11 Assisted Living Communities in Parker, Colorado

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $4,700 per month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 11 Assisted Living Communities in Parker and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Parker, CO

• Assisted Living: $4,700
• Nursing Home Care: $8,365
• In-home Care: $4,767
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,625

Rates for assisted living span a wide range in Colorado. The $4,700 average monthly cost in Parker is the third highest in the state, topped only by Colorado Springs ($4,875) and Boulder ($5,000). It’s also $700 above the state and national averages ($4,000). Prices are much more affordable elsewhere in Colorado, including Greeley ($3,670), Fort Collins ($3,950) and Pueblo ($4,000). Seniors in Grand Junction enjoy the lowest assisted living cost in the state at $3,350 per month, which is $1,350 less than Parker’s rate.

Note: Data for senior care costs in Parker wasn’t available, so data for the metropolitan Denver area was used instead.

The variance in senior care costs is equally extreme in Parker, ranging from a high of $8,365 for a semiprivate room in a nursing home to a low of $1,625 for weekday care in an adult day health center. Rates for assisted living, homemaker and home health aide services are much closer at $4,700, $4,767 and $5,243, respectively. The monthly fees charged by nursing homes and assisted living facilities typically include meals and housing-related costs. This is important to note when comparing assisted living with in-home care. Average monthly rates for these services don’t include food or housing. When these expenses are added, the total cost of receiving care at home increases dramatically.

 

More than 65 million Americans who can’t afford insurance rely on Medicaid for their health care needs. The program is managed by individual states with joint funding and oversight provided by the federal government.

In Colorado, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing administers the Medicaid program called Health First Colorado, which provides wide-ranging health care benefits to eligible low-income seniors, disabled adults, families with young children and pregnant women. Covered services include:

• Doctor and specialist visits
• Inpatient and outpatient hospital care
• Emergency room services
• Immunizations and preventive care
• X-rays and laboratory tests
• Nursing home care

Qualifying for Colorado Medicaid

Seniors in Parker must be American citizens or legal residents and aged 65 or older to qualify for long-term care coverage through Health First Colorado. Disabled and blind adults aged 64 or younger can also qualify. Applicants must also meet the program’s financial requirements of:

• $2,313 or less of income per month for individuals or $4,626 for couples if both spouses apply
• $2,000 or less in countable assets for single people or $4,000 or less in combined assets for couples applying together

Medicaid counts income from all sources for eligibility purposes, but not all assets count. A few are exempt from the above limits, including a primary, owner-occupied home, household goods, personal belongings and one vehicle.

If a married applicant’s spouse doesn’t apply for coverage, their income and assets may decrease substantially when allowances for the non-applicant are subtracted. According to Medicaid rules, an applicant can transfer up to $3,160.50 in monthly income to their spouse remaining at home along with a maximum of $126,420 in joint assets.

Seniors with too high of an income to qualify may reduce it to the required level by setting up a Qualified Income Trust. Medicaid allows applicants to deposit their monthly excess income into a QIT, which excludes it from the limits. These deposited funds can only be withdrawn to pay certain Medicaid-approved medical and care expenses.

Applying for Medicaid

Parker residents can apply for Health First Colorado coverage online or in person at the Douglas County Human Services office located at 4400 Castleton Court in Castle Rock. For more information or assistance, seniors can call (800) 221-3943.

Elderly, Blind and Disabled Waiver

Long-term care in an institutional nursing home is an entitlement through Health First Colorado, but assisted living isn’t. The state does offer the Elderly, Blind and Disabled waiver as an alternative for seniors who want to avoid nursing home admission and stay in the community.

Parker residents can qualify for the EBD waiver if they:

• Meet Medicaid’s income and asset limits
• Are aged 65 or older and have a significant functional impairment
• Are aged 18 to 64 and blind or disabled
• Need long-term supports comparable to those offered in a nursing home

Seniors approved for the waiver receive Health First Colorado medical services and a range of support services provided by their assisted living facility. These can include housekeeping, personal care, medication reminders and help with daily living activities. The waiver doesn’t cover room and board, so this portion of assisted living fees must be paid for by the participant.

The EBD waiver isn’t a Medicaid entitlement program so participation is limited statewide. This means an approved applicant may be placed on a waiting list to receive waiver services.

For more information about the EBD waiver or to start the application process, Parker residents can contact Colorado Access at (877) 710-9993.

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors and adults with disabilities who meet the eligibility criteria for Supplemental Security Income benefits may also qualify for an extra cash benefit from the Colorado Optional State Supplementation program. Factors, such as an applicant’s marital status, monthly income and living situation, determine their benefit level, but the maximum monthly amount available is $551 for an individual and $1,489 for a married couple.

To apply for Colorado OSS benefits, Parker seniors can contact the Douglas County Human Services department at (303) 636-1130.

Colorado Old Age Pension

Parker residents aged 60 or older with little income and resources may qualify for the Colorado Old Age Pension program. Eligible seniors must be American citizens or legal immigrants who’ve lived in the United States a minimum of five years. Applicants are limited to $809 in monthly income and assets of $2,000 per individual or $3,000 for a couple.

The maximum benefit available through the OAP is $809 monthly or $9,709 per year. The amount an approved applicant receives can vary depending on their income.

To apply for the OAP program, Parker seniors can call (303) 636-1130 or visit the Douglas County DHS office at 4400 Castleton Court in
Castle Rock.

The Denver Regional Council of Government is the AAA serving Parker and the eight-county metropolitan Denver area. The agency plans, implements and provides access to a wide range of aging-related resources to improve the lives of area residents aged 60 and over. Denver RCOG
1001 17th St., Ste. 700, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 455-1000

The Douglas County Office of Veterans Affairs helps local veterans obtain state and VA compensation, including pensions and retirement, disability and survivor benefits. The VA outpatient clinic in Aurora offers primary care and referrals for specialty care at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center. Veterans can join Parker’s American Legion post to socialize with their peers and get involved in community service.

Douglas County Office of Veterans Affairs
301 Wilcox St., Castle Rock, CO 80104
(303) 663-6200

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

Parker American Legion Post 1864
19310 Stroh Rd., Parker, Colorado 80134
(303) 483-8130

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.