Assisted living is a great senior care option for relatively independent seniors who could benefit from assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, eating, and toileting. In Colorado, many assisted living communities offer residents access and scenic views of the state’s natural landscapes, from flowing grasslands to the billowing Rocky Mountains, which make the state an oasis for any outdoor enthusiast. The cost of A Place for Mom’s partner assisted living communities in Colorado ranges from about $3,000 to $7,200 per month, depending on a range of factors.[01]
[name removed] was at assisted-living for about three days. He then wandered off and kind of got lost. So they had me use helping hearts at home or helping hands at home. I don't remember what your name was...
Brookdale and their entire staff has always been very pleasant and attentive to my mother. She can sometimes be a challenge and they always do very well with her.
The staff and caregivers at Brookdale Pinehurst Park are outstanding! They treat my mom like she is their family and make the effort to meet her where she's at in her dementia journey. They are highly...
The staff and caregivers at Brookdale Pinehurst Park are outstanding! They treat my mom like she is their family and make the effort to meet her where she's at in her dementia journey. They are highly...
They staff is SO accommodating and kind. The facility is extremely clean. Very happy with our choice to put our Father at Brookdale Lowry They have been fantastic!
A place for Mom was fantastic in helping to find a place for Dad. The compassionate people helping our family go through this struggle made our search easy and hassle free. We recommend A place for Mom to...
StoneCreek of Littleton is a beautiful facility. My dad says that he loves being able to live there. The staff is friendly and they all know my dad's name. The food is high-quality and my dad enjoys it. I am...
We had an excellent experience. The staff was incredibly kind and patient with us, our situation and our father.We picked the place because it was not overly big, location was good (there were closer...
The ratio of staff to residents is the best I'd found! As for the staff personally, they have been and are the sweetest, most dedicated, and hardworking group of people I've been around. They are welcoming...
I would recommend the community to others, with the caveat that not everything promised will be delivered. The community is very nice but some things were promised that aren't being provided. In general, my...
I chose this facility due to access to the outside for the residents as well as the value for the money. All of my interactions have been positive.
It is very clean. They could improve on the consistency of care. I would caution people to look carefully regarding any assisted living facility.
Aspens was good. Aspens was able to effectively and professionally manage dad from the get-go, where others had never been able to. They were knowledgeable and capable. [name removed] was always available...
They are all a 5s. We are extremely pleased! It's residential feel. The apartment is so nice and we would absolutely recommend this community to other families!
The floor staff is always friendly. they do seem to turn over on a regular basis. the administrative staff has turned over multiple times since my parents have been there. we have mainly had communication...
According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data, the monthly cost of our assisted living communities in Colorado ranges between approximately $3,000 and $7,200, averaging at about $5,300. This is slightly higher than the national average cost of assisted living, which is about $5,100 a month.[01] These prices are reflective of actual costs experienced by seniors referred to their assisted living community by A Place for Mom, and they account for all fees paid, including care, services, and amenities.
Assisted living costs can range for a variety of reasons, including the following:
Whatever the price of your or a loved one’s assisted living ends up being, there are a variety of financial aid programs that can help you stay on top of your payment and potentially reduce some costs. Read about Colorado’s options below.
Average monthly costs
Colorado
US National average
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Most families pay for long-term care using a combination of payment methods, including personal savings, Medicare, Medicaid, and any applicable veterans benefits. Considering that at least 20% of today’s 65-year-olds will require some form of long-term care for at least five years, it’s critical to start planning ahead for assisted living costs.[02]
From selling your home to leveraging Social Security income, there are a range of private pay options that can help cover the cost of assisted living in Colorado.
Colorado is home to about 348,485 veterans, just over 20% of whom are 75 or older.[03] Many veterans are unaware of all the benefits available to them and their spouses. Or, if they are aware, they assume they don’t qualify. However, The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a range of benefits that help veterans pay for assisted living. Even if you think you won’t qualify, they’re more than worth checking into.
If you or your loved one is a wartime veteran and has a disability due to their service, additional VA benefits could also apply. Read through the VA’s list of service-connected ailments to find out.
Eligibility requirements for VA benefits can get convoluted, and the application process can be tricky at times. For benefit assistance, consider reaching out to local benefit counselors. They can help determine which benefits you’re eligible for, address your questions or concerns, and walk you through the application process.
In Colorado, local veterans benefit resources include benefits counselors, VA centers, and veterans service organizations (VSOs), including the following:
Medicaid is a state and federal health care program for individuals with a low income, including qualifying adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. Medicaid is funded jointly by federal and state governments, but each state can manage its Medicaid program and services differently. While it doesn’t cover costs of room and board in assisted living, Medicaid can pay for many assisted living services, such as personal care and on-site therapy services.
Colorado’s Medicaid program is called Health First Colorado, and it’s administered by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. To find out if you qualify, Health First Colorado recommends submitting an application. You can apply using the following methods:
Medicaid offers waiver programs to allow more qualifying individuals to have access to the benefits and services they need. Home and community-based (HCBS) waivers allow qualifying individuals to remain in their home and community. Colorado’s HCBS waivers for adults include the following:[04]
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for eligible individuals 65 and older and people with disabilities. Medicare can help cover some assisted living costs, except the cost of personal care or room and board. Depending on your eligibility status, Medicare coverage could include medically necessary costs associated with assisted living.
Each state has its own Medicare Savings Programs. These can help eligible individuals with limited income and resources cover costs that basic Medicare may not cover, such as premiums, deductibles, and copayments. Colorado’s Medicare Savings Programs include the following:[05]
Other Medicare programs available in Colorado include the following:
If at any point you need further help navigating Medicare or any Medicare-adjacent programs, consider reaching out to your local ombudsman or Social Security Administration (SSA). Colorado’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program serves to assist residents in long-term care settings, including assisted living residences. For Medicare assistance through the SSA, residents in Colorado should contact the SSA’s Denver Region at 1-800-772-1213. You can also enter your ZIP code into their Social Security Office Locator to find the closest office near you and make an in-person appointment.
In Colorado, assisted living communities are referred to as Assisted Living Residences (ALRs). The state defines ALRs as residential facilities that house three or more adults who are unrelated to the owner and provides the following:[06]
The Department of Public Health and Environment licenses assisted living residences. Specific examples of ALR regulatory requirements in Colorado include the following:[06]
You can find and compare any of Colorado’s licensed and state-certified health care providers using the Department of Public Health and Environment’s Health Facility Search Site. You can also use this site to find information on a facility’s vaccination reporting, list of inspections and occurrences within the last five years, and more.
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
We developed a system to rate each state on how easy — or difficult — it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and we compiled tips to help you in your search.
States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.
Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of Colorado is high. Key findings that informed this rating include:
We developed a standard methodology for state data collection and evaluation, and we based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, February 18). How much care will you need? Administration for Community Living (ACL).
United States Census Bureau. (2021). American community survey: Colorado, 75 years and over, veteran status (S2101).
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Home and community-based services waivers.
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Medicare Savings Programs (MSP).
National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). (2022). Assisted living state regulatory review.
Overview of assisted living in CO
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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