The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Wheat Ridge, CO for 2024

 

Wheat Ridge is a western suburb of Denver near world-class medical facilities, a variety of age-friendly recreational amenities and hundreds of acres of parkland. The city has a large senior community that makes up about a fifth of its 32,000 residents, which it supports with access to a local hospital, user-friendly transportation services and retiree-friendly income tax laws.

Wheat Ridge also has several assisted living facilities to accommodate seniors seeking a low-maintenance lifestyle. These facilities provide housing, personal care services and meal services for older adults who don’t need nursing home level care but are unable to comfortably live alone. Many facilities have on-site amenities, such as libraries, convenience stores and hair salons, and some have pet-friendly policies. Facilities also provide or arrange transportation services to further support residents’ independence. While monthly rates may vary depending on a given facility’s fee structure and amenities, on average, assisted living facilities in Wheat Ridge charge $5,500 per month for long-term care. This exceeds the national norm by $1,000, and it's about $750 higher than what’s typical for Colorado.

Through this guide, readers can learn about paying for assisted living in Wheat Ridge and connect with supportive resources in the region.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment licenses all assisted living facilities in Wheat Ridge and the rest of the state. This department publishes information related to residents’ rights and how to resolve concerns in assisted living. It also enforces minimum standards for transportation services, medication management, care planning and recreation.

 

• In Colorado, all forms of income are taxable, but the state provides a sizeable deduction to older adults to help them afford living and long-term care expenses. Those aged 55 to 64 can claim a deduction of up to $20,000, and those at least 65 years of age can claim a $24,000 deduction. This may help some seniors afford assisted living expenses in Wheat Ridge.
• Lutheran Medical Center is located in Wheat Ridge and provides access to a broad range of inpatient, outpatient and emergency services. This hospital is recognized for excellence by the American College of Radiology. In addition to this, many assisted living facilities support access to medical care through concierge and nonemergency medical transportation services.
• Wheat Ridge has warm summers and cold, snowy winters, and conditions are partly cloudy throughout the year and may appeal to active seniors. Humidity levels are comfortable throughout the warm months, and the rainy period lasts from early March until the beginning of November. December is the snowiest month, with an average snowfall of 2.3 inches.
• The air quality in Wheat Ridge is subpar, which may be a concern for those vulnerable to environmental irritants. The American Lung Association gives Jefferson County, where Wheat Ridge is located, an F for ozone pollution. This is based on an annual average of 83 days when ozone pollution levels are unsafe for vulnerable individuals and 15 days when ozone levels are unhealthy for all groups.
• Transportation services in Wheat Ridge are available through Regional Transportation District, which operates bus and rail service throughout the Denver metro area. This organization offers discount fares to those aged 65 and over, which may make it an affordable alternative to transportation services available through assisted living facilities.

 

Assisted living facilities in Wheat Ridge charge $5,500 per month for housing and care.

In Wheat Ridge, assisted living residents pay median monthly rates of $5,500 for care. This is hundreds of dollars higher than Colorado’s average of $4,750, as well as the national average of $4,500, and it’s significantly higher than care costs in most nearby cities. For example, seniors in Colorado Springs pay about 15% less for care than residents in Wheat Ridge, and in Grand Junction, monthly rates are 23% lower than care costs in Wheat Ridge. In Pueblo, monthly fees are even more competitive at $3,800, but in Boulder, assisted living costs exceed Wheat Ridge’s average by 14%.

In Wheat Ridge, assisted living residents pay $5,500 per month on average for care. This is more than double the cost of adult day health care, which includes daytime services in a community environment for $2,275 per month, but it’s economical compared to other local senior care options. For example, seniors who obtain private care at home pay $6,769 for in-home care and $6,864 for home health care. Additionally, seniors who require nursing home placement pay $8,669 for semi-private accommodations.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

 

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

 

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Colorado page.