Page Reviewed / Updated – March 8, 2023

This page assists citizens of Colorado in better comprehending adult day care, assisted living, and home care costs throughout the state. This site also explores the programs that offer financial aid, as well as differing payment options, available to individuals and families to care for the elderly.

The outlined programs here encompass all the available assistance from the state of Colorado. However, this is not a comprehensive list of what is available on the national stage. For help in searching for assistance at the national level, and finding the program that best suits the situation and care needs, please use our Resource Locator Tool.

Colorado Elder Care Costs for 2023

Cost of Care Calculator

Answer the questions below to see the cost of care in your area.

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Assisted Living / Memory Care

According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2021, the average cost of assisted living in Colorado in 2021 was $4,750 / month. However, based on one’s geographic location within the state, the average range of cost is fairly large, with $3,800 / month on the low end to $6,275 / month on the high end. In the most expensive areas of the state — Boulder and Denver — the monthly average cost is higher than the statewide average at $6,275 to $5,500 / month. The areas of Fort Collins, Greeley, and Grand Junction are a little less pricey than is the statewide average at an average of $4,000 to $4,400 / month. The least expensive assisted living can be found in Pueblo. In this area, the average cost is $3,800 / month. 

Alzheimer’s or Memory Care communities within assisted living facilities typically have fees that are 20% – 30% higher than traditional assisted living. This, on average, equates to an additional $760 – $1,882 / month over the regional averages for those residents that require 24/7 supervision. 

Home Care

Per the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the average hourly rate for home care across Colorado is $33.50. The least expensive area of the state for home care is in the area of Pueblo, where the average hourly cost is only $27.63. The next most affordable areas are Grand Junction and Greeley, where the cost is $28.50 to $29.50 / hour. The most expensive areas are Boulder and Denver, with the average cost at $35.50 / hour.

Home health care, provided by a health professional, has a statewide average cost the same as home care at $35.50 / hour. In the Denver area, the average hourly cost is approximately $0.50 more.

Adult Day Care

Adult day care is the most affordable care option for seniors. As of 2021, Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey 2021 indicates that the average daily cost statewide was $90. The most expensive areas for adult day care can be found in Boulder, Fort Collins, and Denver, where the cost ranges from $200 – $105 a day. Grand Junction and Colorado Springs offer the least expensive care at $55 and $80, respectively. It is worth noting that adult day care is typically billed in half-day increments, not on an hourly or daily rate.

Colorado Medicaid Financial Assistance Programs

Medicaid Programs & Waivers for the Elderly

In the state of Colorado, the Medicaid state plan is called Health First Colorado. It covers the cost of some personal care assistance, as well as the cost of nursing home care. However, many elderly individuals prefer to remain living in their homes, which is also less costly for the state.

Colorado currently has one state Medicaid Waiver plan, also referred to as a Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver. Waivers are intended for elderly and/or disabled residents. It provides them with assistance so they can remain living independently. However, unlike the state Medicaid program, HCBS Waivers have caps on the number of individuals who can enroll in the programs. This means that even if one is eligible for a Medicaid Waiver, there may be a wait list for services.

Waiver for the Elderly, Blind and Disabled

This self-directed waiver program provides care services at home and alternative care facilities, like assisted living, instead of at costlier nursing homes. Other benefits include home modifications, personal emergency response systems, adult day care, respite care, and non-medical transportation. 

Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services

Under the Waiver for the Elderly, Blind and Disabled, there is an option called Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS). This option allows seniors greater flexibility and freedom when choosing care providers. Even family members can be hired to provide care. 

Medicaid Eligibility

Colorado long-term care Medicaid and Medicaid Waiver eligibility considers three factors (income, marital status, and assets) when it comes to finances. Generally speaking, in 2023, there is an income cap of $2,742 a month per applicant. This figure is equivalent to 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR).

For nursing home and HCBS Medicaid Waiver applicants who are married and have a non-applicant spouse (community spouse), the income of the community spouse is not considered. In fact, applicant spouses are able to transfer a portion of their income to non-applicant spouses to prevent them from becoming impoverished. As of 2023, this amount can be as high as $3,715.50 a month.

There is an asset restriction of $2,000 for a single applicant, and $148,620 resource cap for non-applicant spouses. Asset transfers up to five years in the past, referred to as the Medicaid Look-Back Period, are evaluated to prevent transfers in order to meet Medicaid eligibility. Violating the look-back period can result in a period of ineligibility for Medicaid services. More on Medicaid eligibility.

Colorado Non-Medicaid Assistance Programs

Colorado offers two non-Medicaid assistance programs. Both programs have the end goal of keeping state residents in their homes and out of costlier care facilities.

The Old Age Pension

The OAP program provides financial assistance to help elderly residents attain a minimum monthly income. In some circumstances, dental and health benefits may be obtained via this program.

The Home Care Allowance

The HCA program is designed to allow participants to remain living independently. It does so by providing financial assistance for home care services. Individuals may self-direct their care, even hiring family members.

PACE Programs in Colorado

The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a joint initiative between Medicare and Medicaid to help seniors get the care and services they need in the community rather than transitioning to a nursing home for care. Because Medicaid differs in each state, PACE eligibility varies between states.

PACE in Colorado provides health care services to older adults in the community. Benefits must include all Medicaid-covered and Medicare-covered services and any other services the participant’s interdisciplinary team deems necessary. Services include adult day care, optometry, dental, home care, hospital stays, meals and nutritional counseling, preventative and primary care, occupational and physical therapies, transportation and social services. Participants must meet eligibility requirements to enroll in PACE, including: 

  • Being aged 55 or older
  • Meeting a nursing home level of care
  • Living in a PACE organization’s service area
  • Being able to live safely in the community at enrollment

How To Get Started With PACE in Colorado

To get started with PACE in Colorado, applicants should visit Health First Colorado, the state’s Medicaid program website, to complete an application to determine financial eligibility. They must contact the PACE organization serving their area to learn whether they meet program eligibility. The current PACE organizations in Colorado are listed below.

PACE Provider

Contact

Areas Served

Innovage Colorado PACE

(844) 948-0792

Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, Larimer, Pueblo and Weld counties

Rocky Mountain PACE

(855) 207-0702

El Paso County

Senior CommUnity Care of CO

(866) 961-1451

Delta and Montrose counties

TRU PACE

(844) 350-7223

Boulder and southwest Weld counties

HopeWest PACE

(970) 255-7223

Mesa County

Other Financial Options for Care

There are many other options to help pay for senior care other than the choices listed on this webpage. There may also be programs to assist veterans, as well as eldercare loans. In order to find additional programs in Colorado that may help reduce the cost of various types of care, our Resource Locator Tool is invaluable.

Finding Affordable Care in Colorado

After familiarizing oneself with the wide range of senior care costs in Colorado, there is clear reason to reach out to multiple providers in order to find the most affordable services. Though average costs in various parts of the state do not vary too widely, the costs between different types of care do vary widely. It is important for families to consider which type of care is most affordable and beneficial to them.

Our free service assists in matching care services to specific individual needs. Click here for affordable care assistance.

Eldercare Financial Assistance Locator

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Top Cities for Senior Care in Colorado

For more information about the best affordable communities and the costs and resources available in Colorado, click on the links below.

Top Cities for Memory Care

Top Cities for Assisted Living