Senior Living

In-Home Care in Colorado: How to Choose the Right Caregiver for a Parent or Loved One

By Ross King, Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®)•November 3, 2026

A smiling caregiver and an older woman talking at a kitchen table in a Colorado home

Most parents want to stay home. The right helper makes that possible.

If your mother or father has said “I am not going anywhere,” you are in good company. AARP’s 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey found that 75% of adults 50 and older want to stay in their current homes as they age. For many families, in-home care is what turns that wish into a plan that works.

It is also a decision with real weight. A caregiver will be in your loved one’s kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Choosing someone is not like hiring a plumber. It is about trust, and about whether the two people actually get along.

This guide explains what in-home care is, who it is for, how to interview agencies and caregivers (including a personal note from Ross King, who went through this with his own mother), what Colorado requires of agencies, what care costs and who may help pay, and what to ask. When you are ready to look for providers, our Colorado Senior Care Directory lists in-home care providers by city.

The short answer: to choose in-home care in Colorado, follow these six steps.

Write down what help is needed. Meals, medication reminders, bathing, light housekeeping, rides, company or nursing care are different services.
Check the license. Ask whether the agency holds a Colorado Class A or Class B home care agency license.
Interview two or three providers together. Include the person who will receive care.
Insist on meeting the actual caregiver. The person who sells the service may not be the person who shows up.
Meet the backup and the night shift. Ask who covers vacations and sick days, and meet that person too.
Compare costs and funding. Medicare does not pay for most day-to-day home care, but other Colorado programs may help.

What is in-home care?

In-home care is help with daily life that is provided in the older adult’s own home by a trained caregiver, usually through a home care agency. It can be a few hours a week or round-the-clock coverage. The goal is to help someone stay safely and comfortably at home, which is the heart of aging in place.

People use several terms for it, such as home care, home health, private duty care and companion care, and they do not all mean the same thing:

Type of care	What it usually includes	Who provides it
Companion and homemaker care	Company, cooking, light housekeeping, laundry, errands, rides, medication reminders	Caregivers or homemakers, often through a non-medical agency
Personal care	Hands-on help with bathing, dressing, toileting, getting in and out of bed, and walking	Trained aides or certified nursing assistants through a licensed agency
Skilled home health care	Nursing, wound care, injections, physical, occupational or speech therapy, ordered by a doctor	Licensed nurses and therapists through a licensed home health agency

Most families start with companion and personal care. Skilled home health is usually shorter-term, for example after a hospital stay or surgery. Ask any provider exactly which of these services it offers, because agencies differ.

Who is in-home care for?

In-home care works best when a person can stay safely at home with regular help and has a home that is safe or fixable. It is not only for people who are frail. Many people start with a few hours a week of help with meals and housekeeping, then add more over time.

In-home care may be a good fit when	It may be time to look at other options when
Your loved one wants to stay home and the home is safe or fixable	The home cannot be made safe, such as many stairs with no main-floor living
Needs are manageable with scheduled visits or shifts	Care is needed around the clock and the cost is climbing out of reach
Family help is available but not enough on its own	The family caregiver is exhausted, ill or far away with no backup
Meals, medications or bathing are becoming a struggle	Memory loss brings wandering or unsafe behavior
Loneliness is a concern and regular company would help	Isolation or health keeps getting worse despite help at home

A personal note from Ross King

While taking care of my mother, who is passionate about aging in place, finding the right in-home care provider was harder than I expected. I needed someone who could cook, make sure she was taking her medications, do light cleaning, and, most of all, be a good match for my mother. That last part was the hardest.

Here is what I learned, and what I hope you will do:

Interview several in-home care providers together. Sit down with the person who will receive care, not just the family.
Remember who you are meeting. The person across the table is the care manager. He or she is there to win your business. That is fine, but insist on meeting the specific caregiver who will be assigned to you or your loved one.
Compatibility is critical. The caregiver and your parent will spend hours together. They need to get along.
Meet the backup. Ask to meet the person who will fill in when the main caregiver is on vacation, sick or unavailable.
Meet the night shift, too. Caregivers typically work in shifts, often about eight hours, so the people caring for your loved one in the evening and overnight are different people than the ones you meet in the morning.

Ross King, Broker/Owner, King Real Estate Group, and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®)

How to choose an in-home care provider

The best way to choose is to define the need, verify the agency, then meet the people who will actually provide the care. Use the steps below, and bring the older adult into every conversation they can take part in.

Step 1: Write a list of needs

Be specific. Note meals and cooking, medication reminders, bathing and dressing, light housekeeping, laundry, errands, transportation to appointments, companionship, overnight help and any health conditions such as dementia or diabetes. Note the days and hours of the week when help is most needed. The list lets you compare providers fairly.

Step 2: Check the license and ask for the paperwork

In Colorado, agencies that provide personal care or skilled care in a client’s home must be licensed by the state health department (see the licensing section below). Ask for the license class, ask how caregivers are screened and trained, and ask whether caregivers are employees of the agency or independent contractors.

Step 3: Interview two or three providers together

Meet in person or by video, and include your loved one. Ask the questions in the table below. Take notes, and compare answers after you have met each provider.

What to ask	A good sign	A red flag
Are you licensed in Colorado, and which class?	A clear answer and a license number you can verify	Vague answers or reluctance to share
How are caregivers screened and trained?	Background checks, references, training in dementia and safe transfers, and ongoing supervision	“We hire experienced people” with no details
Will I meet the exact caregiver before care starts?	Yes, with an introduction or trial visit	“We will assign someone the morning of”
Who covers when the caregiver is sick or on vacation?	A written backup plan, and a chance to meet the backup	“We will send whoever is available”
Who works nights and weekends?	Named staff, with an introduction to the evening and overnight team	No answer, or care that stops when the office closes
What exactly will the caregiver do and not do?	A written care plan, including what they can and cannot do about medications	Promises that are not in writing
What happens if we are not a good match?	A simple process to request a different caregiver, with no penalty	Long contracts, or resistance to changes
What are the rates, minimum hours and cancellation terms?	A written price sheet, with no hidden fees	Pressure to sign today
Can I speak with current clients or families?	Yes, with references offered	Refusal or deflection

Step 4: Meet the caregiver, the backup and the night shift

This is the step many families skip, and it is the one Ross recommends most. Ask for a meet-and-greet with the proposed primary caregiver in your loved one’s home. Do the same with the person who will fill in, and with the evening or overnight caregiver if care continues through the night. Watch how each person speaks to your loved one. Do they make eye contact and listen? Does your loved one seem relaxed?

Step 5: Start with a trial, and check in often

Begin with a short trial period if possible. Call or visit after the first few visits. Ask your loved one what they think, and trust what you hear. A good agency will welcome feedback and adjust. If it is not working, ask for a different caregiver.

Colorado licensing: what to know

In Colorado, home care agencies that provide personal care or skilled care are licensed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). There are two license classes:

Type of provider	What it can do	What to know
Class A home care agency	Skilled care by licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants and therapists, and may also provide personal care	The right choice when nursing or therapy is needed
Class B home care agency	Personal care only, with no skilled health care	Common for help with bathing, dressing and daily tasks
Housekeeping-only company	Cleaning and similar housekeeping	Not considered a home care agency by CDPHE
Independent caregiver working alone	Varies by what the person agrees to do	Not considered a home care agency if working alone with no employees, so you become responsible for screening, payroll and backup

Two more things to know. Since July 1, 2025, personal care providers paid through the Health First Colorado (Medicaid) Community First Choice program must hold a Class A or Class B license. And in 2025, state guidance for agencies serving Health First Colorado members called for a written backup plan for when the scheduled caregiver is unavailable, shared with the member or family at the start of services. Whether or not Medicaid is involved, ask any agency to show you its backup plan.

You can look up inspection and compliance history on CDPHE’s Find and Compare Facilities page, and you can report a concern through CDPHE’s complaint process. The department’s main number is 303-692-2000.

What in-home care costs in Colorado

Home care is usually billed by the hour, so the monthly cost depends on how many hours you need. Rates vary by area, agency and level of care.

Companion and homemaker care. One 2024 benchmark from CareScout and Genworth, as reported by CareYaya, put the Colorado median for homemaker services at about $44 an hour. In CareScout’s 2025 survey, the national median for non-medical caregivers was $35 an hour.
Skilled nursing at home. CareScout’s 2025 survey lists a Colorado rate of about $140 an hour for a private duty nurse.
A rough illustration. Twenty hours a week at $44 an hour is $880 a week, or about $3,800 a month. Around-the-clock care costs much more, and at some point assisted living (a 2025 Colorado median of about $6,584 a month, per CareScout) may be the more affordable choice.

Always get written quotes. Rates differ between Denver, the Front Range, the mountains and rural areas, and agencies may have minimum shifts.

Who may help pay

Source	What to know
Private pay	The most common way to pay for non-medical home care
Long-term care insurance	Many policies pay for home care, but they have waiting periods and daily limits, so call the insurer before you start
Medicare	Covers limited part-time skilled home health when ordered by a doctor. It does not cover 24-hour care, delivered meals, or homemaker and personal care when that is the only care needed
Health First Colorado (Medicaid)	The Elderly, Blind and Disabled (EBD) waiver and Community First Choice can cover personal care and homemaker services at home for people who qualify. The EBD waiver has income and asset limits (resources under $2,000 for one person) and sometimes a waitlist. Call 1-800-221-3943 or contact your local Case Management Agency
CDASS	A Medicaid option that lets eligible people hire and manage their own attendants, and in some cases pay a family member, with restrictions
Veterans benefits	Eligible wartime veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for VA Aid and Attendance. Ask your County Veterans Service Officer
Area Agency on Aging	Local agencies can arrange or point you to home-delivered meals, respite care and other support, often at little or no cost

Where to find in-home care near you

Start with a list of local providers, then use the interview steps above to narrow it down.

Search our directory. The Colorado Senior Care Directory has an “In Home Care” category. Pick your city, choose the service type and compare providers. It is a free community resource, and providers do not pay for placement.
Call the Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado (ADRC). 1-844-COL-ADRC (1-844-265-2372) offers free information and options counseling.
Call your Area Agency on Aging. In the Denver metro area, that is the DRCOG Area Agency on Aging at 303-480-6700. Elsewhere in Colorado, dial 2-1-1.
Ask the doctor, hospital discharge planner or social worker. They know which agencies are reliable locally.

When home care is not enough

Home care is a tool, not a promise. Needs change, and a good plan includes a way to adjust. Consider talking with your loved one’s doctor and exploring other settings if you notice repeated falls, missed medications even with help, wandering or other memory-related safety problems, a home that cannot be made safe, costs that keep growing, or a family caregiver who is exhausted.

Depending on the situation, that could mean assisted living, memory care or a smaller, easier home. If you are weighing a change, our Caring Real Estate Support for Seniors page explains how we help with the housing side, from staying put safely to selling and moving. If you are a son, daughter or other family member doing the research for a loved one, start with Helping a Parent or Loved One.

Frequently asked questions about in-home care in Colorado

What is in-home care?

In-home care is help with daily life, such as cooking, light housekeeping, bathing, dressing, medication reminders and company, provided in a person's own home by a trained caregiver, usually through a home care agency. It can range from a few hours a week to around-the-clock coverage.

What is the difference between home care and home health care?

Home care is mainly non-medical help with daily living, such as meals, housekeeping and personal care. Home health care is skilled medical care, such as nursing or therapy, ordered by a doctor. In Colorado, Class A agencies can provide skilled care, and Class B agencies provide personal care only.

How do I choose an in-home care agency in Colorado?

List the help needed, confirm the agency holds a Colorado Class A or Class B license, and interview two or three agencies with your loved one. Ask about screening, training, backup coverage and costs, and insist on meeting the caregiver who will be assigned before care begins.

What questions should I ask an in-home care provider?

Ask whether they are licensed, how caregivers are screened and trained, whether you can meet the caregiver and the backup, who works nights, what the caregiver can and cannot do, how to request a different caregiver, what rates and minimum hours apply, and whether you can speak with current families.

Should we meet the caregiver before care starts?

Yes. The person who sells the service is often the care manager, not the caregiver. Ask to meet the caregiver assigned to your loved one in the home before the first shift, so you can see whether the two of them are compatible.

Why should we meet the backup caregiver and the night shift?

Caregivers take vacations, get sick and work in shifts, often about eight hours. The person who fills in or works overnight may be someone you have never met. Meeting them in advance means your loved one is never alone with a stranger.

How much does in-home care cost in Colorado?

Most agencies charge by the hour. One 2024 CareScout and Genworth benchmark, as reported by CareYaya, put the Colorado median for homemaker services at about $44 an hour. Skilled nursing costs more. Get written quotes, and ask about minimum shifts and cancellation terms.

Does Medicare pay for in-home care?

Medicare covers limited part-time skilled home health when a doctor orders it, but it does not cover 24-hour care, delivered meals, or homemaker and personal care when that is the only care needed. Long-term care insurance, Medicaid waivers and veterans benefits may help.

Does Medicaid pay for home care in Colorado?

It can. Health First Colorado offers the Elderly, Blind and Disabled waiver and Community First Choice, which can include personal care and homemaker services at home for people who qualify. Contact your local Case Management Agency or call 1-800-221-3943 to start.

Can a family member be paid to care for a loved one in Colorado?

In some cases. Through CDASS, a Medicaid option, members can choose family or friends as paid attendants, with some restrictions. Ask your local Case Management Agency about the rules before you decide.

How do I check if a home care agency is licensed in Colorado?

Ask the agency for its license class and number, then check inspection and compliance history on the CDPHE Find and Compare Facilities page, or call CDPHE at 303-692-2000. Remember that independent caregivers working alone are not licensed as agencies.

Where can I find in-home care providers near me?

Search the In Home Care category in our Colorado Senior Care Directory by city. You can also call ADRC at 1-844-265-2372, the DRCOG Area Agency on Aging at 303-480-6700 in the Denver metro area, or dial 2-1-1 elsewhere in Colorado.

Take the next step, one conversation at a time

You do not have to solve everything today. Start by writing down the help your loved one needs, then pick two or three providers to meet.

Where to start

Find providers near you. Search the Colorado Senior Care Directory.
Talk with us about your home and your options. Learn about Caring Real Estate Support for Seniors.
Helping a parent from afar? Visit Helping a Parent or Loved One.
Questions? Contact Ross at (303) 548-4300 for a no-pressure conversation.

Search the Directory Caring Real Estate Support for Seniors Helping a Parent or Loved One Contact Ross Call (303) 548-4300

This article is for general education only. It is not medical, legal, financial or tax advice, and Ross King is a licensed Colorado real estate broker, not an attorney, financial advisor, clinician or care provider. King Real Estate Group does not operate, endorse or receive payment from any home care agency listed in the directory. Costs, programs, licensing rules and availability change, so confirm current information directly with each organization.

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