On September 8, 2025, the Colorado Center for Aging Advocacy Committee convened for its monthly meeting, focused on deepening our understanding of Colorado’s changing demographics and what those shifts mean for advocacy on behalf of older adults. The meeting featured a detailed presentation from Nancy Gedeon, Demographer with the Colorado State Demography Office.
Key Themes from the State Demography Office
Nancy began with a reminder that while some population patterns remain consistent year to year, Colorado’s current trends highlight both challenges and opportunities for advocates and policymakers. Among the main takeaways:
- Population growth is slowing. Colorado is still adding residents, but at a slower pace than in the past decade. Declining birth rates and increasing deaths (a natural result of an aging population) are key drivers.
- Migration drives growth. The most significant factor in population change is not births or deaths, but migration. Economic opportunities, housing availability, and affordability continue to shape who moves in and out of Colorado.
- Rising diversity. Younger Coloradans are more racially and ethnically diverse than older generations. This growing diversity means that future older adult populations will look different from today’s, bringing new cultural perspectives and policy needs.
- The impact of the pandemic. While Colorado grew faster than the national average from 2010 to 2020, growth slowed significantly after 2015 and was further disrupted by COVID-19. Today, Colorado’s growth is closer to the national average, and other states have moved ahead in growth rates.
Shifting Age Dynamics
A central theme of Nancy’s presentation was the demographic shift toward an older population. Colorado continues to see increases in the share of residents over 65. This has ripple effects on housing, workforce participation, health care demand, and caregiving needs.
Nancy also emphasized the role of her office in producing updated forecasts and analysis. With a small but skilled team, including experts in projections, economics, GIS mapping, and housing, the State Demography Office will release its annual forecast at the upcoming State Demography Summit on November 7, 2025.
Discussion
Following the presentation, attendees discussed how these demographic realities intersect with their work. Housing affordability, access to health services, and support for family caregivers were top concerns. The group also recognized the importance of building stronger cross-generational connections as Colorado becomes more diverse.
Several members noted the importance of continuing off-session meetings like this one, which allow the committee to learn from experts and refine advocacy strategies before the legislative session begins.
Looking Ahead
As Colorado ages, the need for strong, evidence-based advocacy has never been greater. The September 8 meeting reminded us that demographics shape the context in which we work. CCA will continue to ground our efforts in solid data and pay close attention to the lived realities of older adults across the state.
We look forward to continuing these conversations and encourage all members and partners to mark their calendars for the State Demography Office’s November Summit, where the latest projections will be shared.
Click here to see the slides from Nancy’s presentation.