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 Daniels & Fisher 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 Denver, 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.
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 Washington 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 Mizuna or visit Molly Brown House Museum, 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 Denver, 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 Denver, 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 Denver, 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.
When longtime birder Patrick O’Driscoll saw a massive tropical bird slowly flying over Denver’s City Park last weekend, he almost couldn’t believe his eyes.Could it be a sandhill crane? No, that didn’t fit. It wasn’t a great blue heron, either.“I was dumbfounded that it was a wood stork, which is not supposed to be around here,” O’Driscoll said.Most often found in Florida and Mexico, a wood stork was last recorded in Colorado 91 years ago, according to records from Colorado...
When longtime birder Patrick O’Driscoll saw a massive tropical bird slowly flying over Denver’s City Park last weekend, he almost couldn’t believe his eyes.
Could it be a sandhill crane? No, that didn’t fit. It wasn’t a great blue heron, either.
“I was dumbfounded that it was a wood stork, which is not supposed to be around here,” O’Driscoll said.
Most often found in Florida and Mexico, a wood stork was last recorded in Colorado 91 years ago, according to records from Colorado Field Ornithologists.
Wood storks are North America’s only native stork and usually like living in southern swamps, according to the National Audubon Society. They’re mostly white with a naked, gray head and heavy bill, and typically grow to a little over 3 feet with a wing span of 5 feet or more.
O’Driscoll quickly took some photos as the stork circled Ferril Lake and headed west, and he shared them with the group’s mailing list while feeling a little guilty he was the only person to see the rare bird.
Until this week, when the wood stork was spotted hanging out in a pond in Broomfield, quickly drawing hundreds of birders from across the metro.
The August sightings are only the third time a wood stork has been recorded in Colorado, Peter Gent of Colorado Field Ornithologists said this week. The 1934 sighting was near the former Stapleton Airport. Before that, two wood storks were spotted at Fort Logan in 1902.
It’s not clear why this juvenile made the trek so far north, Gent said. A wood stork was also seen in Wisconsin earlier this month, another rare sighting.
“When birds get into odd places, it’s very frequently the juveniles that makes mistakes and get lost, so that’s consistent with it wandering some, but why the heck it’s here instead of Florida? Who knows,” he said.
There’s no telling how long the wood stork will hang around Alexx and Michael’s Pond near Zuni Street and West 132nd Avenue in Broomfield, Gent said.
An anhinga, which is also rarely seen in Colorado, camped out at a Boulder County pond for nearly 10 weeks before flying elsewhere earlier this summer.
“It’s absolutely not clear to me, but it seemed fairly content,” Gent said.
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Officials from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment warned on Monday about a possible measles exposure at Denver International Airport. The incident that led to the warning happened last week.On Tuesday an out-of-state traveler who had a confirmed case of measles arrived at the airport in the late afternoon and then departed on a different flight, the CDPHE said in a news release.The incoming and outgoing flights were both at Concourse C. The arriving flight came into Gate 51. The departing flight left from ...
Officials from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment warned on Monday about a possible measles exposure at Denver International Airport. The incident that led to the warning happened last week.
On Tuesday an out-of-state traveler who had a confirmed case of measles arrived at the airport in the late afternoon and then departed on a different flight, the CDPHE said in a news release.
The incoming and outgoing flights were both at Concourse C. The arriving flight came into Gate 51. The departing flight left from Gate 50. The time of possible exposure was between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist, said in a prepared statement that being in crowded public spaces like airports "increases the risk of exposure to various communicable diseases."
"It is important for everyone to stay up to date on their vaccinations, especially before traveling, to protect themselves and others," Herlihy said.
The CDPHE says getting the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) is the best way to protect against contracting measles.
If you were in Concourse C of Denver's airport in the late afternoon or early evening on Aug. 12, it is recommended to watch out for possible measles symptoms for 21 days after exposure. They begin with a fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. A rash usually starts on the face several days later and spreads.
In the same news release, the CDPHE also revealed that there is another confirmed case of measles in the state -- this time in Mesa County on the Western Slope. The person who got sick is an adult and their vaccination status isn't known.
Jesse Sarles
Jesse Sarles manages the web content and website operations for CBS Colorado. He writes articles about Colorado news and sports in and around the Denver area.
On Wednesday, the Denver Broncos shocked fans by to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for picks. Vele had been running with the first-team offense and had started seven games as a rookie last year, and the Broncos really valued him.That made the Vele trade one of the more difficult in Sean Payton's career as a head coach. According to Payton, Vele was the 26th player he's been involved in trading, 90% of which were "easy." Payton categorized the young wideout as being in the 10% that were "difficult.""...
On Wednesday, the Denver Broncos shocked fans by to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for picks. Vele had been running with the first-team offense and had started seven games as a rookie last year, and the Broncos really valued him.
That made the Vele trade one of the more difficult in Sean Payton's career as a head coach. According to Payton, Vele was the 26th player he's been involved in trading, 90% of which were "easy." Payton categorized the young wideout as being in the 10% that were "difficult."
"Those are the tough ones," Payton said after Thursday's practice." And really, I was only able to come up with two that were like that. [Former Saints running back] Darren Sproles was a tough decision, and I later regretted it. But most of the time, they're easier. But we wish him well."
When the phones started ringing about Vele, there were two teams interested, Payton said. He met with Broncos GM George Paton and they decided that they valued Vele too much to trade him.
However, when a third team got involved in the Vele conversation the next day, Saints GM Mickey Loomis anted up and made Payton an offer he couldn't refuse, including a 2026 fourth-round draft pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder.
"When it became a four and a seven, that was certainly something that I think George and I both knew," Payton said. "If it became a four, that's something we would do."
Aug 16, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Joey Blount (32) defends on Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) in the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
A big motivating factor in the deal was the emergence of young Broncos wideouts like Troy Franklin, rookie Pat Bryant, and veteran newcomer Trent Sherfield. Looking ahead to regular-season gamedays, Payton knew he'd only be dressing five receivers, and the ascension of these other players made the head coach question whether Vele would be one of the guys who'd suit up.
"When you guys factor in where Troy's at, where Pat's at, where Sherfield's at. We can keep six receivers. We're probably only going to get five to the game," Payton said. "And look, he [Vele] probably would have been going to the game but there would have been discussion as to, out of the six, how are we looking at our gameday?"
Payton had a feeling that his young and deep roster would generate some interest from the other 31 NFL teams as soon as the preseason tape became available. It sounds like he also had a hunch that Vele might be one of those players.
"I said this a few weeks ago, I think we have a few players here that may end up playing for other teams," Payton said. "And here's one."
Payton says that the Broncos haven't begun the process of reaching out to shop certain players. He also said that no other Bronco has been the subject of trade inquiries yet.
"We haven't received any other interest," Payton said. "We haven't reached out and began the process because we're deep and there's still a lot of competition going on. But this was unique."
As a 2024 seventh-round pick out of Utah (No. 235 overall), Vele had a very productive rookie season. He surpassed fellow rookie Franklin on the depth chart to start seven games, totaling 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns.
However, Vele has struggled to stay healthy. Injuries cost him four games last season. Earlier this summer, a lower-leg injury caused him to miss the Broncos' mandatory minicamp in June.
Vele, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, entered the league on the older side (26) after serving a two-year LDS mission. He'll be turning 28 later this year. His maturity may have helped him stand out to the coaches and accelerated him through his rookie learning curve.
"We're having to look at the roster as a whole and trying to find the right and the best 53. But the thing different—and I looked over those trades, those other 25, and 90% of them were easy trades to make," Payton said. "Meaning, there wasn't the right fit, for whatever reason, and then there's that 10% that are difficult and this was one of those 10% that, man, all the things that we look for: discipline, structure, smart, tough, talented. That's why this one was difficult. And certainly, New Orleans was looking. Just talking with Mickey, they felt they were missing a bigger receiver."
The truth is, as much as the Broncos liked Vele, they made out like bandits in this deal. Not only are the Broncos extremely deep at wide receiver with a lot of youth, but they got back the seventh-round pick they invested in Vele last year, and netted an additional fourth-rounder for the development they'd put into him.
That's a king's ransom for a second-year receiver poised to turn 28 during the football season, irrespective of the number of starts he had as a rookie. Anyone grading this trade lower than an A+ for the Broncos has an ax to grind or doesn't know what they're talking about.
Moving forward, the Vele trade creates a vacuum at receiver, but it allows young players like Franklin and Bryant to fill it. Both wideouts have proven throughout this preseason that they have a lot to offer the Broncos' offense.
Yes, Denver objectively got the best of the Saints in this trade, but at first glance, it's a deal that should greatly benefit both teams, provided New Orleans can cultivate some stability at quarterback under first-time head coach Kellen Moore.
Colorado's fall colors in the state's mountains are emerging a couple of weeks early in 2025 as yellows and oranges are beginning to appear ahead of the annual September change over.At locations like on Fremont Pass outside Leadville, around Tolland in Gilpin County and near Frisco in Summit County, leaves have begun changing colors.Driving factors to this year's earlier change are mostly due to drought conditions across the state.The three key factors that affect leaf changing timelines in the mountains are adequate sno...
Colorado's fall colors in the state's mountains are emerging a couple of weeks early in 2025 as yellows and oranges are beginning to appear ahead of the annual September change over.
At locations like on Fremont Pass outside Leadville, around Tolland in Gilpin County and near Frisco in Summit County, leaves have begun changing colors.
Driving factors to this year's earlier change are mostly due to drought conditions across the state.
The three key factors that affect leaf changing timelines in the mountains are adequate snowpack from the previous winter, sufficient summer-time rain, and cool nights and sunny days.
Colorado's snowpack suffered in some spots over winter 2024-25, leaving some areas in western and southwestern Colorado very dry heading into summer.
Furthermore, monsoonal rains didn't fall in the mountains as much, focusing their rains onto the eastern Plains and Front Range foothills.
Lastly, daytime highs and nighttime lows have been less than ideal for the trees to undergo their more natural leaf-turning timeline shift, which usually starts at the beginning of September.
Due to the lack of both snowpack and summer rains, trees drank most of the available water in the soil already, kick starting the leaf changing process earlier than normal.
Typically, colors peak in Colorado's northern mountains — the Park, Mummy, Never Summer and Rabbit Ears ranges — throughout the month of September. The central mountains — the Flattops, Gore, Sawatch, and Front ranges — peak the last week of the month. The southern mountains — San Juans, Sangre de Cristo, Wet and Spanish Peak ranges — peak the first and second weeks of October.
9News Meteorologist Chris Bianchi said Monday, the peak fall colors could occur between 7 to 10 days earlier in 2025 and with less vibrancy in colors.
What does September 2025's monthly outlook like for the fall colors?
The National Weather Service's monthly temperature outlook for September shows all of Colorado is forecast to have at least a 40-50% chance or higher of above-average temperatures for the month. The farther west one travels the higher the chances of above-average temperatures climb, which encompasses the mountains of central Colorado and the Western Slope.
Concurrently, the monthly precipitation outlook for September has approximately 75% of Colorado having a 33-40% chance of below-average precipitation and the western quarter of the state a 40-50% or greater chance of below-average precipitation.
The forecast for the last 10 days of August is promising as rain and cooler temperatures are expected.
However, because the summer was hot and dry, and lacked a good snowpack and summer-time rains, new precipitation and cooler temperatures might not be sufficient enough to help slow down the leaves from changing. But the rain could help increase the possibility of color intensity because the trees have fresh water to absorb.
Aspen trees, if stressed during a drought, can turn leaves mostly brown or dull yellows and oranges, affecting leaf-peeping viewers who enjoy the brilliance of the fall change.
The chances of a muted leaf-change and earlier change in 2025 are increased than in ideal years because of the factors listed above.
In an attempt to balance next year's budget, the city of Denver is laying off 171 employees and eliminating 665 other open positions, which is expected to free up $500,000 of the massive $200 million budget gap for next year.One city employee who is in the middle of suing the city is one of those impacted by layoffs. Jessica Calderon spent decades working in the office of Social Equity and Innovation; now she's working to figure out the next steps."I'm feeling, obviously, a sense of loss, because I had a 21-year career,&qu...
In an attempt to balance next year's budget, the city of Denver is laying off 171 employees and eliminating 665 other open positions, which is expected to free up $500,000 of the massive $200 million budget gap for next year.
One city employee who is in the middle of suing the city is one of those impacted by layoffs. Jessica Calderon spent decades working in the office of Social Equity and Innovation; now she's working to figure out the next steps.
"I'm feeling, obviously, a sense of loss, because I had a 21-year career," Calderon said.
Beyond her career, she also doesn't know the future of the projects she's worked on.
"It's heartbreaking because it took a lot of work to set the office up," Calderon said, "It's disappointing our residents need these services. They need them."
Calderon's layoff also comes in the middle of a lawsuit. Last summer, Calderon sued the city for political retaliation and discrimination, and now she says she's worried it factored into her losing her job.
"We we're all in shock and disbelief, and so I think we will be talking about what comes next, and a lot of us will be thinking of that, but right now, we're trying to take it all in, because I don't think anyone could have ever imagined that this is where we would be as a city," Calderon said.
And as she says her severance package would prevent her from future lawsuits with the city, she might not take it. All as she tries to figure out what's next.
"We are just connecting and being in support of one another in this situation, building a support network to help get through this," Calderon said.
President of the American Federation of State County Municipal Employees Union 158, Michael Wallin, says they're frustrated with the guidelines that determine layoff eligibility. Wallin also says they're working to host information sessions later this week with some city council members to help those who have been laid off navigate next steps.
"I'm not feeling good about this. I mean... we'd rather see, you know, a healthy workforce with the city," Wallin said, "Those of us who are still at the city, our jobs are going to get a lot more complicated. We're going to be taking on more duties, more tasks to, you know, cover for those who are laid off, and to and to cover for those positions that we're going to be filled in the future, that those 600 jobs are not going to be full, so we've got a lot of work to ahead of us, and no help is coming."
CBS Colorado reached out to the city Tuesday night about Calderon's case specifically and will continue to share any updates as we follow this story.
Sarah Horbacewicz
Your Reporter Sarah Horbacewicz specializes in covering stories in Boulder and Broomfield counties. Share you story ideas with her by sending an email to [email protected].
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