Nursing Homes and Senior Care in Colorado

Nursing Homes by City in Colorado

The Colorado cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 77 cities are listed below the table. Homes in Colorado average 3.7 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in Colorado

Homes with CMS's top overall rating, ordered by inspection rating. See all highest-rated nursing homes in Colorado.

Assisted Living in Colorado

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division licenses assisted living in Colorado. License types: Assisted Living Residence (ALR), Supportive Living Program (SLP) residence and Alternative Care Facility (ACF) - Medicaid Program. Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• Colorado assisted living facility search
• Colorado assisted living rules
• Colorado assisted living licensing (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division)

Memory Care Rules in Colorado

Colorado's term is "Secure Environment"; it isn't a separate license, but rules apply to facilities that offer dementia care. Facilities must give families a written disclosure of their dementia care services.

• "Secure environment" means any grounds, building or part thereof, method, or device that prohibits free egress of residents (6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 7, Part 2.56).
• An assisted living residence may choose to provide a secure environment throughout the entire residence or in a distinct part, and must meet Part 25 in addition to Parts 1 through 24 (Part 25.1).
• Before an individual moves into a secure environment, the residence must disclose in writing the admission criteria and required assessments, the location of the secure environment and the methods of restriction used, how resident safety is monitored inside and in the outdoor area, and information on specialty services such as memory care, including a description of daily engagement opportunities (Part 25.4).
• A pre-admission assessment must include an evaluation by a licensed practitioner within the previous 90 calendar days describing the resident's medical condition and any cognitive deficits that contribute to wandering, plus history from family or representative (Part 25.5).
• No individual shall be required to move into a secure environment against their will unless legal authority has been established by guardianship, court order, medical durable power of attorney, health care proxy, or other means allowed by Colorado law (Part 25.6).
• Each resident is re-assessed for continued need for a secure environment every six months and whenever the resident's condition changes (Part 25.9).
• An enhanced care plan describes wandering patterns and behavioral expressions, access to the resident's own room, the level of staff oversight, and which grooming items are safe to keep (Part 25.10).
• Within 60 days, each staff member assigned to a secure environment receives at least six hours of training on care for residents with dementia/cognitive impairment, covering disease processes, non-pharmacological approaches, communication, therapeutic activities, recognizing physical symptoms, and person-centered care planning (Part 25.15).
• At a minimum, there shall be one trained, awake staff member on duty at all times in the secure environment (Part 25.18).
• All assisted living residences must give direct-care staff at least four hours of competency-based initial dementia training at no cost to them, and at least two hours of dementia continuing education every two years (Part 7.9(B)).

• Colorado memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in Colorado

Colorado's Medicaid program is Health First Colorado. For nursing home Medicaid, the state lists an income limit of Your income must be less than three times the current Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) limit per month. and an asset limit of For a single person, your countable resources must be less than $2,000. For a couple, the countable resources must be less than $3,000..

• Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for persons who are Elderly, Blind, or Disabled (EBD): adult day, assisted living, respite and in-home care. For people ages 65 and older with a significant functional impairment, or ages 18 to 64 who are blind, physically disabled, or have HIV or AIDS, who need a nursing facility level of care. Waiver services include Adult Day Services, Alternative Care Facilities and Respite; Community First Choice (a Health First Colorado benefit, not a waiver) adds homemaker and personal care. HCPF notes waivers have extra program rules and sometimes have waitlists.

• Health First Colorado nursing facility coverage
• Colorado Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in Colorado

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division inspects nursing homes in Colorado for CMS. To file a complaint, call 303-692-2442, 1-800-886-7689, ext. 2442 or use the state's complaint page.

• Colorado nursing home inspection lookup
• File a nursing home complaint in Colorado

Colorado Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Colorado State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. Ombudsmen help with complaints, residents' rights and problems with care. Call 303.862.3524.

• Contact the Colorado State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in Colorado

Colorado Department of Human Services, State Unit on Aging runs Colorado's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP).

• Colorado aging services: Colorado Department of Human Services, State Unit on Aging
• Area Agencies on Aging in Colorado
• Caregiver support in Colorado: National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)
• Colorado adult day services

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to choose a nursing home, what memory care is, how Medicaid pays for nursing home care and what Medicare covers. For local help, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

Frequently Asked Questions