Meet the Staff/Contact Info
Veronica Maes, AAA Director
Veronica Maes serves as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Director at South Central Council of Governments (SCCOG) for Colorado’s Region 14. The mission of Region 14 AAA is to serve seniors (60+) of Huerfano and Las Animas Counties. Maes is responsible for administering programs funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA) of 1965 grant. She serves as an advocate on behalf of older adults in the region. Maes is a member of Colorado Association of Area Agency on Aging (C4A) and National Association of Area Agency on Aging (N4A). Maes was born and raised in Walsenburg, Colorado. She grew up in the same rural community that she serves today. Although needs of seniors have changed, the area remains the same small town feel. She left the area for some time after graduating from John Mall High School, gaining vast experience at a large insurance company and later settling into the medical field in an administrative capacity. She has decades of knowledge in insurance, medical, and human resources. After relocating back home in Walsenburg, she worked for a couple of years for SCCOG as a case manager in the Las Animas County Care Services program. This experience helped familiarize her with the Trinidad area and hone her skills working with the senior population.
Maes graduated Magna Cum Laude from Regis University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. She is also a Notary Public for the State of Colorado.
Due to her small town roots, along with her husband Robert who is also a native of the area, they decided that they wanted to raise their son in the same environment they grew up in. In addition, it allows her family to be close to her parents and help meet their needs while helping many others. In her spare time, she enjoys reading a good book, baking, cooking, and enjoying her family.
Contact information:
300 Bonaventure Avenue, Trinidad CO 81082
(719) 845-1133 ext. 225 or (719) 845-1130 (fax)
email: vmaes@sccog.net
Elizabeth Kelly, LTC Ombudsman
Elizabeth was born and raised in Colorado. She grew up in the Denver area and later raised her two children in Fort Collins, Colorado where she lived until moving to Trinidad in 2018. She attended Colorado State University where she received her BA in Social work and later her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Denver, College of Law.
As the LTC Ombudsman for Huerfano and Las Animas counties, Elizabeth works to help residents and their loved ones ensure everyone living in a long-term care facility receives high quality care.
Elizabeth has spent her entire career as a social worker and legal professional serving the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. She has worked as an LTC Ombudsman, a medical social worker in a hospital setting, practiced Disability and Elder Law, and worked as a Program Specialist for the Adult Protective Services Program for the state of Colorado.
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to return to my roots advocating for residents. It is truly my privilege to serve elders and their families in this role."
For questions or concerns you may contact the Ombudsman at 719-859-5755 or by email at ombudsman@sccog.net.