Assisted Living in Colorado: A Family Guide

Facts checked September 28, 2026 against official Colorado sources

What assisted living is called in Colorado, what it costs, how Medicaid can help, how to check a community’s license and inspections, and who to call if something goes wrong. Every fact links to the official source.

Licensed by

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division¹

Licensed communities on Lilisity

659 assisted living, 1 with memory care

Medicaid help

Yes: Alternative Care Facility (ACF) services through the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) waiver²

Typical cost

$6,584 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)

Long-term care ombudsman

303-862-3524³

What assisted living is called in Colorado

• Assisted Living Residence (ALR)A home for three or more unrelated adults that provides room, board, personal care, protective oversight and 24-hour supervision, but not round-the-clock nursing care.¹
• Supportive Living Program (SLP) residenceAn assisted living residence also certified by Colorado Medicaid to give added services such as health maintenance and behavior support.¹
• Alternative Care Facility (ACF)An assisted living residence certified to be paid by Medicaid for the services it provides.¹

Memory care rules

An assisted living residence may run a secure (locked) environment, in the whole building or in one part. It must meet all regular assisted living rules plus extra rules. Before a person moves in, the residence must tell them and their legal representative in writing about admission criteria, how residents are kept safe, and any specialty services such as memory care.⁴

Questions to ask memory care about nights.

What assisted living costs in Colorado

The median cost of assisted living in Colorado is $6,584 a month, above the national median of $6,200 (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, collected July to November 2025). Prices vary with the apartment, the level of care and the community, so ask each one for its current rate sheet, including care-level fees.

If more care is needed later: nursing home costs in Colorado, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates Colorado nursing homes publish.

Plan with our free tools: how long will the money last? and home care or assisted living?

Paying for assisted living in Colorado

Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Families pay from savings and income, long-term care insurance, or benefits such as VA Aid and Attendance (estimate it). Who actually pays for long-term care.

Medicaid. Health First Colorado (Medicaid) pays for services in assisted living residences that are certified as Alternative Care Facilities. Members must be enrolled in the EBD waiver, the CMHS waiver or the Medicaid Buy-In Program. Program: Alternative Care Facility (ACF) services through the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) waiver; Community Mental Health Supports (CMHS) waiver; Medicaid Buy-In Program.² Medicaid does not pay rent or meals in assisted living in any state, and not every community accepts it, so ask each one.

How to check a community in Colorado

Look up a license. CDPHE's Find and Compare tool lets you search facilities it licenses, including assisted living, and see inspection results from the last 3 years. The tool can also show occurrences. Search Colorado’s records.⁵

Inspection reports. Inspection results from the last 3 years, including citations and the facility's plan of correction, are in the Find and Compare tool. If something is missing, you can send CDPHE an information request form.⁶

Lilisity shows Colorado’s inspection record on each community’s page where the state publishes one: the state’s own records, dated and linked to the official source.

Always visit in person, at a mealtime or in the evening if you can. Bring the tour scorecard and the 8 tour questions.

If something goes wrong

Complaints about care or conditions. CDPHE investigates concerns about quality of care, resident rights and safety in licensed facilities, including assisted living. You can file online, or by email (cdphe.hfdintake@state.co.us), fax (303-753-6214) or mail. Anonymous complaints are accepted. CDPHE can only look at incidents from within the past year. file online.⁷

Abuse, neglect or exploitation. How to report.⁸ If someone is in danger, call 911.

The long-term care ombudsman is a free advocate for residents of assisted living and nursing homes: they help resolve problems with a community, including move-out notices. Call 303-862-3524 or find your local ombudsman.³

Find assisted living in Colorado

Assisted living by city

Every community and county in Colorado · 9 with verified resident testimonials

Sources

1. Licensing agency, license types (cdphe.colorado.gov)
2. Medicaid (hcpf.colorado.gov)
3. Ombudsman (cdhs.colorado.gov)
4. Memory care rules (sos.state.co.us)
5. License lookup (cohealthviz.dphe.state.co.us)
6. Inspection reports (cdphe.colorado.gov)
7. Complaints (cdphe.colorado.gov)
8. Reporting abuse (cdhs.colorado.gov)
9. CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (state medians)

Facts checked against these official sources on September 28, 2026. Rules and programs change; confirm with the agency before making a decision. General information, not legal or financial advice.