Memory Care in Aurora, Colorado
Aurora is one of the largest suburbs of Denver, the Colorado state capital, located in the foothills of the scenic Rocky Mountains. Residents here have ready access to the city's many amenities, including an international airport and world-class healthcare services. Eleven percent of Aurora's population of 379,000 residents are seniors aged 65 and older, a demographic that's especially vulnerable to memory loss and dementia. In fact, according to the Centers For Disease Control, deaths from Alzheimer's disease and related conditions rose by over 40% from 2014 to 2018. In comparison, the overall death rate increased just 12% over the same time period. Looking at these figures, it's clear that Alzheimer's disease is a serious concern for older Aurora residents.
Fortunately for Aurora seniors and their families, the area is home to many memory care communities. These long-term care facilities provide 24/7 security and oversight from staff trained to attend to the specific needs of individuals with dementia. In this guide, you'll find information about the cost of memory care in the city, resources that may benefit affected individuals and their loved ones, and a directory of memory care communities in the area.
The SeniorScore for Aurora, CO
The SeniorScore is a measure of the senior-friendliness of a city using a scale of one to 100. The score is broken down into four subcategories: Health & Safety, Recreation & Leisure, Finances and General Quality of Life. Aurora has an overall SeniorScore of 71, which is slightly higher than the Colorado score of 69 and just under the national score of 72.
Aurora scored highest in the Health & Safety category at 68. There are a high number of Medicaid-registered physicians in the city, plus 15 hospitals in case of illness or emergencies, including the Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital and Medical Center of Aurora. The average life expectancy is about a year and a half longer than the national average, and crime rates, both violent and property, are about on par with the national averages. Recreation & Leisure earned a score of 62. While the percentage of seniors in the area is low, there are plenty of opportunities for older residents to enjoy time outside at one of the area's 83 golf courses or 39 parks. Shoppers can visit one of 20 malls, or purchase food and supplies from one of the over 800 grocery stores.
The General Quality of Life category earned a score of 63, largely due to Aurora's pleasant summers and plentiful rainfall, but winters can be cold and very snowy. The city received its lowest score of just 59 in the Finances category. Property and sales tax rates are lower than the national averages, and the income tax rate is close to the national average. The per capita income here is several hundred dollars higher than the national average, but so is the cost of living.
Memory Care Costs in Aurora, CO
Memory care communities in Colorado are usually located in separate, secure wings of assisted living facilities, which provide accommodations, meals and access to help with daily living activities. Memory care communities provide a higher level of care that typically includes specialized programming to slow cognitive decline and on-site physical, occupational and speech therapies. Staff working in these facilities receive training in dementia care, and the units are secured and monitored around the clock for resident safety.
Due to the additional resources provided, costs for memory care are about 20 to 30% higher than the rates charged for standard assisted living. There are no nationwide sources for memory care cost data. Therefore, we used the assisted living averages in the Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey 2020, plus 25%, to estimate costs for memory care. However, the costs at individual communities may vary according to the specific services and amenities offered.
The cost of memory care in Aurora is a few hundred dollars more than the average for the state of Colorado. It's also several hundred dollars higher than the monthly average for the United States overall.
Looking at other cities in the state, Aurora is among the most expensive for memory care. Colorado Springs has the highest monthly cost, at $6,675, while the average in Boulder is $300 less at $6,375. Other major Colorado cities are all significantly lower in cost compared to Aurora and these two cities. Costs in Fort Collins ($5,148), Pueblo ($4,875), Greeley ($4,394) and Grand Junction ($4,994) are also considerably lower than the average rate in Aurora.
- Aurora: $6,063
- Fort Collins: $5,148
- Pueblo: $4,875
- Greeley: $4,394
- Colorado Springs: $6,675
- Grand Junction: $4,994
- Boulder: $6,375
Note: Data for Aurora was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Denver, was used instead.
Top Memory Care Communities in Aurora, Colorado
Summit Rehabilitation and Care Community is a 110 bed skilled nursing facility located within the Sunny Vale neighborhood of Aurora, Colorado. The community is in a primarily low income area, with a median household income of $29,469. With ...
Garden Terrace of Aurora is a 120 room senior housing facility located in the SableRidge neighborhood of Aurora, Colorado. The community is in a mostly middle class area, with an average per-household income of $39,442. It is densely ...
Life Care Center of Aurora is a 166 bed senior care facility. It is located in the Southeast Crossing area of Aurora, Colorado. With an average per-household income of $48,192, the community is in a largely middle class ...
Kindred Nursing And Rehabilitation-Aurora is located within the Sunny Vale neighborhood of Aurora, Colorado. It is a 108 bed nursing facility. The facility is in a mostly low income area, with a median per-family income of $29,469. ...
Aspen Center is a 120 unit senior housing community located within the Chambers Heights neighborhood of Aurora, Colorado. The community is in a mostly middle income area, with an average family income of $40,642. With about 48,000 individuals ...
Located in the Fitzsimons area of Aurora, Colorado, Cottonwood Care Center of Brighton, Colorado is a 180 bed senior care community. The surrounding area is sparsely populated, with roughly 1,000 residents in the zip code of 80045. It ...
Garden Plaza of Aurora is a senior care community situated within the Southeast Crossing area of Aurora, Colorado. With a median household income of $48,192, the facility is in a mostly middle class area. It has a dense ...
Located in the Expo Park neighborhood, Juniper Village at Aurora is a senior care community serving Aurora, Colorado. The community is in a mostly middle income area, with a median per-household income of $39,442. With roughly 48,000 people ...
Shalom Cares is a senior housing community situated within the Woodgate neighborhood of Aurora, Colorado. With about 63,000 people residing in the zip code of 80015, the neighboring area is densely populated. It is a primarily affluent area, ...
Located within the Woodgate area of the city, Belleview Heights Alzheimer's Special Care Center is a senior care community in Aurora, Colorado. With an average family income of $84,469, the facility is in a predominantly upper class area. ...
Situated in the Meadow Hills neighborhood, Ashley Manor Care Centers is a senior community in Aurora, Colorado. With roughly 38,000 people residing in the 80014 zip code, the surrounding area is densely populated. It is a mostly middle ...
Cardan Manor Assisted Living Facility is situated in the Mission Viejo neighborhood of Aurora, Colorado. It is a 5 bed senior care community. The community is in a primarily middle class area, with an average family income of ...
Located within the Heritage Eagle Bend area of the city, Christian Assisted Living Homes is a senior care community serving Aurora, Colorado. With an average per-household income of $111,406, the community is in a mostly affluent area. It ...
Canterbury Gardens Living is a senior care facility situated within the Expo Park neighborhood of Aurora, Colorado. The neighboring area is densely populated, with around 48,000 residents in the zip code ...
Brookdale Aurora is located in the Heather Ridge area of Aurora, Colorado. It is a senior community for individuals 55 and up. With roughly 48,000 individuals residing in the zip code of 80012, the encompassing area is densely ...
Nora Personal Care Assisted Living is a 6 bed senior housing facility. It is located within the Aurora Knolls - Hutchinson Heights neighborhood of Aurora, Colorado. With a median per-family income of $69,220, the community is in a ...
Situated within the Meadow Hills neighborhood, Chelsea Place Memory Care Community is a senior care community serving Aurora, Colorado. With approximately 63,000 residents in the 80015 zip code, the surrounding area is densely populated. It is a predominantly ...
Free Memory Care Resources in Aurora, CO
Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Service officers at the Arapahoe County office of the Colorado DVA can help senior veterans and their families determine the service-related benefits they're eligible for and help them complete applications and file claims and appeals with the VA. 1690 West Littleton Boulevard, Suite 110, Littleton, CO 80120 (303) 738-8045 https://vets.colorado.gov/county-veterans-service-offices |
Denver Regional Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging The local AAA offers a number of programs and services to improve the lives of Aurora seniors. These include programs to help seniors and their families find the right fit for long-term care. The agency can provide health screenings, fall prevention workshops and education about the early signs of dementia. Representatives of the AAA can also help seniors apply for available financial assistance to help cover the cost of memory care. Caregiver training and respite support are available to aid families before a loved one makes the transition to a memory care community. 1001 17th Street, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80202 (303) 480-6700 https://drcog.org/programs/area-agency-aging |
Colorado Long-Term Care Ombudsman Long-term care ombudsmen represent the interests of residents of senior communities, including assisted living and memory care facilities. These individuals can help families file complaints on behalf of residents or may address the complaints of residents themselves. Ombudsmen also advocate for the rights and needs of people in memory care, including increased training for staff and oversight from state and local governments. 1575 Sherman Street, 8th Floor, Denver, CO 80203 (303) 480-6734 https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdhs/long-term-care-ombudsman |
Colorado Legal Services Aurora residents who meet certain income guidelines may receive free or reduced-rate legal services from area attorneys. These include pursuing cases of elder abuse and neglect, fraud, or landlord-tenant disputes. Other services include drafting living wills, advance directives and trusts to help individuals plan ahead for their future care needs. 1905 Sherman Street, Suite 400, Denver 80203 (303) 837-1313 https://www.coloradolegalservices.org/ |
Alzheimer's Association Colorado Chapter The Alzheimer’s Association is a national organization dedicated to finding a cure and better treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions. The Colorado chapter offers a number of resources for seniors and their families, including education about the disease, seminars about the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s and help finding memory care that meets their needs and budgets. The Alzheimer’s Association also engages in research fundraising and holds events throughout the year to raise awareness of the disease. 455 Sherman Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203 (303) 813-1669 http://www.alz.org/co |