DEV | TEST h1 template (view-level fallback) Assisted Living

Families can pay for assisted living in a number of sustainable ways. Most use a combination of public and private sources to fund their time in assisted living. As a general rule, families that begin planning early have more options overall. To help you explore some of these options, you can view our complete guide to paying for long-term care.

Below, you’ll find information on typical private and public payment methods. We also provide resources that may help low-income and disabled seniors in Colorado Springs access eligible benefits, like Medicaid, Medicare, and veterans benefits. You’ll learn how to start navigating your resources to pay for home health care or a move to an assisted living facility.

In Colorado, assisted living facilities must meet the needs of their residents and must not admit seniors whose needs cannot be met by the staffing’s expertise. Because of this, assisted living facilities must conduct a pre-admission assessment of potential, would-be residents. This assessment seeks to understand a person’s capacity for self-care, overall health information, and their physical, social, and mental needs.

The community itself must be able to provide the following services to residents:

• A physically safe and sanitary environment
• Protective oversight
• Room and board
• Social care and resident engagement
• Personal care services
• A system for addressing resident concerns
• Nursing services, as long as care needs don’t exceed regular 24-hour medical care

Additionally, in the state of Colorado, assisted living residences cannot provide a fully equipped kitchen inside the residents’ units. Instead, lodgings often come equipped with miniature versions comparable to what one might find in a hotel room — kitchenettes with mini-fridges and microwaves.

Regulating bodies in Colorado Springs

Assisted living facilities in Colorado Springs are licensed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division oversees adult care and assisted living facilities and is responsible for performing quality and safety inspections. To review any licensed facility, you can view all inspection reports for the past five years on their website.

For a deeper understanding of Colorado regulations and how they impact your loved one’s stay in assisted living, you can also review the following information:

• Explore an overview of Colorado assisted living laws and regulations.
• Read up on the full list of standards and regulations for assisted living in Colorado.
• Refer to this in-depth guide to Colorado regulations.
• Use this guide of consumer resources for choosing assisted living in Colorado.

Medicaid and Medicare certification for assisted living facilities

Some assisted living communities may be eligible for Medicaid and Medicare certification. This allows facilities to bill Medicaid or Medicare for some health care services provided to residents. It also means the assisted living facility has to adhere to strict health care guidelines and participate with regular inspections by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Colorado Department of Health contact information

4300 Cherry Creek Drive
South Denver, CO 80246
Phone: 303-692-2836
Email: cdphe.healthfacilities@state.co.us

COVID-19 regulations for Colorado Springs assisted living facilities

Assisted living facilities in Colorado Springs are required to adhere to guidelines to keep residents safe from COVID-19, as the coronavirus poses a risk to seniors. In keeping with updated federal guidelines, visitors are allowed, but the following guidelines are still in place for Colorado Springs assisted living facilities:

Colorado Springs has an undeniably lively senior community, and among all the senior living options available here, assisted living is the biggest care type in our partner network. We know that every year, more seniors are moving down from the mountains or up from around the country to be in the Springs. But what is it about the assisted living options here that make them special? Explore the common features of assisted senior living in Colorado Springs below.

Resort-style amenities and services

In many ways, the assisted living options in Colorado Springs resemble an all-inclusive resort. Residents can truly embrace the sense of a permanent vacation with the relaxation and renewal opportunities in Colorado Springs’ assisted living communities. Everything you need is within arm’s reach, like these luxurious amenities and services:

• On-site bistros and chef-cooked meals
• On-location banks and clinics
• Movie theater rooms
• Concierge services
• Therapeutic swimming and exercise pools
• Putting greens

Most essential errands are on-site, so you don’t have to leave the community to get what you need. Practical details are thought out in advance, with baseline amenities and services, such as the following:

• Guest suites for visiting family
• Fitness centers
• Community spaces, such as game rooms or gardens
• Security features, such as emergency call systems
• Accessible ramps, handrails, stair lifts, and wide doorways

On-site activities

While there are plenty of outdoor attractions to fill your time in El Paso County, there’s never a dull moment inside the assisted living communities of Colorado Springs.

Creative souls can enjoy an afternoon of dancing to nostalgic hits or a dreamy waltz around the room. Those musically inclined can serenade the community on one of the pianos that several facilities offer — many residents love an afternoon of hymns or popular favorites from years gone by. Crafty types might enjoy some of these hands-on activities scheduled throughout the week:

• Card-making
• Painting
• Flower arranging
• Working with fiber arts

Social connection is a big part of the good life in assisted living, and partner communities offer many opportunities for connection. Most feature happy hours, social mixers, and holiday celebrations. Several even host moderated Ted Talk debates, for seniors who love to exchange ideas. Bible studies and Communion are often available for seniors wanting to connect over spiritual values. Or, for a carefree afternoon, enjoy a game day with your neighbors with options like the following:

• Corn hole
• Yahtzee
• Bingo
• Puzzles
• Chess
• Poker
• Pool

Personalized, relationship-based care

Reviewers of assisted living communities in Colorado Springs praise the warm and respectful experiences they have here — to quote one reviewer, “I hate to call them ‘staff’ as they treat [my loved one] like family.” There’s an overarching feeling that the staff really do care for residents in these assisted living communities.

Offering personalized care also means communicating without language barriers. While the overwhelming majority of facilities in Colorado Springs speak English, there’s also a wealth of other languages represented in some facilities. For example, languages spoken in some of our partner assisted living communities in Colorado Springs include the following:

• Spanish
• American Sign Language
• Japanese
• Filipino
• Dutch
• French
• German
• Hungarian
• Italian
• Polish
• Vietnamese

From personalized experiences to thoughtful details, it’s the relational, person-centered care available at our partner assisted living communities that makes all the difference.

Health care for seniors in Colorado Springs

Longtime Coloradans will be familiar with the altitude differences between the small mountain towns and Colorado Springs. Some seniors living further up in the mountains experience breathing issues, which brings them down to Colorado Springs as their health requires a lower elevation. Colorado Springs still has a relatively high elevation compared to the rest of the country, averaging around 6,000 feet above sea level. If you’re moving from out of state, you may find it beneficial to get heart and lung testing before settling at Colorado Springs’ altitude.

The fantastic hospitals in Colorado Springs are one of the major draws in the city, whether you’re moving as a senior or a young health care professional. The quality of the hospital systems in the Springs attracts talent from around the country. Two hospital systems in particular stand out above the rest for excellent care and specializations in senior health.

Transportation for seniors in Colorado Springs

In Colorado Springs, about 60% of our partnering assisted living communities offer complimentary transportation and 40% offer transportation at cost.

Most people use cars to get their errands done throughout the city. While some errands will still require a caregiving companion, Colorado Springs has plentiful ADA-compliant options to help seniors in assisted living navigate the city. For visiting family and friends without cars of their own, there are several ways of getting around the city.

• Envida serves seniors and people with disabilities throughout the Colorado Springs metro area. View their service map on the linked Envida website, or call 719-633-4677 for specific route and service information.
• Mountain Metropolitan ADA Paratransit serves riders with disabilities. Residents with disabilities who cannot safely use the metropolitan bus services can use Mountain Metro’s ADA paratransit service to ensure safe transportation.
• FindHelp offers a wealth of resources for contacts in everything from transit to food to care. With more than 30 transportation providers serving seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, you’re sure to find options on their Colorado Springs transportation page.

Active seniors will find Colorado Springs only moderately walkable, according to Walkscore.com’s transit scores listed below, which range from zero to 100.