The Best Memory Care Communities in Boulder County, CO

Just 30 minutes northwest of downtown Denver, Boulder County has a population of 322,514, including about 5,000 who are age 65 or older. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid estimates that 500 of those seniors may need full time supervision and care for Alzheimer's disease or dementia in an assisted living residence specializing in serving those with cognitive ailments.

The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and the Colorado Council on Assisted Living have established licensing procedures and regulations for assisted living residences throughout the state. Boulder County has six such facilities scattered across the cities of Boulder, Longmont and Louisville.

• Boulder air quality is good to poor, depending on the type of pollution. The county scored a "B" grade for particle pollution, but it received an "F" for ozone contamination from the American Lung Association. Families may want to ask prospective assisted living facilities if their HVAC system filters the air.
• The U.S. average for yearly rainfall is 39 inches, while Boulder only gets 20, but it does get 88 inches of snow, which is over five feet more than the national average. Sunny days in Boulder outnumber those in the U.S. by 245 to 205. Summer highs creep up to 83, and winter temperatures can be as low as 17. Boulder County scores a Sperling's Comfort Index of 67 out of 100. Seniors may not be comfortable in the extreme Colorado winters.
• The cost of living in Boulder is 58 points higher than the U.S. average with expensive housing being the main reason. Healthcare is 5 points less than state or national norms at 95, which is the same as groceries. The extra housing expense could put assisted living in Boulder out of reach for some families.
• Boulder County's crime rates are below the national average. Violent crimes are almost one point less at 30.2, and property crimes are almost 4 points lower than the U.S. norm of 38.1. By law, assisted living facilities must have extra layers of security for their senior tenants.

Memory Care costs in Boulder County start around $8,135 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,694 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Boulder County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in Colorado page.

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

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

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in Colorado page.

Boulder County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in Colorado are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in Colorado page for more information about these laws.