Assisted Living in Denver, CO

Assisted Living Costs in Denver

The average cost of assisted living in Denver is around $4,700 per month, according to the 2018 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. That’s higher than the average for the state of Colorado, which is $4,000 per month. In fact, only two other major metro areas in Colorado have a higher average monthly cost for assisted living: Boulder, which has an average of $5,000 per month, and Colorado Springs, which has an average of $4,875 per month.

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart:

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

Care Cost Comparison

The type of care a senior needs greatly impacts total cost. For example, in Denver, an individual who is able to care for many of their own daily needs in an assisted living facility will incur, on average, around $3,600 less expenses, as opposed to someone who needs a higher level of medical services and care that requires a nursing home.

Regular professional care in the home is slightly more expensive in the Denver area than assisted living facility costs. Homemaker services and home health aide services cost between $804 and $6,516 more per year versus the cost of living in the comfort and safety of an assisted living facility. It’s also important to note that the costs of assisted living tend to cover most living expenses, including meals and rent. The costs of in-home services only cover the care, not the expenses associated with the upkeep of a home, eating or transportation.

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 Denver

Medicaid in Colorado

Colorado’s Medicaid program is called Health First Colorado. It pays for a variety of medical services, including various home health or nursing home expenses, for individuals that meet income requirements. Adults up to age 65 must meet MAGI (modified adjusted gross income) guidelines. The guidelines for Colorado’s Medicaid program as of April 2018 for a family of one person between the ages of 18 and 65 is $1,346 per month. For a senior couple within those age ranges, the MAGI requirement is $1,825 per month.

After age 65, individuals usually switch to the federally provided Medicare program as their primary health coverage, but you may still qualify for Medicaid as your secondary insurance. Individuals who didn’t pay enough into the Medicare system over the years to get Medicare Part A without a premium may also be able to qualify for Colorado’s Medicare Savings Plan, which is a Medicaid program that helps to cover the cost of Medicare premiums.

Both Medicare and Medicaid provide coverage for some long-term care provisions and services that might be available in an assisted living facility. However, Colorado Medicaid doesn’t specifically cover assisted living costs outside of waiver programs. You can apply for Health First Colorado in a number of ways, including online, in person at local application sites, via a printed application in the mail and by calling 1-800-221-3943/State Relay: 711.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

To qualify for PACE benefits under Health First Colorado, Seniors must be at least 55 years old and able to live safely in a community setting. They also have to meet some medical service requirements and live in a PACE area. Denver and the surrounding county are within the PACE area. PACE helps cover a range of services for older adults, including dentistry, optometry, durable medical equipment, transportation for medical appointments, caregiver education and respite care. Some of these benefits can be used while in an assisted living facility.

To qualify for PACE, seniors first have to apply for and receive Medicaid benefits under Health First Colorado.

Home and Community-Based Services Waivers

Colorado also offers various home and community-based waivers to assist with additional points of care. One of them is the Elderly, Blind, & Disabled Waiver, which is available to qualifying adults with specific disabilities. Those age 18 to 64 must have an HIV or AIDs diagnosis, be blind or have a physical disability to qualify for this benefit. Individuals age 65 and older can qualify for this waiver if they have a significant impairment in function as determined by medical professionals.

The financial requirements for this program requires individuals to demonstrate an income less than three times the amount that federal SSI is paying each month, and seniors must have countable assets (or resources, such as cash savings) of less than $2,000 if single or $3,000 for married couples.

This waiver can help pay for a variety of services including, but not limited to, adult day services, homemaker services, modifications to homes, alternative care services, transportation (not just for medical purposes), personal care services and respite care. These benefits can be used while seniors are in an assisted living facility to cover these types of costs.

After applying for Colorado Medicaid, you can contact your Single Entry Point agency to apply for these waivers. The office that serves the Denver area is located at 11100 Bethany Drive, Aurora, CO, 80014, or call the office at (877) 710-9993.

Assisted Living Resources in Denver

Area Agencies on Aging

Area Agencies on Aging, or AAAs, provide information and assistance to seniors who live independently in their own homes or in some senior living communities. AAAs may be able to provide help seeking funding for care, finding resources that are available locally or connecting with service providers.

Boulder County Aging Services Division & Helpline
3482 Boulder St., Boulder, CO 80306
(303) 441-3570

Denver Regional Council of Governments, Area Agencies on Aging
1001 17th Street, Suite 107, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 480-6700

Senior Centers

Senior centers offer a variety of services and activities for older adults, including fitness, educational programs, social opportunities and assistance in looking for other beneficial services.

Barnum Senior Center
360 Hooker Street, Denver, CO 80219
(303) 937-4659

Highland Senior Center
2880 Osceola Street, Denver, CO 80212
(303) 458-4868

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Senior Center
915 E. 9th Avenue, Denver, CO 80219
(313) 831-7023

Senior Organizations

Agencies across the Denver area provide seniors with a variety of education and learning resources, and they work on behalf of older adults for elder-friendly legislation, providing opportunities for seniors to get involved.

Active Minds
(303) 320-7652

Colorado Senior Lobby
PO Box 102662, Denver, CO
(303) 832-4535