​Spring Fling Wine Pairing Soirée  Join us for Archuleta Seniors Inc. Spring Fling Wine Pairing Soiree on April 11, 2025  from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Ross Aragon Community Center, 451 Hot Springs Blvd. Enjoy a selection of exceptional curated wines, savory appetizers from Mountain Bluebird Catering, and delicious chocolates from PS Chocolates, all crafted by local artisans. Live music from the gifted Gus Palma will enhance the evening’s ambiance.  The soirée will also feature a silent auction with unique items and fantastic door prizes. This event invites everyone—singles, couples, and groups—to enjoy an unforgettable evening while supporting Archuleta Seniors Inc. Tickets are limited, so don’t miss out! Purchase tickets at https://givebutter.com/SpringFlingWinePairing, call 970-264-2167, or visit our office.
Why Fundraise?  Poverty rates for individuals aged 65 and older in Archuleta County have risen from 5.2% to 9.0%, impacting approximately 1,300 individuals. The soirée is crucial for raising funds to support essential health and social services for vulnerable older adults and family caregivers in our community.  Poverty in rural America presents barriers to vital resources for all age groups but older adults are especially vulnerable, including experiencing barriers to:  healthcare, healthy food, and affordable housing among other critical supports. Archuleta Seniors Inc. operates independently as a non-profit, relying on public and private funding, donations, and over 70 community volunteers. Unfortunately, funding sources have been unstable, making your support vital for our efforts to serve the community effectively.

Impact of Archuleta Seniors Inc.  Since 2023, over 1,000+ unduplicated older adults and caregivers in Archuleta County have benefited annually from our signature nutrition program, which offers nutritious meals served in a welcoming environment. In 2024 alone, we provided approximately 25,000 meals, including deliveries to homebound older adults, a convenient grab-n-go service and dine-in/socialize options. Annually, we also serve 600+ unduplicated older adults and caregivers via facilitating quality referrals to local organizations/agencies, providing social connection and support through various activities, including community clinics, fun games, educational classes, discussion groups, and creative and empowering community events. 

​Our local theatre in Pagosa Springs, Colorado is starting to offer Spanish language foreign films! First up and timely as ever is the film El Norte:
When a group of Mayan Indians decides to organize a labor union to improve conditions in their village, their community is violently destroyed by the Guatemalan army. Teenage siblings, Rosa (Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez) and Enrique (David Villalpando) manage to escape the massacre and decide to start a new life in El Norte -- the USA. The two trek through Mexico, meeting a variety of characters and facing trials and tribulations on their journey toward lives as illegal immigrants in Los Angeles.

Join the New Caregiver Support Group  Here in Pagosa Springs, the Senior Center will be hosting a new support group beginning in March of 2025. If you are caring for a family member or friend with physical/mental disability, or emotional health needs, or cognitive decline; this group was created for you. Note:  This group is not limited to only caregivers of older adults.  Caregivers of all types are welcome. This group offers a safe, welcoming space for caregivers seeking connection, empathy, and encouragement. Whether you’re looking for understanding during difficult times or just need a community to lean on, we’re here for you. These sessions will also offer educational resources to grow you in the knowledge and skill to strengthen self care, to care for your loved ones and empower you to navigate your role as a caregiver; one day at a time.  Dates for the monthly caregiver support gathering in 2025 include:  March 27th, April 24th, May 22th, June 26th, July 24th, August 28th, September 25th, October 23rd, November 20nd and December 18th and all meetings will be held at the Ross Aragon Community Center in the West Conference Room from 10:30 am to 12 pm. If you have questions or would like to be added to our announcement list, please contact Yeun Fiedler at (970) 946-5810, or Madeline Sutton at (970) 507-1574.  

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​Free Brain Fitness & Mobility Program Starts January 13  Join us, starting on Monday, January 13, 2025 through March 3, 2025 from 10:00 am – 10:45 am at your Pagosa Senior Center for a free 6-week new Ageless Grace® exercise program, taught by Judy, a trained Ageless Grace® facilitator who will support and help you learn gentle movements to enhance brain health and mobility. We will spend 30 minutes in a chair exercising and stimulating five areas of our brain functioning. Yes, it is possible to strengthen our neural connections even as we age! Anyone, ages 21 and older are invited and encouraged to participate in this program.  Ageless Grace® is a cutting-edge brain fitness program based on neuroplasticity that activates all five functions of the brain – strategic planning, memory/recall, analytical thinking, creativity and imagination, kinesthetic learning – and simultaneously addresses all twenty-one physical skills needed for lifelong optimal health functioning.  Ageless Grace® is a highly effective brain fitness program that keeps participants moving and thinking through the power of play! Because wellness shouldn’t have to be boring or painful – in fact, it should be fun! https://agelessgrace.com/  To watch a Ted Talk on “Ageless Grace” go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXTpLgtH60

​Holiday wishes from Archuleta Senior Inc.’s executive director
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or another annual celebration, this time of year is the opportunity to take stock of our blessings, rekindle new and old relationships, spend time with the ones we love and for many, exchange gifts and best wishes to those closest in our lives.
Always, but especially this time of year, I derive great satisfaction from serving within an organization that is committed to making the lives of others better. I am very blessed to be able to work alongside individuals dedicated to serving older adults and their families, and I give thanks for all our team members, our over 70 volunteers, and the over 1,000 elders we serve through our community-based service programs.
This year will mark the third holiday season for the Archuleta-Chavez family where our matriarch flies south to be with other family for the winter and the rest of her children pull together to celebrate and count our blessings together without our precious darling.
As primary caretaker of my aging mother, this will provide me an opportunity to have a little more downtime, engage in more self care and strengthen my support networks with others. And, of course, advance the ambitious strategic plan that the Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) Board of Directors and community have prioritized for the coming year. We look forward to sharing the details with you all in early 2025.
I am truly grateful for all my loved ones, family, friends and the countless community members, acquaintances, and colleagues that have embraced me as an ally, friend and leader to advance and strengthen the health and resilience of the Archuleta community.
It is the honor of a lifetime to return to my hometown, land of my ancestors, to leverage my education and lived experience to care for my community and live my purpose. Thank you for this ongoing opportunity and trust. My wish for each of you this season and for 2025 is that you experience those moments of solidarity and joy that strengthen your hope and bring you closer to your neighbors and the ones you love.
In your service, Rose D. Chavez MPH, aka “Rosa”ASI executive director.
Pic: Rosa and her mother Alice's hands embraced.

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​Thanks to Chris and Rue of Terra Walk Farm and our executive director Rose for a great discussion and seasonal food demonstration this afternoon. We discussed how to make the most out of the CSA vegetable shares community members have been receiving as a result of a unique partnership between Archuleta Seniors Inc., Terra Walk Farm and funding/technical assistance from Nourish Colorado.
Our get together turned into an incredible think tank of food sovereignty, preservation, waste prevention and community connections! Most importantly we got to share a salad and enjoy some lesser known vegetables. This really fuels our fire for what we do! Thanks for everyone who tuned out for the event! #publichealthnutrition #grateful #pagosaseniors
#localfood #foodsecurity #foodjustice