The 10 Best In-Home Care Services for Seniors in Fort Collins, CO for 2023

Fort Collins, Colorado, began as an encampment designed to protect a mail route. In 1864, the U.S. Army established an outpost that has since become this bustling university city of over 168,000 people. The senior citizen community, however, is rather small at 10.9% of the population, compared to a national average of 16.8%. Fort Collins residents appreciate the city’s mountain views but the cost of living in this locale is rather high, above the national average but slightly below the Colorado state average. The UCHealth Pourdre Valley Hospital provides medical care to the city and surrounding areas with emergency care, orthopedics, cardiac and vascular care, as well as a sleep lab among its specialties.

Health care costs in Fort Collins are a bit lower than the national average. Seniors who need home care will pay about $6,101 per month, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. This includes help with daily living activities and housekeeping, but not the medical aide offered by home health care.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Fort Collins– complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

Fort Collins’s home care prices, at $6,101 per month, run lower than the state average by over $280 as per the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. This rate is above the national average by over $1,100, however. When compared to prices in other Colorado cities, Fort Collin’s rates are mid-range. While Denver and Boulder both come in at more than $660 higher, Colorado Springs and Pueblo offer cost savings of $333 and $833 respectively.

In Fort Collins, home care costs are less than those for skilled nursing care by almost $3,000 per month, but seniors may need to choose the latter if they have significant health problems. Home health care, equal in price to home care, provides some in-home medical services like therapy and medication management. Assisted living offers a cost savings of over $2,100 and may be an option for seniors who do not mind moving into a facility. Adult day programs are on the low end of the cost spectrum at $2,773 but are more limited in services.

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.