Senior care in Colorado Springs: Arrange the Right Help

Define the tasks and uncovered hours

Build the task list with your relative. Walk through a normal morning and evening: getting out of bed, using the bathroom, preparing food, dressing and settling for the night. Include preferences about privacy, language, meals and who may enter the home. Have each candidate mark the tasks its worker would perform and identify exclusions.

PPACG describes medical home-health services as including nursing, speech therapy, physical and occupational therapy, and medical social work. After a hospital stay, ask the discharge team to identify the clinical services your relative needs. Give those instructions to prospective agencies alongside the household task list. [2]

Map family visits and the periods you need someone else to cover, including weekends and overnight hours. Describe transfer assistance, medication help or dementia-related supervision in concrete terms. Ask who will assess those needs, what training the assigned worker has and how the agency would respond if your relative needs more help.

Check directory entries against your actual schedule

PPACG’s 2024–25 medical home-health directory separates rehabilitation, non-medical home care, payment certifications, private-pay acceptance and county coverage. Use those categories to prepare a shortlist. The directory period predates this page’s October 2026 source retrieval; confirm the agency’s current services, payment arrangements and staffing. [2]

The directory also separates 24-hour intake from 24-hour care. The table below preserves the published care designations for three illustrative entries serving El Paso County. Those entries do not establish current availability. Ask whether the agency can cover your requested nights, whether the worker stays awake and who replaces a worker after a cancellation. [2]

Give each candidate the same tasks and hours. Request an assessment and the name of the person supervising care. Discuss missed visits, changes in mobility, family updates and complaints. For clinical services, ask the agency to identify the responsible professional and provide credentials for you to verify. Include your relative in the conversation about the proposed worker and routine.

Explore respite and funding before committing

The Family Caregiver Support Center helps families prepare individualized caregiving plans and access supportive services. It offers help to adults over 18 caring for someone over 60, or adults over 60 who are primary caregivers. The center charges nothing for services it provides directly and accepts donations. [1]

The center’s Caregiver Respite Voucher program offers limited care at home or at a day-care center to give the caregiver a break. Discuss eligibility, available assistance, approved arrangements and any remaining costs before arranging paid respite. Build your ongoing budget around confirmed support rather than assuming a voucher will cover the full schedule. [1]

El Paso County describes Home Care Allowance as cash assistance for people age five or older with a disability to pay a home care provider. The county says a Single Entry Point agency determines functional capacity and need. Ask the county which assessment and application steps apply to your relative. [3]

The county also says people with a disability or age 65 or older may qualify for long-term care, including help with bathing, dressing and meal preparation. It directs applicants to Colorado PEAK or the county’s case management agency, The Resource Exchange. Establish eligibility and covered services before selecting a provider on the assumption that benefits will pay. [3]

Compare complete quotes and prepare the handover

Request a written quote for the complete schedule. Have the provider specify its rate, minimum visit length, weekend or holiday charges, transport costs, cancellation terms and assessment fees. For overnight coverage, request the staffing arrangement and total charge. Compare the same tasks and hours across quotes.

The supplied sources do not publish a local private-care price schedule. Use household-specific provider quotes for your budget. PPACG lists payment certifications and insurance acceptance in its directory; confirm payment for the particular service with both the agency and payer before committing. [1] [2] [3]

Prepare a short handover with emergency contacts, access instructions, the agreed tasks and your relative’s preferences. Include clinician instructions relevant to the worker’s role. Agree on how the worker records completed tasks and raises concerns. Set a review date to discuss the schedule, worker fit and any changes your relative wants.

Published weekday office windows for planning and benefit applications

Historical directory leads for overnight-care questions

Your hiring checklist

1. Write the tasks your relative wants help with and identify questions for the clinical team.
2. Map family coverage and the hours a paid worker would need to cover.
3. Confirm the provider’s current service area, start date and staffing for the schedule.
4. Discuss assessment and worker training for transfers, medication help and supervision.
5. Request written rates, minimum hours, extra charges and cancellation terms.
6. Confirm benefits and coverage with the agency and payer before committing.
7. Agree on replacement staffing, family updates and a review date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 24-hour intake mean an agency provides overnight care?

PPACG lists 24-hour intake and 24-hour care in separate columns. Check the care designation, then confirm current staffing for your requested overnight hours. Discuss awake coverage, worker duties and replacement arrangements. [2]

Can I get help planning care without a consultation fee?

The Family Caregiver Support Center charges nothing for services it provides directly, including caregiver planning consultations. It accepts donations and states that eligible people will not lose services because they cannot or choose not to contribute. [1]

Where can I start if private care exceeds our budget?

Discuss Home Care Allowance and long-term-care eligibility with El Paso County. For long-term care, the county identifies The Resource Exchange as the local case management agency and allows applications through Colorado PEAK. Confirm assessment requirements and covered services before assuming assistance will pay a chosen provider. [3]