Assisted Living in Aurora, CO

Assisted Living Costs in Aurora

In Aurora, the average cost of assisted living care is $4,700 per month, which is significantly higher than both the national and Colorado averages. At $5,000 per month, Boulder is the only major metropolitan area in Colorado that is more expensive than Aurora. Some of Colorado’s cities, such as Colorado Springs, are similarly priced to Aurora. However, many cities are significantly more affordable. In Grand Junction ($3,350) and Greeley ($3,350), seniors pay over $1,000 less per month for assisted living care than they do in Aurora.

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Aurora, so data for the Denver, the closest major city, was used.

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• Aurora: $4,700
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $4,000
• Boulder: $5,000
• Colorado Springs: $4,875
• Fort Collins: $3,950
• Grand Junction: $3,350
• Greeley: $3,670
• Pueblo: $4,000

Care Cost Comparison

Many types of senior care services are available in Aurora, and the average monthly cost varies significantly based on the services a senior needs. Adult day health care, at an average of $1,625 per month, is just over one-third the price of assisted living care. The most expensive type of care in Aurora, nursing home care, costs an average of $8,365 per month.

Homemaker services are approximately the same price as assisted living care, while home health aides cost about $500 more per month. Seniors who choose either of these in-home care options should remember to consider other costs they may be responsible for if they remain at home, such as rent, food and home maintenance.

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $4,700
• Homemaker services: $4,767
• Home health aide: $5,243
• Adult day health: $1,625
• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $8,365

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Aurora

Medicaid in Colorado

Medicaid is a public health insurance program that provides health coverage to various groups of low-income Americans. Pregnant women, people with disabilities, children or elderly adults may be eligible for Medicaid coverage. Each state administers its own Medicaid program, so the benefits available can vary throughout the country. Colorado’s Medicaid program is called Health First Colorado.

Health First Colorado members can receive services including primary care, emergency care, laboratory and X-ray, rehabilitation and dental. Members may need to pay a small co-payment for some services.

To qualify for Health First Colorado, seniors must meet the program’s financial requirements. The pretax annual income limit is $16,146 for a single senior and $21,892 for couples. Participants in Health First Colorado must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, legal aliens or permanent residents who live in Colorado.

Seniors can check eligibility and apply for coverage through the state’s Colorado Peak portal or apply in person by visiting the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services (DHS) office, which is located at
5334 South Prince Street in Littleton, Colorado. Alternately, seniors can complete a paper application and mail it to that address or call (800) 221-3943 to apply over the phone.

Elderly, Blind and Disabled Waiver

The Elderly, Blind and Disabled Waiver (EBD) is a Medicaid program that may help seniors pay for care in assisted living facilities. While this program doesn’t pay for room-and-board costs, it may cover personal care that is provided in assisted living facilities, which can be an out-of-pocket expense to seniors.

To qualify for this waiver program, seniors must:

• Be 65 years of age or older
• Have a significant functional impairment and need the level of care that is provided in nursing facilities
• Have a monthly income that is less than three times the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) limit (current SSI limits are $771 for individuals and $1,157 for couples)
• Have resources worth less than $2,000 (individuals) or $3,000 (couples)

Seniors who are already Health First Colorado members can apply for this waiver program by contacting their local Single Entry Point (SEP) agency. Colorado Access is the SEP agency that serves Aurora and the surrounding area, and it can be reached at (877) 710-9993. Seniors who are not Health First Colorado members need to apply for Medicaid coverage before they can be considered for the EBD waiver.

Seniors who need help applying for Medicaid or the waiver program can contact the Connect for Health Colorado Customer Service Center at (855) 752-6749.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Colorado Old Age Pension

Low-income seniors may be eligible to receive financial assistance from the Colorado Old Age Pension (OAP). Seniors who participate in this program receive a monthly financial supplement. The maximum payment is $771 per month, and any income a senior receives, such as SSI, will reduce the maximum payment. This program also provides limited medical care to seniors who don’t qualify for Medicaid coverage.

To qualify for this cash assistance program, seniors must be 60 years of age or older and have a low income. Seniors can apply for this program online through the Colorado Peak portal or in person at the Arapahoe County DHS office. For more information, call (303) 795-4400 to speak to a Arapahoe County DHS representative.

Optional State Supplementation

In Colorado, SSI recipients who live in assisted living facilities may be eligible to receive additional funding from the state. This funding, known as optional state supplementation (OSS), can help seniors pay for room-and-board costs.

The maximum OSS payment for a single senior is $551 per month. The maximum initial OSS payment for a couple is $1,489 per month. However, after the first month in an assisted living facility, couples are treated as two individuals and can receive up to $551 each.

To receive OSS, seniors must live in an approved assisted facility and be eligible for SSI payments. To learn more about this program, call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

PACE

Seniors who live in assisted living facilities may be eligible to receive services through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). This program provides customized health care and social services to participants in their homes or the PACE center, including a clinical exercise program, medication management, meals, computer access, transportation, bingo and Red Hat Society outings.

Some seniors are eligible to receive these services at no cost if they have Medicaid. Seniors with only Medicare or who aren’t eligible for Medicaid pay a monthly premium. The cost of PACE services is determined based on a senior’s income.

To participate in the PACE program, seniors must be 55 years of age or older. Contact Innovage Greater Colorado PACE, the PACE provider for Aurora,  or call (888) 992-4464 to learn more about the program and apply for coverage.

Assisted Living Resources in Aurora

Community Assistance Agencies

Seniors who need support can visit one of the community assistance agencies in the Aurora area. The local AAA provides services, such as legal, case management and referrals to community resources. The Social Security office helps seniors navigate the Social Security benefits they may be eligible for.

Denver Regional Council of Government 
1001 17th St, Ste 700, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 455-1000
Area Agency on Aging for the Denver region

Aurora Social Security Office 
14280 E Jewell Ave, Ste 250, Aurora, CO 80012
(800) 772-1213

Senior Centers

Aurora’s senior center offers a wide variety of programming for active seniors, including drop-in fitness classes, bingo games and crafting groups. Seniors can choose to purchase a membership to the center or pay daily drop-in fees.

Aurora Center for Active Adults 
30 Del Mar Cir, Aurora, CO 80011
(303) 739-7951 

Veterans Affairs Resources

In Aurora, there are several Veterans Affairs resources that can provide assistance to seniors. The city’s VA hospital and two VA clinics provide medical care to eligible seniors. The regional benefit office, located in nearby Lakewood, helps connect seniors with VA benefits.

Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center 
1700 N Wheeling St, Aurora, CO 80045
(303) 399-8020

Jewell Clinic 
14400 E Jewell Ave, Aurora, CO 80012
(303) 283-5400

Aurora Outpatient Clinic 
13701 E Mississippi Ave, Ste 200, Aurora, CO 80012
(303) 398-6340

Denver Regional Benefit Office 
155 Van Gordon St, Lakewood, CO 80228
(800) 827-1000