Vail Health and Caregiver Connections Are Working to Fill in Quality Care Gaps for Eagle County’s Older Adults

Vail Health and Caregiver Connections plan to expand support for seniors, as Eagle County faces a rapidly aging demographic. According to Vail Health’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, the county has the second-highest life expectancy in Colorado at 91.4 years. The senior population grew by 125% between 2010 and 2020 and is expected to keep growing.

To meet this growing need, Vail Health will expand its support for Caregiver Connections in 2026. The increased funding will allow Caregiver Connections to double its respite programming by adding two days per week at a new midvalley location in Avon, complementing the two days already offered at the Senior Spot in Eagle.

To further support the growing senior population, Vail Health has broadened its services for older adults in several key areas. The trauma prevention program now offers fall prevention education to everyone age 65 and older who visits the emergency room after a fall. In collaboration with Eagle County Paramedic Services, Vail Health is also enhancing care transitions for patients discharged from inpatient care, and behavioral health staff are receiving specialized training to better assist patients with dementia and behavioral health needs.

Building on these initiatives, Vail Health has also launched an “Age-Friendly Health System” program, endorsed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. This program further addresses health concerns specific to older adults, creating a more comprehensive continuum of care.

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