Memory Care in Colorado

Does Medicaid pay for memory care in Colorado?

Many older Coloradans receive medical and other benefits from the state Medicaid program — Health First Colorado — and additional services are available via the Elderly, Blind & Disabled Waiver. The EBD Waiver provides coverage for personal care services, such as assistance with activities of daily living, and licensed care from assisted living communities. In Colorado, these communities are officially referred to as Alternative Care Facilities (ACF) and can be certified for Alzheimer’s and memory care. Waiver recipients are responsible for the room and board costs at all such facilities in the state.

What is the difference between assisted living and memory care?

Assisted living and memory care offer many of the same services, including housing, meals, and help with activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing, grooming, and using the toilet. However, memory care also specializes in caring for seniors with memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia. Click here to learn more about which care is best for you.

What does Medicare cover for memory care?

Medicare covers inpatient hospital care and some of the doctors' fees and other medical items for people with Alzheimer's or dementia who are age 65 or older. Medicare Part D also covers many prescription drugs. Medicare will pay for up to 100 days of skilled nursing home care under limited circumstances. However, custodial long-term nursing home care is not covered. Medicare will pay for hospice care delivered in the home, a nursing facility or an inpatient hospice facility for people with dementia who are determined by a doctor to be near the end of life.