10 Best Independent Living Communities in Denver, CO

Medicare, long-term insurance policies, and Colorado’s Medicaid program — Health First Colorado — do not cover independent living costs because independent living communities are not care facilities. These programs, however, can help cover in-home health care services. If future care is ever needed, seniors may be able to use these resources to help pay for health care at their community of choice.

Most seniors pay for independent living using their private resources. Here, you can find information on private pay options and local public assistance resources for seniors, including housing assistance, VA benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Since independent living communities do not offer personal care or health care services, they are not regulated like traditional assisted living or skilled nursing communities. However, 21 out of 30 of our Denver independent living partners also offer assisted living care on the same campus. So, these communities are regulated like any individual assisted living facility. If you would like to check out the Denver regulations for assisted living communities, see our guide to Denver Assisted Living.

Stand-alone independent living communities

Stand-alone independent living communities do not follow assisted living facility guidelines. They typically follow rental regulations and inspections common to the landlord-tenant laws of the state. Besides local rental guidelines, independent living communities typically have their own restrictions, such as an age requirement. Most independent living facilities require residents to be at least 55 or 62 years old. These requirements can typically be found on the independent living community’s website.

Rental regulations and inspections

As of Jan. 1, 2023, Denver launched its residential rental licensing program, which requires apartment rentals to be licensed. This license must be renewed every four years. Additionally, apartment buildings must undergo and pass an inspection to receive a license. The residential rental property licensing program looks at 10% of the apartments on the property. In these inspections, the third-party inspector may check the following conditions:

• Hot water temperature
• Bathtub and shower status
• Lack of leaks or holes in walls, roofing, or foundation
• Free of pest infestation
• Regular trash removal services
• Sufficient lighting in halls and stairways

Independent living communities also need to follow traditional apartment guidelines. These guidelines have specific regulations for apartment owners and occupants. Under Colorado law, owners of rental properties have to abide by the following guidelines:

• Maintain cleanliness of public areas in the apartment complex
• Meet minimum standards for necessities like lighting, ventilation, and heating
• Perform pest control
• Have the minimum requirements for home appliances and facilities, such as bathrooms, kitchens, water heating, etc.
• Cannot disconnect utilities

While landlords have their own regulations to follow, so do tenants. Occupants in every apartment complex must adhere to the following:

• Sustain a clean apartment
• Dispose of garbage in a sanitary manner
• Maintain hygiene of plumbing
• Keep the unit pest-free

Besides these laws and regulations, Colorado law aims to provide tenants with safe living accommodations thanks to an extensive list of tenant rights. Tenants are protected through the following rights:

• Landlords cannot raise the rent more than once a year.
• Landlords must meet building, housing, and health codes.
• Landlords are not allowed to charge late fees until the payment is over seven days late. These late fees are also capped.

In addition to these rights, the Colorado Antidiscrimination Act prohibits discriminating against occupants based on age, sex, race, sexual orientation, disability status, sources of income, etc. Additionally, the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act prevents landlords from discriminating against or threatening tenants based on their immigration status.

If you believe your tenant rights are not being met, you can dial 3-1-1 to contact the local Department of Public Health and Environment.

Colorado Department of Health contact information

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek South Drive
Denver, CO 80246
Phone: 303-692-2000

Denver Tenant Rights & Resources

Review the extensive list of apartment tenant rights.

COVID-19 regulations for Denver independent living communities

Denver independent living communities do not have any specific COVID-19 regulations or guidelines to follow and typically function like any rental community.

However, if the community offers additional care types like assisted living, the facility must follow additional COVID-19 guidelines. Because 21 of 30 of our independent living partners in Denver have assisted living on the same campus, we provided those additional assisted living guidelines here.

Learn more about CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines for assisted living communities.

The following COVID-19 regulations are for Colorado senior living communities that also offer assisted living services.

Seniors in Denver can experience nearly year-round sunshine in the bustle of city living or laid-back suburbs with resort-like amenities and activities at our independent living partners’ facilities. Below you’ll learn more about the different types of independent living Denver has to offer.

City vs. suburban living

While there are many independent living communities within the city itself, senior living is booming in nearby suburban areas like Lakewood, Arvada, and Littleton. Seniors aged 65 and older are approximately 12% of Denver’s population. However, many suburbs within the 10-mile radius of downtown Denver see an increase in senior population. Some suburbs, like Arvada, see up to 18% of its population consisting of seniors age 65 and older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Seniors may gravitate to the surrounding suburbs because of the location, cost, and lack of traffic.

Heading farther out from the Denver city center increases the number of A Place for Mom independent living partners in the area to 54 independent living facilities. These facilities are located in surrounding suburbs like Highlands Ranch, Louisville, Broomfield, Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Brighton, Boulder, and Thornton. While some of these areas do not see a dramatic increase in senior population, there is a slight increase in cost. The average cost raises to $4,084 when including these suburban areas. Over half of these independent living communities include additional care types like assisted living or memory care.

Active independent living in Denver

Independent living communities in Denver emphasize the importance of active living. Over 85% of our Denver independent living partners offer at least one of the following resort-like features:

• Fitness centers
• Game rooms
• Billiards lounges
• Outdoor walking paths
• Pools
• Movie theaters
• Arts and crafts center

In addition to all-inclusive amenities, many independent senior living communities also host activities and events for their residents. Some facilities have an on-site activity and event coordinator, while others have resident-run groups. The following are some activities and events common to independent senior living communities:

• Art, fitness, and educational classes
• Interest groups and clubs
• Live music
• Holiday parties
• Devotional services
• Planned outings

Denver independent living facilities also encourage socialization among residents with community-based clubs, such as the following:

• Book club
• Bridge club
• Men’s club
• Walking club
• Sewing club
• Cooking club
• Gardening club

Additional on-site care services

While stand-alone independent living communities do not specifically offer personal care, many include health care services. Approximately 66% of our independent living partners in Denver offer access to an on-site home care agency, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. This allows seniors to experience exceptional care while enjoying the freedom of independent living. If an in-home care agency is not available on-site, many independent living communities offer additional health care services. In fact, 90% of our independent living partners in Denver offer in-home appointments from visiting medical professionals like dentists, nurses, physical therapists, and podiatrists.

Continuum of care

Only nine out of 30 of our independent living partners in Denver are stand-alone independent living communities. Our other partners in Denver add on another care type, such as adult day care, memory care, or assisted living. Exactly half of our partners are continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) with care services for independent living, assisted living, and memory care on the same campus. Since care needs are ever-changing, a continuum of care on the same campus helps seniors age in place. If you do not like moving around and expect your needs to change, a CCRC may be a better option for a longer period of time.

Health care for seniors in Denver

Denver offers a variety of health care providers. However, two hospitals receive higher rankings with national recognition and outstanding ratings for geriatric care.

Transportation for seniors in Denver

Approximately 98% of A Place for Mom’s independent living partners in Denver include complimentary transportation services for residents. In addition to these services, Denver features multiple transportation options, making the city accessible.

Besides Denver’s buses and taxis, Denver has RTD, a light rail system that covers 113 miles across the city and suburbs. RTD provides a discount and accessibility options for seniors 65 and over. However, if money is an issue, Denver has a free hybrid shuttle bus known as the 16th Street Mall Ride that travels through 16th street in downtown Denver. The free Mall Ride travels from Denver Civic Center Station to Denver Union Station with a stop along each road in between. This provides easy access to the 16th Street Mall, the Colorado Convention Center, restaurants, local tourist attractions, and theatres.

The following ratings, each out of 100, were compiled according to transportation accessibility in Denver, per Walk Score.