The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Denver, CO for 2023

Colorado’s capital city of Denver is a fast-growing community of approximately 715,000 people. Of its residents, almost 12% are aged 65 and over. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s-related deaths in this area have decreased slightly in recent years, possibly due in part to local initiatives and programs. In 2016, about 9% of deaths in the Denver region were attributed to Alzheimer’s, compared to about 8% in 2020. While the total death rate went up by nearly 25% during that period as a result of population growth, Alzheimer’s-related deaths went up by less than 15%.

Residential dementia care is a preferred living option for many with Alzheimer’s and related diseases, providing around-the-clock monitoring and specialized programming. These facilities feature comfortable housing, nutritious daily meals and social and recreational activities to help residents maintain as much functioning and independence as possible.

Through this guide, readers can learn about memory care costs in Denver and get an overview of agencies and programs that provide services, support and guidance for those impacted by dementia.

Overseeing community care in Denver is the responsibility of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Representatives of the CDPHE license, certify and conduct inspections on Memory Care facilities, adult day care communities, nursing homes and similar group living locations.

• At an elevation of 5,280 feet, Denver is famously exactly a mile above sea level, but acclimation is fairly quick, rarely taking more than three days. Living at a high altitude can actually have some health benefits for older adults, including a higher survival rate from stroke and cardiovascular disease.
• The city gets considerably more sun than most places in the U.S., with an average of 245 sunny days every year against the national average of 205. With low humidity, summer temperatures consistently in the 80s, and winter highs well above freezing, Denver scores an impressive 8.8 out of 10 on BestPlaces’s year-round comfort index.
• Denver’s overall cost of living is high. On a scale where 100 represents the national average, Denver scores 128.7 and Colorado scores 121.1. However, that number obscures some nuances; Denver’s housing costs are very high at 184.3, but its health costs rate 92.5, significantly below both state and national averages.
• Getting around the city is fairly convenient. Since 2014, Denver has been a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, which works to make towns and cities more walkable and socially welcoming. Denver also has a robust light rail system with 74 stations in and around the area, with seniors receiving a 50 percent discount on all mass transit services.
• Crime in Denver is moderately higher than elsewhere in the country. Violent crime is rated at 30.7 against a U.S. average of 22.7, and property crime is rated 50.8 against a U.S. average of 35.4. However, crime may be less of a concern for people in group living situations such as memory care facilities, which almost always have secure entrances and exits for the safety of their residents.

While there’s no authoritative data source that specifically tracks the relative prices of Memory Care nationwide, Memory Care usually costs approximately 20%-30% more than assisted living in a given market. To reflect this, we’ve added 25% to the assisted living costs reported by the Genworth Cost of Care Survey to estimate Memory Care prices below.

The estimated monthly price for Memory Care in Denver is $6,875, significantly higher than the national average of $5,625 and the Colorado state average of $5,938. Only the city of Boulder is more expensive at $7,844 a month. The other end of the spectrum is represented by Pueblo at $4,750. Meanwhile, at $5,829, Colorado Springs is close to the state average.

Older adults who wish to remain in their homes can employ homemaker services for an average of $6,769 a month. Slightly more intensive home health aide services are available for $6,864. Assisted living falls in a lower price range at $5,500, while adult daycare is the least expensive option at $2,275. The most robust care reaches five digits: a private room in a nursing home costs $10,053 per month, while a semiprivate one can be had for approximately $8,669.

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.