The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Fort Collins, CO for 2024
Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in Fort Collins, CO, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies 4.8 out of 5 stars across the 24 options below.
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Paying for Home Care in Fort Collins, CO
The Cost of Home Care in Fort Collins, CO
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.
Fort Collins
$6,101
Colorado
$6,387
The United States
$4,957
Boulder
$6,769
Denver
$6,769
Colorado Springs
$5,768
Pueblo
$5,268
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Fort Collins, CO
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.
Home Care
$6,101
Home Health Care
$6,101
Adult Day Health Care
$2,773
Assisted Living
$4,000
Nursing Home Care (semiprivate room)
$9,079
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Fort Collins, CO
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.
Fort Collins Home Care Resources
Home care services are only one of the pieces needed for seniors to gracefully age in place. There are many services and programs that are low-cost or free, that enable seniors to enjoy an independent lifestyle in the comfort of their own home, such as help with home modifications, meal delivery services, and more. Below, we’ve compiled a few of the most helpful resources in Fort Collins:
Resource | Contact | Address | Service |
---|---|---|---|
Larimer County Office on Aging Services | (970) 498-7750 | 1501 Blue Spruce, Fort Collins, CO 80524 | The Larimer County Office on Aging Services is the Area Agency on Aging for the region. It serves area seniors age 60 and older by coordinating the services they need to live safely and independently at home. Through the Office on Aging, seniors can get in-home services, help with chores, counseling for care options and support for family caregivers. Seniors can also get help applying for Medicare or Medicaid services through the office. |
Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Program | (866) 432-8435 | 1575 Sherman Street, 8th Floor, Denver, CO 80203 | LEAP is a program that helps seniors and other low-income households in Colorado afford their utility bills in the winter months from November through April. Seniors can qualify for this if they make up to 60% of Colorado’s median income level. LEAP can also offer help with repairing a home’s primary heating system to ensure seniors stay safe when the winter weather hits Fort Collins. |
Income-Qualified Assistance Program | (970) 212-2900 | 222 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524 | Seniors who qualify for LEAP during the previous season and who use Fort Collins Utilities as a provider for electric, water or wastewater may be able to receive a reduced rate on their utilities through the Income-Qualified Assistance Program. This reduces the rate for these utilities by 23%. It also provides home efficiency education that can help lessen the amount of energy used in the home, which lowers the cost of utility bills. |
Volunteers of America – Handyman Program | (970) 472-9630 | 405 Canyon Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521 | Staying safe at home sometimes requires home modification, and seniors can request help with these modifications through the Handyman Program with Volunteers of America. This non-profit group provides safety repairs and minor home maintenance to seniors living on a fixed budget. The labor for these projects is provided at no cost to the participant as long as they’re able to provide the materials. |
Meals on | (970) 472-9630 | 405 Canyon Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521 | Meals on Wheels is another program from Volunteers of America. This program has volunteers who deliver frozen meals to seniors in Larimer County who are homebound and aged 60 or older. In addition to the tasty meals, which seniors can keep on hand for days when they feel they can’t cook, Meals on Wheels provides a basic wellness check when the volunteer delivers the food. |
Determining Your Loved One’s Need for In-Home Care
Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help – often times it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.
Guidelines for Talking About In-Home Care
If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.
Reviews of Care Providers Nearby
Home Care
Robert B_97
5.0
Review of Right at Home Northern Colorado
They treat you like family. They're being here is enough. I'm happy with what I have now; I don't want any other person to come over and it's the greatest thing. Some of the people are really nice.
Home Care
Robert C_76
5.0
Review of Right at Home Northern Colorado
They showed up and were pleasant. I like the workers they sent they connected with Bob.
Home Care
Floyd L_1
5.0
Review of Right at Home Northern Colorado
I'm in a wheelchair and they help with things I can't do. They are a great company and treat me right.