Senior benefits in Dolores County, Colorado

San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging (Region 9) serves older adults and caregivers in Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan counties, including Dolores County. It offers Older Americans Act help for adults 60 and over — options counseling, benefits enrollment help, service vouchers, Medicare counseling, and long-term care ombudsman help. Call 970-264-0501 to get connected.

Estimated service value: $200–$2,000 a year

Colorado's Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) helps pay part of winter heating costs. Residents of Dolores County can get a LEAP application or help applying from the Dolores County Department of Social Services in Dove Creek. Call 970-677-2250, or apply online through Colorado PEAK.

Estimated bill savings: $200–$1,000 a year

Dolores County has no hospital; the nearest one residents use is Southwest Memorial Hospital (Southwest Health System, Cortez), where uninsured and underinsured patients can apply for financial assistance (charity care) for emergency and medically necessary care. Free or discounted care is based on household income and size. Southwest Health screens for Colorado Hospital Discounted Care and has its own Financial Assistance Program (charity care). Call a financial assistance coordinator at 970-564-2131.

Estimated bill savings: about $0 a year

Dolores County Senior Services runs a demand-response transit service for area residents, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, for medical appointments, errands, and outings. Rides go from Dove Creek to nearby towns and to Cortez and Durango, and to some cities in Utah and New Mexico. Seniors pay by suggested donation; medical trips come first. Call 970-677-2787.

Estimated service value: $150–$1,500 a year