Colorado Senior Living Statistics and Facts

Just 1.9 million residents of Colorado are eligible for a senior discount at their favorite watering holes. In other words, about 32.6 percent of the state’s residents are age 50 and older. This is one of the lowest rates in the country, which puts Colorado on the younger side when compared to other states. Even so, Colorado’s seniors are a thriving and active demographic, who look for good prices on everything from dining out to retirement community options.

In Colorado, the median cost for assisted living is $6,035 per month. For comparison, the nationwide median cost for assisted living is $6,077 per 1month.

What else can we learn about the state of Colorado’s seniors? In addition to having a bottom-10 percentage of older adults, Colorado’s median age of 37.7 is just over one year younger than the overall U.S. median age of 39, and the state has the seventh-highest life expectancy.

The median household income in Colorado for those 65 and older is more than $50,000, putting the state just outside the top 10 when it comes to older adults’ income levels, and a slightly higher-than-average percentage of 55-and-older residents remain in the workforce.

Colorado's Senior Living Costs

Living in Colorado is not the cheapest place to live, but it's also not the most expensive compared to the national average. The average home health care costs are approximately $7,462 a month. This fee ensures that seniors can live well in their own homes while receiving some help to keep the house clean and run day-to-day errands.

Seniors in the state needing adult day care can expect to pay about $2,009 per month to stay at a supervised facility and participate in social activities to stay busy while their caregivers are busy or away.

If you or your loved one needs more help with day-to-day tasks, it's worth looking into an assisted living facility in Colorado. For an average monthly cost of $5,225 a month, elders can receive health services and personal care here.

Finally, nursing homes are available throughout the state for those who need 24/7 supervision and care. The cost for a semi-private room is roughly $9,759 a month, while a private room is about $10,746 a month. All nursing homes provide residents with personal care, medication, housing, supervision, skilled nursing care during the day and night, and therapies and rehabilitation.

Colorado's Living Options for Seniors

The senior living options in Colorado are plentiful. Retirees can pick between independent living, assisted living, memory care, or nursing home care depending on their needs. Read more about each one below and determine which one best suits your lifestyle.

Independent Living

Colorado is home to more than 170 independent living communities throughout the state. The average cost of independent living here ranges from $963 – $4,785 a month, depending on a variety of factors like location. For example, retirees in the metropolitan areas can expect to pay more than those who live in the suburban areas. Seniors who are healthy and active, and don't require round-the-clock nursing care will do well with independent living.

Apartment living choices for seniors are plentiful in Colorado. The apartments provide everything needed to live a carefree, vibrant life. Senior communities here are typically located close to shopping, pharmacies, hospitals, etc. Every community will offer different amenities, but some popular ones include fitness centers, walking trails, clubhouses, meeting rooms, and more for residents to enjoy.

Assisted Living

A plethora of assisted living facilities are available throughout Colorado to provide seniors with attentive caregivers, healthcare, access to local activities, and other social opportunities to help them feel at home. Similar to senior apartments, amenities will vary from place to place. However, residents can expect to receive help with housekeeping duties, laundry, transportation, meal services, and 24-hour safety surveillance.

The average cost of assisted living facilities in the state ranges from $1,752 to $8,700 per month. The most expensive assisted living facilities are located in the Colorado Springs metropolitan area, where prices range from $2,205 – $6,385 a month. On the other hand, the more affordable facilities are found in the Pueblo area, where prices range between $2,200 – $3,725 a month.

Looking for assisted living in a bigger city? Check out our guide to the best assisted living communities in Denver.

Memory Care

There are more than 300 memory care facilities in Colorado. Seniors dealing with Alzheimer's, dementia, and other ailments that affect their memory benefit from memory care. At memory care facilities, healthcare professionals work to identify and assess patient issues and provide customized care to help each patient get through the day. These facilities are monitored 24/7 to prevent patients from wandering and getting lost. Memory care costs in Colorado range from $2,540 to $12,615 a month.

Nursing Homes

In 2014 seniors over the age of 65 made up 13.2% of the state's population, and the number is projected to increase to 15.2% by 2020. The annual number of retirees is projected to go up by 74% between 2010 and 2025. The national average is only 27%. Currently, Colorado boasts over 840 senior living providers for the rapidly increasing senior population.

For a monthly fee of roughly $2,009 a month, Colorado seniors can take advantage of day care facilities where they'll be engaged physically, emotionally, and mentally. Staff are there to help the elderly get their daily walks in, try challenging puzzles, and participate in art therapy, to name a few. Activities will vary from one facility to another.

Terminally ill seniors can find peace and care at one of Colorado's 305 hospice facilities. Patients at a hospice will find trained staff who will help lessen their physical pain through medication and activities, and provide various types of therapy for coping with grief. Social workers, chaplains, and other support staff are provided to help patients and their families go through this difficult time with tranquility.

Lastly, Colorado has 327 respite care facilities to help provide relief to family caregivers. The average cost is $79,025 per year of care at a respite care facility. Respite care facilities go a long way in making life easier and more enjoyable for all involved with a loved one in their senior years.