Routt County Council on Aging Changes Name
Nonprofit for older adults gets ready to SOAR
By Suzie Roming | January 14, 2026
To ring in the new year, the long-standing independent nonprofit Routt County Council on Aging has changed its name to SOAR, or Serving Older Adults in Routt, an acronym the group says better represents the vitality of the organization.
To ring in the new year, the long-standing independent nonprofit Routt County Council on Aging has changed its name to SOAR, or Serving Older Adults in Routt, an acronym the group says better represents the vitality of the organization.
“Our board believes this captures the momentum of our organization as well as the spirit of the people we serve,” said April Sigman, SOAR executive director. “Our mission remains the same — to determine the needs of Routt County senior citizens and to make every effort to meet those needs with appropriate action. Our services are a lifeline for basic needs and socialization in our community.”
“The biggest message is there is a momentum and excitement within the organization right now,” SOAR board president Chris Myers said. “The new name reflects the spirit of the organization, and I’m just really excited about where we’re heading.”
Jean Levine, immediate past board president of the organization for three years, said “the name change represents how much our efforts are growing.” She said the board brainstormed the name change for months and involved clients to land on SOAR.
“The choice we made represents we are growing, we are moving and serving more older adults continually,” Levine said.
Participation numbers as well as the breadth of experiences and activities are increasing through the nonprofit organization, which offers meals, meal deliveries, outings and field trips, exercise classes, game and craft gatherings, holiday and special events, and educational seminars.
Sigman said that during the past six months, the organization has experienced a 16% growth in the number of meals served, which includes both Meals on Wheels deliveries and Eat and Greet group lunch participation at three locations including in Steamboat, Oak Creek and Hayden. In addition, utilization of the organization’s Helping Hands program, which provides nonmedical home visits for a donation of $15 per hour, have increased by 20%.
Levine listed a few current examples of how the Helping Hands program is assisting Routt County residents, ranging from a senior man who is visually impaired and needs help with processing his bills to a senior woman experiencing some temporary health issues and needing help with light housework.
“It’s a huge, huge uplift for people who might have mobility limitations, or physical limitations,” Levine said of Helping Hands. “It helps them to have a peaceful, orderly space to make all their own.”
SOAR is an independent nonprofit organization that started in 1977 and serves citizens 60 and older across Routt County — and the county’s population is aging.
According to U.S. census estimates from July 2024, the population of Routt County age 65 and older was 20.2%, compared with 16.4% across Colorado.
“Routt County is aging faster than the state,” Sigman said. “Across Routt County there has been at least an 8.9% increase in the percentage of residents over the age of 65 from 2010 to 2023.”
That statistic comes from the Housing Market and Demand Study prepared for Yampa Valley Housing Authority, Sigman noted.
Funding for the organization comes largely from grants and private donations, and the group reported generous donations during Colorado Gives Day on Dec. 9, receiving $35,804 from 133 donors within 24 hours.
The SOAR board is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise funds to establish a location for a designated Routt County Senior Center. Currently the nonprofit has a long-term agreement to lease space inside the Steamboat Springs Community Center.
“We’ve outgrown that space partnership,” Levine noted, which is another reason the group changed its name to SOAR.
“We’ve grown beyond our current capacity at the community center,” Myers said. “The need is growing. The organization has to grow correspondingly to meet that need.”
The regular programs at SOAR include Eat and Greet lunches that are a $3 donation, delivery of Meals on Wheels by volunteers and loans of medical equipment. A transportation shuttle is available to meal sites, activities, medical appointments, grocery shopping or other errands with reservations required 48 hours in advance.
SOAR also offers Bingo and Bridge, Knit and Crochet, Mahjong, Arthritis Exercise Association Fitness Class, Dance Vitality, Tai Chi and Yoga for Arthritis. All SOAR events can be found on the website RCCoAging.org and through the group’s monthly newsletter.