Home Care in Aurora, CO

Located in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties within the Denver metropolitan area, Aurora is the third-largest city in the state. Of the 379,289 people who call Aurora home, just over 11%, or about 42,480 residents are seniors aged 65 and older.

Originally known as Fletcher, Aurora was founded in the 1880s, and it became a city in 1928 once the population reached 2,000. A number of military bases helped spur growth in and around Aurora, including the Buckley Air National Guard Base, now known as the Buckley Space Force Base. You can explore the history of the base at the Buckley Visitor Center each weekday by appointment.

Each year, Aurora receives an average of 62 inches of snow that transform the city into a winter wonderland. The area is also known for being exceptionally sunny, with about 243 sunny days each year compared to the national average of just 205 sunny days.

The Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that in-home care from either a homemaker or home health care provider costs an average of $5,720 per month in Aurora. Home health care services include non-medical assistance as well as some limited medical care, such as medication management and ostomy care.

The rates listed by Genworth are based on 44 hours of care weekly, which works out to just over 6 hours of care each day. You can estimate your actual weekly home care costs by multiplying the average hourly rate, $30, by the number of hours of support you expect you’ll need each week.

The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities

At an average of $5,720 per month, Aurora’s in-home care costs are relatively high given that the statewide average cost of either home care or home health care is $5,339 per month. In nearby Boulder, rates are similar at $5,625 for homemaker services and $5,720 for home health care. To the north in Colorado Springs, seniors pay around $4,862 for home care and $4,957 for home health care, while in Fort Collins, either type of care runs about $5,053 per month.

Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.

Community Aging in Place — Advancing Better Living for Elders

What You Should Know
CAPABLE is a free program designed to help low-income senior homeowners throughout metro Denver, including in Aurora, safely age in place in the comfort of their own homes. This program brings together Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver’s construction team and nurses and occupational therapists from the Colorado Visiting Nurse Association.

Program participants have 10 in-home visits from an occupational therapist and a nurse who determine what kinds of home improvements, accessibility upgrades and community-based services are needed to help the homeowner safely age in place. Habitat for Humanity volunteer contractors complete any home repairs recommended by the medical team, such as the installation of wheelchair ramps and safety bars; upgrading lighting and fixing damaged flooring; and installing raised toilets. The repairs and improvements are done at no cost to the homeowner.

Who Is Eligible?
To participate in the CAPABLE program, you must be a senior aged 65 or older, and own and occupy your own home within metro Denver. Your income must be at or below 80% of the area’s median income, and you need to plan on continuing to live in your home for as long as possible.

How to Get Started
To learn more about the CAPABLE program, call the program manager at (303) 698-6302.

Aurora Center for Active Adults

What You Should Know
The Aurora Center for Active Adults is a city-owned recreation center geared towards seniors aged 62 and older. The Center offers a wide variety of programs, activities and services designed to promote physical and mental wellness, community connections and independence among older adults.

You can purchase an annual membership for the Center for $100, or pay on a monthly or drop-in basis. Memberships include drop-in yoga, Zumba and weight training classes; weekly bingo games and access to regular preventative health screening clinics.

Who Is Eligible?
As a senior living in Aurora, you’re eligible for membership at the Aurora Center for Active Adults.

How to Get Started
For up-to-date information on operating hours, program schedules and classes, call the Center at (303) 739-7950.

Case Management Program

What You Should Know
The regional Area Agency on Aging, a nonprofit, federally-mandated agency dedicated to advancing services for seniors, offers short-term case management services through the Case Management Program.

This program pairs seniors aged 60 and older with an experienced case manager who conducts a comprehensive needs assessment to determine what kinds of short and long-term supports each client needs. The case manager can also help seniors and their loved ones access local, state and federal programs, including benefits that can help cover home care costs. Bilingual (English/Spanish) case managers are available upon request.

Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for free case management services through the Case Management Program, you must be a senior aged 60 or older.

How to Get Started
For more information, call (303) 480-6704.

State Health Insurance Assistance Program

What You Should Know
The Denver Regional Council of Governments operates the local State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, for residents of Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties.

The SHIP program provides free, unbiased information about Medicare benefits, enrollment and coverage to seniors, their caregivers and family members on a one-on-one basis. Volunteer SHIP counselors can help you set up Medicare coverage, as well as coverage through Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug plans.

Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for free health insurance counseling through SHIP, you need to be a senior, a senior’s family member or a caregiver.

How to Get Started
To learn more about SHIP, call (303) 480-6835.

Meals on Wheels

What You Should Know
Shopping for groceries and preparing healthy balanced meals can be a challenge at any age, and that’s especially true for seniors living with mobility or other health issues. The local Meals on Wheels program, operated by Volunteers of America, provides housebound seniors with a hot, home-delivered meal each weekday.

There’s no set cost for the meals, although seniors who are in a financial position to make a monetary contribution to the program are encouraged to do so. Each meal includes at least one-third of the daily nutritional needs of older adults, and all entrees come with a carton of milk, bread and an assortment of fruits and vegetables. When the volunteer driver drops off your meal, they’ll take a moment to ensure that you are safe and doing well.

Who Is Eligible?
You’re eligible to receive a home-delivered meal each weekday through Meals on Wheels if you’re a senior aged 60 and older, or you’re caring for a senior, and you have difficulty preparing your own meals at home. You can use the Meals on Wheels service on a long-term basis or on a short-term basis while you’re recovering from an illness or injury.

How to Get Started
To learn more about the local Meals on Wheels program, call (303) 294-0111.