Colorado assisted living facilities and personal care communities

Colorado Assisted Living Communities

Under Colorado state law, assisted living homes, or personal care boarding homes, are regularly referred to as assisted care facilities. Under this term, Colorado defines an “assisted living residence” as a facility housing three or more adults, who are unrelated to the owner and enter a contractual agreement to receive room and board in combination with the following services:

Personal services
Protective oversight
Social care
Regular supervision which is available 24/7

There are currently over 500 Assisted Living communities operating in Colorado.

Assisted Living Centers in Colorado – Cost Comparison

City	Monthly Minimum	Monthly Maximum	Monthly Median
Denver	$2,195	$5,000	$4,250
Colorado Springs	$2,100	$5,000	$4,425
Boulder	$4,000	$6,000	$4,400
Fort Collins	$2,595	$6,000	$3,600

The average cost of assisted living care in Colorado is $3,750 per month, which is a little higher than the national average cost of assisted living or personal care boarding. Compared to other states in the continental U.S., Colorado has a moderately priced average cost for assisted senior living falling in the middle of the cost spectrum. However, inside Colorado, the costs for alternate care facilities fluctuate greatly depending on the location.

For more information about assisted living costs in Colorado, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.

Recreation & Attractions in Colorado

With a combination of beautiful mountainous terrain and booming metropolitan areas, Colorado has an exciting but relaxing atmosphere. The unique natural environment of Colorado offers a combination of state parks, national parks and more robust outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, and rafting.

History can be seen on full display through the remains of ancestral Puebloans at the Mesa Verde National Park and in Purgatoire Canyon. By taking a trip into the Golden Gates Canyon State Park or braving the sky in a hot air balloon, scenic views of Colorado are never in short supply. Urban areas of Colorado offer an increasing market of special microbreweries and domestic brewers.

Colorado’s Climate, Geography, & Culture

Gold miners, ranchers, and frontiersmen built Colorado. That strength and independence remain in the people living there now. You will find many farmers and “ski-bums” throughout the state with laid back nature-first attitudes. Outdoor enthusiasts love Colorado and its relaxed atmosphere.

The weather in Colorado can be characterized as highly changeable especially in the winter and spring seasons. Although a Colorado winter is typically described as dry, varying days of extreme cold and warm days are normally experienced. Spring in Colorado brings much-needed precipitation with the wind and large temperature changes. Occasionally a blizzard will arrive.

Colorado summers are fairly similar to most of the continental United States. Low humidity with hot summer days provides the perfect conditions for outdoor adventures. However, large thunderstorms are common during the summer, including hailstorms pounding the plains of Colorado. Fall is typically the most pleasant season in Colorado and is often dry.

Colorado’s Assisted Living Homes Regulations & Laws

Assisted Living homes are regulated by a state-to-state basis. Every state has a publicly accessible legal document out lining the regulations, licensing, operation and other rules for assisted living. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment oversees the regulations of assisted care facilities. You can read the official legal document outlining the regulations for a senior care home in Colorado via the Department Of Public Health And Environment website. Inspections, citations, violations and other public records pertaining to individual assisted living homes in Colorado can be found through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website.

Crime & Safety in Colorado

As with any long-term care option, it is a good idea to be aware of the safety of your nursing home’s location. A safe and positive environment can make rehabilitation or routine daily care all the more effective. Evaluating crime rates and understanding the local culture of an area can help reinforce the right decision and long-term care option for your elder. Check out some of Colorado’s safest cities to start your search:

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Buena Vista	0.00	0.37
Eaton	0.8	0.44
Dacono	1.16	0.93

(Source: safewise.com)

Payment Options for Colorado Assisted Living Homes

Elderly, Blind and Disabled Waiver

For those eligible for Medicaid and looking for financial assistance when paying for a senior care home, Colorado offers assistance via the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Persons who are Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (HCBS-EBD). Under this program, Colorado also allows participants to self-direct concerning services outside of the alternate care home such as transportation to and from the home.

Colorado Adult Foster Care (AFC) Program

Financial help can also be received through the Colorado Adult Foster Care Program. This program is extremely similar to assisted senior living; however, the home is a smaller home in a more family environment. It has been found a significant portion of those looking into senior care prefer a home-like environment with less structure. The AFC includes services such as meals, personal care, and medication oversight.

Assisted Living Family Loans

Alternate payment options are available. Families can apply for an assisted living family loan. This provides temporary or long-term financial assistance when paying for assisted senior care. The program allows multiple people to contribute to payment

Senior & Elderly Rights for Assisted Living Communities in Colorado

While residing in the home, a resident retains constitutional civil rights, rights of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. The resident also retains the right to personal possessions, autonomy over personal finances, bodily autonomy, and power of attorney. The resident has a right to be informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations, abuse, neglect and the like. A complete list of resident rights inside an assisted living home as defined by the state of Colorado can be found in the state’s document with official regulations for residential care facilities for the elderly.

Assisted Living Homes with more than seven residents must:

Post the complete resident rights as defined by the state of Colorado
Post the procedures of filing confidential complaints
All information in posts must be in English and/or a language the residents can read
All posts must be placed in a common area easily accessible to all residents for reference

Colorado Assisted Living Homes: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

Assisted living homes in Colorado are required to provide any type of heath services that are ordered by an attending physician, as well as keep all medical information confidential, accurate, and complete. Residents have access to their medical records and can request a copy of all or a portion of their medical records, and access them within 24 hours. They can also request a copy of some or all of the information at a cost not to exceed the community standard for photocopies. All requested health records should be completed no later than 30 days following resident discharge.