Colorado Elderly Long Term Care Attorney

Long-term care provides ongoing assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility. It focuses on personal care and support rather than medical treatment. Skilled nursing care, on the other hand, involves medically necessary services provided by licensed nurses or therapists, such as wound care, medication management, IV therapy, or rehabilitation after surgery or illness.

Skilled nursing is typically short-term and requires a physician’s order, while long-term care may be needed indefinitely. Many facilities offer both levels of care, but they serve different purposes and have different eligibility and payment rules.

Long-term care planning is essential in Colorado because the cost of care continues to rise, and many families are unprepared for the financial impact. Planning helps protect assets, preserve eligibility for benefits, and ensure that care needs will be met without overwhelming spouses or children. Colorado has strict Medicaid rules, look-back periods, and resource limits, making proactive planning especially important. Long-term care planning also allows individuals to express preferences for future care, avoid crisis decision-making, and structure finances to support both quality care and family stability.

Skilled nursing care in Colorado is expensive, often ranging from $9,000 to $12,000 per month, depending on location and level of care required. Specialized memory care or rehabilitation services may further increase costs. These expenses can quickly deplete savings, especially for seniors who need long-term care. Because Medicare coverage for skilled nursing is limited and temporary, families often must rely on private funds or Medicaid.

Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care, including help with daily activities. However, it may cover skilled nursing care on a short-term basis after a qualifying hospital stay. Typically, Medicare pays for up to 100 days of skilled nursing — 100% for the first 20 days and partial coverage for days 21–100, subject to copayments. After that, coverage ends. Medicare also covers certain rehabilitation or therapy services, but not ongoing nursing home placement.

Yes. Colorado Medicaid covers the full cost of skilled nursing care for eligible individuals. Medicaid can pay for nursing home residence, medical services, and long-term custodial care. It may also provide home- and community-based services (HCBS) as an alternative to nursing home placement. However, eligibility requires meeting strict asset and income limits, and applicants must comply with Colorado’s five-year look-back rules.

Qualifying for Medicaid long-term care benefits in Colorado requires meeting medical need criteria and strict financial limits. Applicants must demonstrate that they require nursing home–level care and have limited income and countable assets. Individuals must also comply with the five-year look-back period, which means recent asset transfers may result in penalties or delays in eligibility. Many families work with elder law attorneys to restructure assets, establish exempt resources, or create Medicaid-compliant plans.

In many cases, yes. Colorado Medicaid allows a nursing home resident to keep their home if certain conditions are met, such as having a spouse living there, intending to return home, or meeting the state’s equity limits. However, Medicaid may place a lien on the resident’s estate or seek estate recovery after the resident’s death. Planning is essential to protect the home while maintaining Medicaid eligibility. Strategies may include spousal protections, exemptions, or certain legal tools that reduce long-term risk.

Private-pay nursing homes are funded directly by residents or their families, offering greater flexibility in choosing facilities and rooms. Medicaid nursing homes accept residents whose care is financed by Colorado Medicaid. While many facilities accept both private-pay and Medicaid residents, private-pay residents often have priority for admission. Once on Medicaid, residents receive the same level of care, but may have fewer options.

Yes. Under Colorado Medicaid’s spousal protection rules, the “community spouse” may remain at home while the other spouse enters long-term care. Medicaid allows the community spouse, particularly in cases involving married couples, to retain certain assets and income to maintain financial stability and prevent impoverishment. Rules such as the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) and Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) protect the spouse’s home, income, and resources.

Ideally, long-term care planning should begin well before care is needed

— often in one’s 50s or early 60s. Early planning allows families to explore insurance options, protect assets, and structure finances to prepare for potential future needs. Colorado’s five-year Medicaid look-back period also makes advance planning essential. Waiting until a crisis occurs limits available strategies and can lead to rushed, costly decisions. Starting early ensures seniors and their families maintain control, avoid financial hardship, and have a clear roadmap for future care.