In-Home Care in Colorado

Of the more than 5.8 million people who call Colorado home, 14.6% are seniors aged 65 or older. That’s nearly 850,000 older adults drawn to the state’s majestic mountains and abundant recreational opportunities. Colorado also boasts more than 100 hospitals, including many top-ranked facilities like the nationally ranked UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora.

Colorado taxpayers aged 55 and older get a generous state tax exclusion on their retirement income, which gets even better at age 65. Colorado property taxes are among the lowest in the nation. Seniors may qualify for property tax exemptions of up to 50%, which is excellent for those who own their homes and want to age in place. As they get older, in-home assistance helps them remain independent. Colorado seniors have two in-home care options. Home care helps with household chores and personal care, and home health care offers medical assistance. Both types of care averaged $6,387 per month in Colorado in 2021.

This guide provides an overview of in-home care in Colorado, including average costs and how Medicaid helps cover the expense. It also offers local and statewide resources that provide free or low-cost programs to help seniors remain in their homes and communities.

Unfortunately, the average cost of in-home care in Colorado is relatively high compared to the national average and surrounding states. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, its cost of $6,387 was over $1,400 more than the national average of $4,957. Compared to adjacent states, New Mexico has the lowest price at $4,605, followed by Nebraska at $5,148 and Arizona at $5,338. Wyoming and Utah have the highest rates at $5,529 and $5,625, respectively, which is still less than Colorado’s.

Cities in Colorado have a wide range of average in-home care costs, with a $1,500 difference per month between the lowest and highest. Pueblo has the lowest rate at $5,268, and Boulder and Denver have the highest at $6,769, which is even higher than the state average. In the middle, average costs include Grand Junction at $5,434, Greeley at $5,625, Colorado Springs at $5,768 and Fort Collins at $6,101.

Nursing home rates ran $8,567 in 2021 compared to $6,387 for home and home health care. Assisted living facilities had a lower average cost of $4,750, but in-home care has the bonus of remaining in familiar surroundings. Adult day health care has the lowest price at an average of $1,950, but it offers limited services in a community setting.

Colorado’s Medicaid program is called Health First Colorado. Although it doesn’t directly cover home care, the state has a waiver program that does. Applicants must meet the financial, program targeting and medical criteria of Health First Colorado to access the services available under a waiver.

Seniors can apply for Health First Colorado at any time. There aren’t any set enrollment periods like other types of medical coverage. They can apply:

• Online at Colorado PEAK 
• By calling 1-800-221-3943 on Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• In-person at their local county office or a local application assistance site 
• By mail after printing and filling out a Health First Colorado paper application and sending it to their local county office

Seniors applying for Aged, Blind, Disabled & Long-Term Care must also fill out Worksheet B on the Health First Colorado application.

What Information You Will Need

Along with the completed application, seniors must include a long list of information and documentation during the application process. These items include:

• Names and birthdates of all applicants
• Social Security numbers for citizens
• Immigration document numbers for non-citizens
• Employer and income information, including pay stubs or W2s
• Documentation of additional income, such as Social Security benefits, SSI, public cash assistance, railroad retirement, rental income, retirement, pension and veterans benefits
• Current health insurance and Medicare information, including policy numbers, of all household members
• List of life insurance and burial policies
• List of expenses, such as medical expenses, dependent elder care, health insurance, mortgages, prescriptions, rent and utilities
• List of resources, including cash, checking and savings account, CDs, annuities, inheritance, property, proceeds from a home sale, stocks, bonds and trusts
• List of property and vehicles owned
• List of anything of value given away within the last 5 years 

In general, Medicare does not cover the cost of non-medical home care. That being said, there are situations in which Medicare provides some coverage for medical home care, referred to as “Home Healthcare.” There are several eligibility restrictions for coverage, including that individuals must be homebound and have a referral from their doctor specifically for home healthcare services.

Below is an overview of some of the skilled medical professionals whose in-home services are typically covered by Medicare – for more in-depth information, refer to our Guide to Home Healthcare.

• Physical Therapists: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis, and assist in recovery from surgeries and procedures such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Visiting Nurses: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services for those who don’t need to stay in the hospital, but do need regular medical services such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.
• Occupational Therapists: Occupational therapists help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and other daily activities.
• Speech Therapists: Speech therapists help seniors who are struggling to adequately communicate due to a stroke, dementia, or any other cause regain the ability to functionally communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets, teaching special techniques to swallow safely, and retraining associated muscles.

As mentioned above, in-home care is distinctly different from home healthcare. But, there can be some overlap in services between the two types of care. So, while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical in-home care, there are in-home care services that may be covered in special circumstances when they’re provided in conjunction with home healthcare (such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing)

To find quality home care providers near you, simply input the zip code or city where you would like to start your search. We have an extensive directory of home care agencies all across the nation that includes in-depth information about each provider and hundreds of thousands of reviews from seniors and their loved ones.