Assisted Living in Boulder, CO

Boulder Colorado: Search Near You, How to Pay, Licensing, Local Resources, and Questions to Ask

Boulder is a city at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, in northern Colorado. To the west, the trail-lined Flatirons are craggy rock formations overlooking the city. Downtown’s pedestrian Pearl Street Mall includes art galleries, cafes, restaurants and boutiques. With 300 miles of biking and hiking trails and 45,000 acres of beautiful open space and vast mountain landscape, it’s easy to see why it’s internationally known for outdoor recreation and sports. Widely considered to be one of the best places to live in the US, Boulder real estate seems to always be in high demand. Locals enjoy world-famous outdoor activities, a booming economy, and short commutes to the city of Denver. Colorado Springs and Boulder are among American cities people might want to look into for their retirement living plans.

Table Of Contents

Boulder Colorado: Search Near You, How to Pay, Licensing, Local Resources, and Questions to Ask
About Assisted Living in Boulder
Considerations when looking for care in Boulder
Cities near Boulder
Pricing and How to Pay for Assisted Living
Local Hospitals and Healthcare Providers in Boulder

About Assisted Living in Boulder

Long term care services and support in the state of Colorado continues to be ranked among the best in the nation. There are more than 500 licensed Assisted Living Residences that range in size from three beds to 200+ beds. Some are available for private pay, and others for Medicaid-paid residents. Assisted Living provides protective oversight, personal services, social care needed because of impaired capacity to live independently, and regular supervision on a 24-hour basis.

Assisted Living refers to a level of care that typically includes room and board, assistance with activities of daily living (such as dressing, bathing, laundry, etc.), medication management, and recreational activities. Some of the benefits of living in an assisted living community are that residents have opportunities to socialize, take classes, and engage in health or fitness programs designed specifically for seniors. In Colorado, licensed medical staff at assisted living facilities are routinely on-site, but are not required to be present at all times. Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment maintains the licensure for Assisted Living Residences. Upon request, they can provide consumers with facility files, survey results, summaries of reported occurrences and complaint investigations, and information on filing health care complaints.

Considerations when looking for care in Boulder

With a city of 104,175, there are about 20 assisted living residences to choose from. It is also important to consider the weather in Boulder. January is the coldest month with an average daytime high of 45 degrees. Boulder’s annual snowfall average is 89 inches. The warmest month is July with an average daytime temperature of 87 degrees.

Assisted Living Communities near Boulder, Colorado

Click Here For Full Search Results: Assisted Living Communities Near Boulder, Colorado

Cities near Boulder

Gunbarrel – 8 miles north of Boulder
Louisville – 9 miles east of Boulder
Gold Hill – 11 miles west of Boulder
Eldorado Springs – 8 miles south of Boulder

Pricing and How to Pay for Assisted Living

Paying for senior care depends on several factors. The average base cost of assisted living in the United States is around $4,100 / month. In Colorado the average price is $54,900 / year. Assisted living costs vary due to the level of care a resident requires and any additional amenities they may need. Some residents will have a lower base pay because they only need meals and socialization. Other residents may need additional support with dressing, bathing, medication reminders, incontinence care and transferring assistance which require a higher level of care. Therefore the higher the care level, the higher monthly care costs. Additionally, costs fluctuate depending on the city, region, and state in which you are seeking a community.

It is important to take your time when exploring payment and coverage options.

Medicare – NO:

Medicare does NOT pay for Assisted Living.
People 65 years and older and individuals with end stage renal disease are eligible for Medicare benefits, no matter their income.
Coverage is meant for people in need of short-term care.

Private pay – YES:

Many families pay for assisted living with private funds.
Private pay can be a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
Family members may contribute funds to pay for assisted living or other senior housing and care.

Medicaid – MAYBE:

Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans. Eligible participants include: low-income adults, elderly adults and people with disabilities.
Medicaid is administered by state, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by each state and the federal government.
Every state has their own individual Medicaid assistance program.
National guidelines are in place do decipher how states must spend Medicaid money, but with allowances toward the guidelines.
The state determines what levels of care will be covered by Medicaid, who is eligible, and how much the state will reimburse the care community.
If you are unsure whether you qualify for Medicaid, you should apply. You may be eligible depending on your household income, family size, age, disability and other factors.

Long-term Care Insurance – MAYBE:

Long term care insurance is a great way to pay for assisted living, and planning ahead is important when considering how to pay for senior housing and care. Nearly 75% of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care and services at some point. Buying into long-term care insurance when a person is in their 50s and 60s is the most common time to do so.

Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs of chronic medical conditions.
Individuals and couples with the ability to pay into long-term care insurance have the advantage of a head start in allocating funds for senior care.

Veteran Aid and Assistance – MAYBE:

This benefit is available to some military veterans and surviving spouses who live in an assisted living community and those who have in-home care.

There are specific guidelines, but a veteran may qualify for as much as $2,050 each month.
A veteran with a sick spouse may be eligible for $1,600 per month.
If a veteran has passed, their surviving spouse can qualify for $1,300 per month.

Questions to Ask

Finding an assisted living community, can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on things to be observant of:

Make sure the facility is clean and well maintained. You can tell a lot about the operation by noting What is clean and maintained. Are doorknobs loose or damaged? Do you see any frayed carpet or trip hazards?
Visit during lunch hour to observe what the residents are eating. Ask questions about the nutrition program. Is there diversity in meals, healthy fruits and vegetables served at all meals, drink options?
Speak to residents and/or family members to learn their perspective.
Ask about staff and resident engagement. Get a feel for how staff interact with residents.
Ask about the life enrichment programs. Activities are crucial when it comes to quality of life and play a key role in care for older adults.
And finally (there is a plethora of more things to consider), get to know the leadership in the building. If you feel good around the executive director, head nurse, lead activities director and even the chef or janitor, it is a good sign you can trust them with the care of your loved one.

Local Hospitals and Healthcare Providers in Boulder

UCHealth Boulder Health Center

5495 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80303

Foothills Hospitals

4747 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80303

Local Resources and Links – Colorado

Area Agency on Aging Boulder County offers services to adults 60 and over and their adult caregivers. They also provide assistance to Medicare beneficiaries and residents of any age who live in a long-term care facility. Provides information, referral, and options counseling to anyone 18 or older with a disability as well as to older adults through the Aging and Disability Resource for Colorado program. Legal assistance is offered via one of our contractors, not directly.

Denver Regional Council of Governments Provides information and assistance for people 60 and older or 18-plus with a disability, their families, and service providers. Referrals to local resources and services.

Larimer County Office on Aging The Larimer County Office on Aging LCOA provides Information and Referral through the ADRC, Title III services including In Home Services Voucher, Chore Voucher, Respite Voucher, application assistance and options counseling. Additional services include grant management and long term care ombudsman program community education and key member of the Partnership for Age Friendly Communities in Larimer County.

Park County Department of Human Services Adult Protection Services (APS) are provided to at-risk adults age 18 and older who, due to age or disability, are unable to protect themselves and have no one to advocate on their behalf. The Adult Protection program responds to reports of Abuse (physical or sexual), Neglect (caregiver or self), and Financial Exploitation.

Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments PPACG serves as the Area Agency on Aging for Colorado Springs and provides programs and services for older adults and their caregivers. A person must be 60 years of age or older to be eligible for a service provided by the Older Americans Act (OAA).

Disability Law Colorado offers legal representation, information and referrals to people with disabilities, older people, and their families.

Eldercare Locator This is a great resource to search for specific care in specific counties and cities. This database is a nationwide resource that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. Connect with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver education or respite from caregiving responsibilities. The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living.

Medicare provides a search feature to find & compare providers near you, most senior housing and care providers are included on CareAvailability.com. Find & compare plans in your area. Determine if you qualify for premium savings

Medicaid offers information on how to apply for Medicaid, eligibility criteria, links to local state offices, and additional resources

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Whether you are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with the disease, information and resources are available.