Assisted Living in Colorado

Colorado is known for its strikingly vivid landscape of mesas, plains, canyons and mountains. Coloradans have a myriad of outdoor activities at their fingertips, and are proud to have the lowest rates of obesity of any state in the country. The Centennial State is home to The Rocky Mountains, a very popular tourist destination for hiking, climbing, skiing, fishing and snowboarding.

Residents who choose assisted living in Colorado have over 500 facilities to choose from, and a variety of activities within their reach. If you’re a sports nut, the Denver Broncos and the Colorado Rockies will keep you entertained all season long. If tranquility and relaxation are what you’re after, Colorado has six national monuments, 11 national forests, a selection of natural hot springs and one geyser to calm your spirit.

Assisted Living in Colorado Defined

The state of Colorado defines an assisted living facility as a residential facility that provides room and board, personal services, social care and protective oversight to adults who cannot live independently but do not require 24-hour skilled nursing care. Facilities may be home to as little as three or as many as 200 beds, and the most common reasons for admission to communities of assisted living in Colorado are to provide medication management, supervision, protection and bathing and dressing assistance.

There are three types of communities of assisted living in Colorado:

• Private pay (or assisted living residence)
• Alternative care facilities
• Residential treatment facilities

Private pay is the general term used for an assisted living facility or residence. Alternative care facilities are residences that are Medicaid certified. Residential treatment facilities are for adults with severe and persistent mental illness.

Regulation of Assisted Living in Colorado

The Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) oversees licensing of facilities of assisted living in Colorado on behalf of the State Department of Health Care and Financing. All facilities, whether private pay, alternative care or residential treatment, that administer and provide for more than three adults must be licensed.

Once a facility has met the licensing requirements and has paid all fees, the CDPHE will perform unannounced annual inspections to make sure that they are in compliance with state regulations. More frequent inspections are done on facilities who demonstrate non-compliance with license requirements or that have resident complaints.

Training for caregivers and administrators of communities of assisted living in Colorado must include a 30-hour program approved by the CDPHE. According to the CDPHE, “15 hours of this training must include training in residents’ rights, environment and fire safety, emergency procedures and first aid, assessment skills, identifying and dealing with difficult situations and behaviors, and nutrition. The other 15 hours of training focuses on meeting the personal, social and emotional needs of the resident population served.”

Cost of Assisted Living in Colorado

The cost of assisted living in Colorado may fluctuate depending on whether or not the facility is licensed as an assisted living residence or an alternative care facility. Assisted living residences and facilities are paid for privately by the resident or a family member.

However, an alternative care facility will accept a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver to help pay for care. In order to qualify for this option, adults must meet the program’s medical and financial criteria. The resident’s income must be less than $1,986 per month with countable resources equaling no more than $2,000 for a single person or $3,000 for a couple. Finally, applicants must be in need of and willing to receive services and assistance from facilities of assisted living in Colorado.

On average the cost of assisted living in Colorado ranges from $2,500 to $3,700 per month for room and board, depending on the location and type of facility. Residents 65 years of age and older may seek financial reimbursement for assisted living by utilizing long-term care insurance or veterans’ benefits.

Here is a list of the average monthly rates* broken down by city for a one-bedroom, single-occupancy apartment in a Colorado assisted living facility:

*Genworth Financial 2011 Cost of Care Survey.

Find Assisted Living in Colorado

You can find facilities of assisted living in Boulder, Broomsfield, Colorado Springs, Denver and other parts of Colorado.

Written by senior housing writer Chrysti Harrison.