”
“To ABC Care Giver Autumn W., we adore you and your caring heart is noticed”
“My husband had a bad fall that resulted in two pelvic fractures and a fractured”
“ABC was so responsive and made it very easy to set up care. They worked”
“The response time and options for the care of my 101 year old father have”
“It was great working with Nancy, she went the extra mile helping us find the”
“Always Best Care helped our family find just the right place for my mother-in-law. Nancy”
“Thank you very much for your kind words and thank you so much to you”
“I have had the pleasure of working with the team at Always Best Care/Denver West”
“Our thanks to ABC for the wonderful nursing care and general management and coordination”
“Amazing customer service and follow up regarding services for my mother-in-law”
“I'm sending this thank u to thank you, not only for being the best company I hold dear but being so individually beautiful!!! You're always the best care!!!!!”
“Thank you to all the caregivers who took care of our mom. We are forever grateful for your kindness towards our mom when we couldn't be there because of covid”
“I am deeply grateful for the love and support you have shown me during this difficult time, especially by sending me beautiful flowers. Thank you so much for your love and sympathy”
“Thank you for the wonderful care you have provided, specifically Simone, for my mom the last 4 years. We couldn't have done this without Simone's assistance. She is truly an angel!!”
“Thank you so much for the coordination of our parents care. Your loveliness and dedication made our parents lives so much better. We are very happy that ABC did every thing possible to let their home run smoothly. We appreciate all the efforts and especially your positive spirit”
“I didn't think they could do better than I could on my own. They found a much better, more beautiful place at a much better price for my mom. HUGE THANKS TO NANCY FOR HER HELP !!!!”
“I have referred my families to Always Best Care and they have been very happy with the service and the care staff that come into their homes. I was recently talking to a nurse who owns a Home Health company and asked her who she liked to use for home care. She said Always Best Care in Lakewood never lets me down. They always show up and give good care! There are so many home care companies out there it can be overwhelming. If you are trying to chose which home care company to go with, I highly recommend Always Best Care in Lakewood.”
“I had a wonderful experience working with the company. Very helpful and dedicated to providing caring services to their clients.”
“Thank you so much for coming by to visit our community with the Always Best Care fun wheel! I can tell you it really was a nice morale boost for our associates! Nancy, everyone on our team who worked with you and Always Best Care for our Memory Care resident who needed overnight care was so complimentary of how kind and helpful you were in coordinating care for her. Thank you for all your help.”
“I had a wonderful experience working with the company. Very helpful and dedicated to providing caring services to their clients.”
“To Always Best Care Giver Cynthia C. H., “Thank you for taking the time to celebrate Carolyn’s Birthday, and making her feel so important and loved. Hats off to you.”
“I can't find Sarah S, Alyssa, Paula, and the rest of the teams direct emails so please pass on my appreciation and gratitude for them too! Thank you so much for the shout out!! I love reading the newsletter and had no idea I was going to be in it so it was a wonderful surprise! I love this job and I hope I can help out more in the near future instead of just every weekend. Thank you again and I love being part of the Always Best team :) Thank you!”
“Our care giver Evelyn L. was wonderful, and such a great help to our family.”
“I recommend the services of Always Best Care. The several months I have employed Always Best Care have been very satisfying. The services they have provided for an elderly Alzheimer’s patient has been exceptional. One of the most satisfying aspects of their service is their reliability. They show up, on time , with enthusiasm, and know the patient before entering the home. Also, the scheduling and support staff is accommodating, helpful, and friendly. Anyone that needs help with an elderly Alzheimer’s patient should consider employing Always Best Care. Sincerely, Michael Iverson”
“HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! If you or anyone in your family is looking for quality, sincere care for yourself or a loved one look no further. Always best care has the sweetest caregivers who go through an intense training course so they know for sure how well they do in certain environments. Erin the owner is the sweetest darn person who has a heart of gold who treats her employees very good so they can focus on doing their job right and enjoy doing it. I have been around the caregiving industry since 2013 and this is by far the best company I have yet seen. Trust me they won’t let you down!!!!!!!”
“To ABC Care Giver Autumn W., we adore you and your caring heart is noticed by our family. We all thank you.”
“My husband had a bad fall that resulted in two pelvic fractures and a fractured rib. Fortunately, there was no need for surgery but unfortunately, he was going to be immobile and in a great deal of pain. He was very nervous about my ability to be able to handle him so he requested that we look into very short-term ( one week) home health care when first coming home. Not knowing when he would be released from the hospital I was in my own panic about setting up the care so quickly. With he help of Nancy -a key administrator, I was able to get set up immediately even when I was unsure of exactly when to start. I was guided through the process. When I had to delay one day-no problem. The care giver who was sent to us, Evelyn was terrific-personable and willing to help in anyway requested. I highly recommend Always Best Care.”
“ABC was so responsive and made it very easy to set up care. They worked closely with our Hospice team as well if we needed them to. They were respectful and kind to our Mom. Only thing I would change is having them be able to administer meds. Definitely recommend them though!”
“The response time and options for the care of my 101 year old father have been exceptional. I would recommend Always Best Care to anyone who needs assistance and/or guidance in the care of their elderly loved ones. Dan Anderson”
“It was great working with Nancy, she went the extra mile helping us find the right place for our Mom.”
“Always Best Care helped our family find just the right place for my mother-in-law. Nancy Hemming knows exactly what questions to ask in order to assess each situation and she does so with professionalism, kindness and compassion. Nancy was our shepherd through the overwhelming landscape of assisted living placement and insurance. We highly recommend Always Best Care. You will find their service to be of the highest quality!”
“Thank you very much for your kind words and thank you so much to you and your staff for taking such good care of my mother. It was a big comfort to me to know she was in capable and caring hands.”
“I have had the pleasure of working with the team at Always Best Care/Denver West since August of 2014. I have found them to be very helpful, supportive and knowledgeable in all that they do. From the caregivers to the office staff, they are always willing and able to help in any situation that may arise with their clients and team members. I would recommend this team above all others! Carole S.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Addenbrooke Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local 240 Union Restaurant or visit Center for Colorado Women's History, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Lakewood, CO, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Lakewood, CO understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Lakewood, CO 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Katie and Tony Christensen want to knock down a 1953 brick, ranch-style home they purchased in a quiet Lakewood neighborhood and build their new dream house on the exact same spot.But since they bought their house in 2023, the Lakewood City Council passed a measure that requires those undertaking new residential construction projects to devote a portion of their ...
Katie and Tony Christensen want to knock down a 1953 brick, ranch-style home they purchased in a quiet Lakewood neighborhood and build their new dream house on the exact same spot.
But since they bought their house in 2023, the Lakewood City Council passed a measure that requires those undertaking new residential construction projects to devote a portion of their properties to parkland for use by the public. That’s a problem as the couple seeks a building permit from the city to go forward with their project.
In the Christensens’ case, the city is telling them to set aside a 1,372-square-foot slice of their 1.3-acre lot on West Illiff Avenue as a public park to satisfy the new ordinance. The law ended the city’s fee-in-lieu practice, whereby a developer or homeowner could buy their way out of a land dedication.
“We’re not a developer — we’re one family trying to upgrade our house,” said Tony Christensen, 42. “When you see language like ‘Save our parks, save open space,’ it gets a lot of votes. They don’t look at the unintended consequences of it.”
The land-use ordinance that Lakewood passed on Nov. 4 never actually made it to voters. The City Council adopted the measure after it became clear that backers of a citizens’ petition to increase parkland dedications in the city — driven by a yearslong, and often emotional, battle against an apartment building proposed for the edge of Belmar Park — had gathered enough signatures to get it on a ballot.
The ramifications of Lakewood’s new law have been abrupt and widespread: The city hasn’t issued any residential building permits since Dec. 7, when the ordinance went into effect.
Dozens of projects in the city — some as simple as a conversion of a single-family home, up to a collection of duplexes — have essentially been stopped in their tracks.
One of the 102 stalled projects calls for 14 townhomes to be built on a 1-acre lot on West Colfax Avenue. The city now requires a fifth of the property be set aside as parkland.
“Site requires redesign, and developer must place parkland dedication in an easement,” a city memo notes dispassionately.
City leaders have gotten an earful from residents about the new measure.
At a workshop earlier this month, Lakewood Mayor Wendi Strom told her colleagues on the council that the increased parkland set-aside requirement had made many residential projects in the city of 156,000, even the small ones, “untenable.”
At a council meeting Monday night, public comment and in-depth discussion among the members about how to adjust the new law went on for nearly five hours.
“At present, from single-family homes to townhomes to larger developments, that actually includes 102 projects that are in a holding pattern based on this particular ordinance,” Strom said Monday.
One of the big changes talked about during the meeting was restoring the fee-in-lieu option, with the money collected from those fees to be spent on establishing neighborhood and community parks within the city. A final decision on how Lakewood will amend its land-use rules is expected at the council’s Feb. 24 meeting.
Nate Wightman, a Lakewood resident for more than a quarter-century, said everyone loves parks and open space. But green space can’t be forced on the community at the expense of badly needed housing, he said — especially affordable housing.
Wightman, 58, recently launched a Change.org petition to push for the repeal of Lakewood’s ordinance. He claims it “creates a major barrier to development of desperately needed attainable housing for low to moderate income households and senior citizens.”
“It makes all these properties undevelopable,” he told The Denver Post. “We need housing and lots of it. To say density and a walkable community near a park is bad — I disagree.”
Krista Macco is in the midst of trying to get approval from Lakewood to build a 26-unit affordable apartment complex called Benton Transit Flats near West Colfax Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. She told the council Monday that as soon as the new ordinance took effect, requiring dedication of land for park use at the site, “everything screeched to a halt.”
“The investor didn’t feel comfortable moving forward with us, and it made this project, and any project on our lot, infeasible,” she said. “Without development, the project dies.”
During the earlier Feb. 3 council workshop, Councilman Roger Low said the new ordinance was “shot through with legal issues.” In December, the city was sued by Kairoi Properties LLC, the developer behind the 411-unit Belmar Park project that was the target of the ordinance.
The company claimed Lakewood changed its rules midstream for residential projects by eliminating the fee-in-lieu option and nearly doubling its green space dedication. The sudden change in rules, Kairoi has contended, threatens to tank its project.
Last month, a Jefferson County district judge imposed a preliminary injunction on Lakewood, forbidding the city from enforcing the land dedication restrictions on Kairoi’s project at 777 S. Yarrow St. until a trial could be held.
Despite the legal hazards, Low told his colleagues at the workshop that they must tread carefully in making changes to the city’s measure.
“There is a need to honor and listen to the over 6,000 Lakewood residents who did sign the (land-use) petition,” he said.
Lakewood resident Cathy Kentner helped lead the signature-gathering effort as a member of the advocacy group Save Open Space Lakewood. The city, she said, is “disseminating purposeful and gross misinterpretations of the new parkland dedication ordinance.”
“City officials have made the decision to require land dedication for the replacement of a single family home while blaming it on the recently passed Save Open Space Green initiative,” she wrote in an email to The Post. “And, what is even more ridiculous, they have told a landowner they must create an easement, a part of their yard, that would be open to the general public. This is clearly not what the new ordinance states.”
In the meantime, the Christensens are paying rent on a house where they live along with a mortgage on the house on West Illiff. Katie Christensen, 41, said she couldn’t imagine having to monitor her two young boys as anyone who wanted to step on their property — on the city-required park space — could choose to do so.
“We let them roam,” said Christensen, a lawyer. “I would not feel safe in my own neighborhood for them to have autonomy, which as young boys they need.”
She pointed to a ditch that runs through the lot. It’s the only reasonable place the couple say they could dedicate the required parkland to the city. She is worried they would be liable for anyone who injures themselves — or worse — on their land.
“Are we liable if someone drowns?” she asked. “We’re cautiously optimistic this will get resolved — but at what expense and on what timeline?”
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This post is sponsored and contributed by T-Mobile, a Patch Brand Partner.Lakewood|Local EventT-Mobile, Brand PartnerTue, Feb 11, 2025 at 8:30 AMT-Life App...
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This post is sponsored and contributed by T-Mobile, a Patch Brand Partner.Lakewood|Featured EventT-Mobile, Brand PartnerTue, Feb 18, 2025 at 8:30 AMT-Life App...
This post is sponsored and contributed by T-Mobile, a Patch Brand Partner.
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The Denver Federal Center, an institution for more than eight decades in the middle of Lakewood, faces an uncertain future as the new Trump administration begins the process of dramatically reducing the size of the federal workforce — and consolidating or cl...
The Denver Federal Center, an institution for more than eight decades in the middle of Lakewood, faces an uncertain future as the new Trump administration begins the process of dramatically reducing the size of the federal workforce — and consolidating or closing the office space and buildings they inhabit.
The General Services Administration, which acts as the federal government’s real estate manager and broker, is under orders to begin terminating leases on all of the roughly 7,500 federal offices nationwide. The 623-acre Denver Federal Center campus — or parts of it — could well end up in the cost-cutting crosshairs, local officials and representatives fear.
The agency’s regional managers have been told the goal is to terminate as many as 300 federal office leases per day.
The Federal Center, home to roughly 28 federal agencies, is considered the largest single grouping of agencies outside Washington, D.C. About 6,200 employees are spread across 44 buildings on the campus, which is at the southwest corner of Kipling Street and U.S. 6.
The center contains more than 4 million square feet of lab, warehouse and office space.
U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, who represents the Jefferson County-centered district in which the Federal Center sits, lambasted President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the billionaire businessman chosen by the president to help trim costs in the government, for their “repeated illegal attempts to put our federal workforce on the chopping block.”
In a Thursday statement to The Denver Post, Pettersen called the retrenchment orders an “unacceptable attack on our Constitution and the public servants who go to work every day in our district to conduct groundbreaking research, manage millions of acres of public lands, work on critical wildfire mitigation efforts and provide other critical services that Coloradans rely on and our tax dollars pay for.”
Among the federal agencies housed at the Federal Center are the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Land Management.
While there have been no official announcements made about the center’s future, The Post this week obtained a Feb. 4 letter from GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian to federal agencies stating that “President Trump has outlined a clear vision to restore efficiency, fiscal responsibility and optimism to the Federal Government.”
The letter, which does not mention the Denver Federal Center by name, says the GSA is tasked with “right-sizing the Federal office portfolio by accelerating the disposition of underutilized and inefficient buildings, reducing capital liabilities, and moving Federal operations into more modern and appropriately sized spaces.”
It asks agency heads to determine by Feb. 14 if “your agency’s ability to fulfill its mission will be irreparably compromised by a termination, and provide evidence thereof.” After that date, the GSA will begin ending leases for agencies that haven’t successfully argued for an exception, the letter reads.
A spokesman for the GSA didn’t address the Federal Center’s status when asked this week by The Post.
The GSA owns and leases more than 363 million square feet of space in 8,397 buildings in more than 2,200 communities nationwide. The properties include courthouses, post offices and data processing centers.
Lakewood Mayor Wendi Strom said the Federal Center “is critically important to the local and regional economy.”
“These dedicated public servants are also conducting important work that addresses the safety and welfare of the American people,” she said Thursday. “As with any industry contributing to our economy, any significant changes to the workforce or its facilities is of extreme concern.”
Any changes at the federal campus, Strom said, “should involve a prudent, planned process that includes the input of residents and representatives before any decision is made.”
Speculation about the future of the Denver Federal Center comes amid a nationwide fiscal restructuring effort by the Trump administration that included a directive last week attempting to freeze billions of dollars in federal spending. The funding suspension effort was quickly stopped by judges and rescinded — at least for the moment.
And this week, up to 40,000 civilian federal workers in Colorado — and thousands more across the nation — faced a tough choice: tender their resignations and be paid through Sept. 30 or hold firm and face future rounds of belt-tightening and strict return-to-office requirements as the government reduces remote accommodations.
A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the president’s ultimatum to federal workers after labor unions challenged it as illegal. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. in Boston paused its implementation until after he could hear arguments from both sides at a court hearing scheduled for Monday.
The Denver Federal Center, which started out in 1941 as the Denver Ordnance Plant making ammunition for soldiers fighting overseas during World War II, features the National Ice Core Laboratory. Its vault, with a temperature of 40 below zero, holds a half-million ice core samples from Antarctica, Greenland and high-mountain glaciers that date back 4.5 million years.
It is the largest ice repository in the world.
“It’s absolutely spectacular,” Jansen Tidmore, president and CEO of the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, said of the ice lab.
Tidmore worries more about lost jobs than lost buildings as cuts are made across government facilities.
“It’s about making sure we preserve jobs and the crucial research associated with them,” he said. “There’s a lot of pride in Colorado and Jefferson County in having the Denver Federal Center here.”
Denise Maes served as the GSA’s regional administrator for an area that included Colorado for more than two years under former President Joe Biden. Since it was a political appointment, she stepped down the minute after Trump was inaugurated for his second term on Jan. 20.
“It’s an icon in that part of Lakewood,” Maes, who worked in Building 41 during her tenure with GSA, said of the Federal Center. “There’s a history about it. There’s an economy around it.”
Like the fact that Building 810, a 675,000-square-foot warehouse, was once one of the biggest facilities of its type in the western United States, and the fact that Building 710 was built with a basement that can withstand a nuclear attack.
Maes said she feared the GSA’s current downsizing posture could harm — or even do away — with a Colorado institution.
“This is not recognizing the value of the place and what it does for Americans every day,” Maes said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The Denver Federal Center in Lakewood describes itself as the largest concentration of federal agencies outside of Washington D.C.LAKEWOOD, Colo. — There’s a federal campus in Colorado that’s home to more than two dozen government agencies. Now thousands of federal employees there are trying to decide whether they will resign over the next two days.As Presid...
The Denver Federal Center in Lakewood describes itself as the largest concentration of federal agencies outside of Washington D.C.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. — There’s a federal campus in Colorado that’s home to more than two dozen government agencies. Now thousands of federal employees there are trying to decide whether they will resign over the next two days.
As President Donald Trump and Elon Musk purge entire government agencies and work to reduce the workforce of others, the impacts are already being felt across Colorado.
The Denver Federal Center in Lakewood describes itself as the largest concentration of federal agencies outside of Washington D.C.
It is made up of buildings situated on 623 acres near 6th Avenue and Kipling Street. Twenty-six government agencies have a footprint there, and more than 6,000 employees have offices. And now, it's a campus full of questions and uncertainty as Trump and Musk vow to eliminate government agencies and reduce spending.
The mayor of Lakewood said her city has received no written order or information about any potential closures at the Federal Center. While staff here were sent to work from home during the pandemic, the city said most employees have returned to their offices in at least a hybrid model over the past year. In a statement, the mayor described the federal center as “critically important to the local and regional economy.”
"I can say that the Federal Center, with more than 6,000 employees, is critically important to the local and regional economy. These dedicated public servants are also conducting important work that addresses the safety and welfare of the American people. As with any industry contributing to our economy, any significant changes to the workforce or its facilities is of extreme concern. Any desire for change should involve a prudent, planned process that includes the input of local residents and representatives before any decision is made, as has been done in the past with significant actions such as military base closures," the statement from Lakewood Mayor Wendi Strom read in part.
Employees in Lakewood received several emails over the last couple of days, giving them the opportunity to resign. Employees who accept the resignation offer will “be exempt from any reductions-in-force that are planned for the federal workforce,” an email shared with 9NEWS from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management read.
Credit: KUSA
Another email sent to USDA employees on Monday assures them the agency “values their government service.” It goes on to give a deadline of Thursday for whether they are resigning.
Credit: KUSA
Just a couple miles away, the more than 3,000 employees at NREL are also feeling the impact. The government-owned facility operated by contractors focuses on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
An email shared with 9NEWS shows NREL is pausing all news releases, social media posts and the release of all publications. That includes any new submissions to scientific journals for publication.
The list of impacts of the federal government changes goes on in Colorado.
The University of Colorado has created a whole webpage answering questions for staff and students who worry about things like that their grant money will be taken away. 9NEWS spoke with one student at Colorado State University who said her internship offer at the Department of Justice was rescinded because of the hiring freeze.
From big to small, there are lots of impacts that we’re still beginning to understand.
If you are a federal employee or contractor in Colorado, and you'd like us to know something about what's going on, here are two ways to contact us.
Email us at [email protected] or text Next at 303-871-1491.
303-952-3060
