Assisted Living in Greeley, CO

Assisted Living Costs in Greeley

At $4,000 per month, the average cost of assisted living care in Colorado is on par with the national average. Compared to these prices, Greeley’s assisted living facilities are relatively affordable at $3,670 per month. The only Colorado city with lower average prices is Grand Junction ($3,350).

Seniors in Boulder pay the highest prices in the state at $5,000 per month, according to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care Survey. Colorado Springs ($4,875) and Denver ($4,700) aren’t far behind. 

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

In Greeley, the monthly cost of senior care varies based on the type of care a senior requires. For a semiprivate room in a nursing home, seniors pay an average of $8,578 per month, about $4,900 more than assisted living. 

Homemaker services and home health aides both cost $4,624 per month, about $950 more than assisted living. Seniors should note that these prices only include the cost of care itself, not all the other costs associated with staying at home, including rent, groceries and utilities. Depending on a senior’s individual budget, in-home care may end up being significantly more expensive than assisted living.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Greeley

Medicaid in Colorado

Since its creation more than 50 years ago, Medicaid has helped countless low-income Americans access critical health care services. In Colorado, this public health insurance program is known as Health First Colorado. More than 1.2 million people are enrolled in the state’s program, including children, pregnant women and seniors. 

Some of the many benefits these enrollees can receive include primary care, emergency care, hospitalization, outpatient care and rehabilitative services. Through the Elderly, Blind and Disabled waiver, described in detail below, Health First Colorado pays for various long-term care services.

Greeley seniors may be eligible for Health First Colorado if they are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, legal aliens or permanent residents. In addition, the program has income and resource limits. Coloradans who are 65 years of age or older may qualify if they:

• Earn less than $771 per month ($1,157 for couples)
• Own less than $2,000 in countable resources ($3,000 for couples)

All sources of income, including Social Security Income and VA benefits, are counted toward these limits. However, some resources, such as one car and a senior’s primary residence, aren’t counted. 

Seniors whose incomes are too high to qualify for Health First Colorado may be able to receive limited medical coverage through the Old Age Pension Health and Medical Care Program. This program, also called Limited Health First Colorado or the State Medical Program, is open to seniors who receive the state’s Old Age Pension.

Greeley residents who want to apply for Medicaid can:

• Complete an online application at Colorado.gov/PEAK
• Apply in person at the Weld County Office, located at 1150 O St. in Greeley
• Mail a paper application to the Weld County Office
• Call the Medicaid Member Contact Center at (800) 221-3943

For more information about Medicaid in Colorado, call (800) 221-3943 to speak with a Medicaid Contact Center representative.

Elderly, Blind and Disabled Waiver

Greeley seniors who require nursing home care but would prefer to live at home or in an assisted living facility may qualify for the Elderly, Blind and Disabled waiver. This waiver provides a number of long-term care services, including:

• Assisted living 
• Adult day health
• Homemaker 
• Life skills training
• Nonmedical transportation
• Peer mentorship
• Personal care services

Seniors who receive services through this waiver are also eligible for most of the services covered by regular Medicaid, with the exception of long-term hospital and nursing home care.

Seniors can earn up to three times the current SSI limit each month and be eligible for this waiver program. As of 2019, the SSI limit is $771, so the income limit for the waiver is $2,313. Resource limits also apply: $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.

Medicaid recipients can call the Weld County Area on Aging at (970) 346-6950 to apply for this waiver. Seniors who aren’t enrolled in Medicaid yet should first apply online, in-person, through the mail or over the phone.

For more information about this Medicaid waiver, call (970) 346-6950 to speak with a Weld County Area on Aging representative.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Old Age Pension

The Old Age Pension is a state-run program that provides financial assistance of up to $771 per month to low-income seniors. This funding is loaded onto a Quest Card; this card can be used like a debit card in stores or at ATMs. In addition, seniors who qualify for this program but don’t qualify for Health First Colorado may receive limited medical care.

These benefits are available to seniors who:

• Are 60 years of age or older
• Have less than $2,000 in resources ($3,000 for married couples)
• Earn less than $771 per month
• Are U.S. citizens or eligible legal residents

To apply online, visit the Colorado PEAK website. Paper applications can be submitted to the Weld County Department of Human Services office.

For more information about the Old Age Pension, call the Weld County Department of Human Services at (970) 400-6300.

Optional State Supplementation

Supplemental Security Income is a federal program that provides monthly financial assistance to seniors with very low incomes. Many states, including Colorado, provide additional funding to SSI recipients who live in assisted living facilities. This funding, called optional state supplementation, provides as much as $551 to individuals and $1,489 to couples. Seniors can use this extra funding to pay for their care.

Seniors may qualify for this program if they receive federal SSI benefits and live in an assisted living facility. To apply, visit the Weld County Department of Human Services.

For more information about Colorado’s optional state supplementation program, call the Weld County Department of Human Services at (970) 400-6300. To learn more about SSI, call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

Assisted Living Resources in Greeley

Area Agency on Aging

The city’s AAA provides many services to seniors. Its Senior Information and Assistance program helps seniors navigate their long-term care options, including assisted living. The AAA also has professional care managers who can help low-income seniors access publicly funded long-term care services.

Weld County Area on Aging 
315 N. 11th Ave., Bldg. C, Greeley, CO 80632
(970) 400-6950

Senior Center

The city’s senior center is open to adults 50 years of age and older. Through the center’s many activities, including ice cream socials, fitness programs and group outings, seniors can make friends and have fun. They can keep their mind active with classes about computers, driver safety and other useful topics. For more fun, the center also organizes trips to local and international destinations.

Greeley Active Adult Center 
1010 6th St., Greeley, CO 80631
(970) 350-9440

Veterans Affairs

Eligible veterans in Greeley can take advantage of the many nearby Veterans Affairs resources. A VA clinic and Vet Center are located just a short drive away in Fort Collins. Senior veterans may also visit Aurora’s VA hospital. In Lakewood, seniors can stop by the regional benefit office for assistance with their service-related benefits.

Fort Collins VA Clinic 
2509 Research Blvd., Fort Collins, CO 80526
(970) 224-1550

Fort Collins Vet Center 
702 W. Drake Rd., Bldg. C, Fort Collins, CO 80526
(970) 221-5176

VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System 
1700 N. Wheeling St., Aurora, CO 80045 
(303) 399-8020

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