Denver, CO
Denver nursing home residents suffering from falls get a helping hand with The People Picker Upper
It was a simple problem for Steve Powell, but a common one for many people with older relatives. His mom and dad kept falling.
Both his parents, who were divorced, wanted to age in separate homes. However, due to their advanced age, whenever they would fall, they needed help getting up.
Powell’s mom, Norma, would often call 911, only to be embarrassed after firefighters broke down her door to help her to her feet.
“She fell six times in four weeks,” said Powell. “She was so humiliated she said she would never call 911 again.”
Powell’s dad Eveet, had his own issues.
“After the first couple of weeks, he was literally bruised under his arms and around his shoulders from people picking him up,” said Powell.
Although a common problem, Powell couldn’t find an easy solution. Calling EMS or Powell meant that his parents could wait on the floor for long periods. To solve the issue, Powell, took matters into his own hands.
“I searched the world for an answer, didn’t find it, so I built it,” said Powell.
He invented a company he called IndeeLift, with a device he called The People Picker-Upper.
Although both his parents have passed, Powell has expanded the company, selling the devices to at-home customers and nursing homes.
“The IndeeLift has been magical,” said Karen Brockmann, the health services director for Gardens Care in Denver.
Gardens Care has 19 homes across the Denver area, after a series of falls, they decided to get a people picker-upper for every home.
“It’s a huge selling point for us,” said Brockmann. “People want to know their family member is safe here, this definitely sets their mind at ease a bit.”
The IndeeLift looks a little wonky, almost like a vacuum cleaner. The wheels on the bottom allow it to be rolled throughout the home and it has straps to secure people to a seat flush to the ground. The fallen person can press a button to be elevated.
Brockmann says the machine is necessary, because nursing home attendants legally can’t lift their residents after a tumble. A fall requires a call to EMS, which could take time since it’s considered a “low-priority call.”
“Sometimes they’re here within 10-15 minutes, but it can take upwards of half an hour or longer for them to get here,” said Brockmann.
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Denver, CO
Tempers flare during another tightly contested matchup between Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder
The University of Denver will close the Ricks Center for Gifted Children next year as enrollment has fallen in recent years, the college announced this week.
The Ricks Center, which serves gifted children as young as 3 years old, will operate for the 2026-27 academic year before closing, according to a letter DU sent parents on Wednesday.
“The University of Denver has made the difficult decision to close the Ricks Center for Gifted Children at the conclusion of the 2026–2027 academic year,” spokesman Jon Stone said in a statement. “This decision reflects long-term operational and financial considerations and is not a reflection of the school’s quality, leadership, or community.”
The center, which is located on DU’s campus, was started in 1984 as the University Center for Gifted Young Children. The program offers classes to students in preschool through eighth grade, according to the website.
The program, along with other public K-12 schools in the state, has experienced declining enrollment in recent years. The center enrolled 142 students for the 2025-26 academic year, which is down from 200 pupils four years ago.
The center will hold a meeting about the pending closure on March 6 for parents.
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David Fountaine Black
OBITUARY
Dave and Martha and their three boys moved to Denver in 1974 when Dave started work at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. He and a business partner later purchased Mid-America Plating Company. Dave operated Mid-America for 36 years and finally retired in 2018.
He was a great golfer and natural athlete. Dave was an avid runner, and for many years, he woke up before the sun to get his miles in before work. He and Martha loved playing bridge with friends, gardening – growing fruit and flowers – and spending time outside relaxing and walking on the High Line Canal Trail and in Bible Park. Dave and Martha enjoyed getting back to Arizona during the winter at their Tucson home. They loved spending time with their family.
Dave passed away on February 20, 2026. He is loved by family and friends and will be missed. Dave was a hard-working, kind, optimistic, and thoughtful person who leaves the world a better place. He is survived by his wife, Martha, and his three sons, Dave (Robin), Tom (Debbie), Eric (Kendra), as well as six grandchildren and three great grandchildren, Casey (Nicole), Jake (Ashleigh and great granddaughter Faye), Hailey (Robby and great granddaughter Jensen), Keenan (Nicole and great granddaughter Olivia), Griffin, and Addie (Erik).
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