Colorado is one of the few states that pays a spouse to provide care, through the CDASS self-direction program. Add IHSS, respite grants, and VA benefits, and most families have more options than they realize.

If you are caring for an aging parent, a spouse, or an adult child with a disability in Colorado, the hard part is rarely whether help exists. It is knowing what is there and where to start. This guide maps every major caregiver program in the state for 2026.

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to fund all of it from your savings.

In This Guide

Colorado Caregiver Programs at a Glance

Program What It Offers Who Qualifies Cost to You
CDASS Member hires and directs an attendant, including a spouse; sets pay within budget HCBS waiver members choosing self-direction Free (paid by Medicaid)
IHSS Member directs attendant care with agency support; family can be hired HCBS waiver members choosing IHSS Free (paid by Medicaid)
NFCSP respite grants Free in-home respite, adult day vouchers, training, counseling Caregivers of adults 60+ or person with ADRD; no income test Free
VA PCAFC Monthly tax-free stipend; pays spouses Veteran with 70%+ disability in VA health care Free (VA benefit)
VA Aid and Attendance Pension up to $2,424/mo to veteran; caregiver paid from it Wartime veteran or surviving spouse under net-worth limit Free to apply (VSO help)

Programs That Pay Family Caregivers

Colorado delivers paid family care through two Health First Colorado (Medicaid) self-direction options, both administered by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF).

Consumer-Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS)

CDASS lets an HCBS waiver member (or their Authorized Representative) act as the employer: they recruit, hire, train, schedule, and set the pay rate for their own attendants within an allocated budget. A Financial Management Services organization handles payroll and taxes.

The standout feature: under CDASS, a family member, including a spouse, may be hired and paid as the attendant. CDASS does not bar a spouse from being the paid attendant, which makes Colorado one of the more flexible states for spousal caregiver pay.

In-Home Support Services (IHSS)

IHSS is Colorado's second participant-directed option. The member directs their own attendant care while a contracted IHSS agency provides support, training, and oversight, and handles the employment relationship. Family members can be hired under IHSS as well; confirm the current rules with the IHSS agency.

The 2026 Base Wage

Effective January 1, 2026, Colorado sets a statewide minimum base wage for HCBS direct-care workers of $17.00 per hour, with higher local floors of $19.29 per hour in Denver and $18.17 per hour in Edgewater. This applies to workers paid through CDASS, IHSS, and other HCBS programs.

For the full guide to paid pathways: How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Colorado.

Respite Care Programs

Medicaid Respite (CDASS, IHSS, and HCBS Waivers)

Respite can be authorized within the support plan for members on CDASS, IHSS, or another HCBS waiver, delivered by an attendant the member directs. Ask your HCPF case manager or support coordinator to add respite hours to the approved plan.

NFCSP Grants Through Colorado's 16 Area Agencies on Aging

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, flows through the Colorado Department of Human Services Aging and Adult Services division to 16 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Services include in-home respite, adult day vouchers, caregiver training, and counseling, with no income test for respite services. Call 303-866-2800 or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.

For the full respite guide: Respite Care in Colorado.

Support, Training, and Area Agencies

Colorado's 16 Area Agencies on Aging are the front door for most caregiver support that is not tied to a Medicaid waiver. They deliver NFCSP services, adult day referrals, caregiver training, counseling, and local resource information.

Call CDHS Aging and Adult Services at 303-866-2800 to be connected with your regional AAA, or dial 211 for the broader social-services network. These calls are free. A counselor will identify what is available in your county and help you start an application.

VA Caregiver Benefits in Colorado

Veterans enrolled in VA health care in Colorado have access to caregiver support programs that are separate from Medicaid and often more generous.

VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)

The PCAFC pays a monthly stipend to the Primary Family Caregiver of an eligible veteran. The stipend is calculated from the federal GS-4, Step 1 annual rate for the veteran's locality, divided by 12, then multiplied by a level factor. It is federal tax-free and allows paid spouses. To qualify, the veteran needs a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or higher, a need for in-person personal care for at least six continuous months, and enrollment in VA health care.

Veteran-Directed Care (VDC) is also available in Colorado. In the Denver region it is delivered by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Area Agency on Aging in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, and lets the veteran direct a budget toward caregiver pay, including a spouse.

Colorado VA facilities: The Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora is the main VA medical center, with community-based outpatient clinics across the state.

VA Aid and Attendance Pension

Wartime veterans and surviving spouses who meet the functional criteria and have countable assets and income under the net-worth limit ($163,699 in 2026) may receive the Aid and Attendance pension. A single veteran with Aid and Attendance receives up to $2,424 per month ($29,093/year); a veteran with one dependent up to $2,874 per month. The pension goes to the veteran, who typically pays a family caregiver from it.

The Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs and county Veterans Service Officers help file at no cost.

VA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274

Taxes for Colorado Caregivers

IRS Notice 2014-7

If you live in the same home as the person you care for and are paid through a Medicaid program, your wages may be excluded from federal gross income under IRS Notice 2014-7. This applies to many Colorado CDASS and IHSS arrangements. Talk to a tax preparer familiar with the rule before filing.

Colorado State Income Tax

Colorado levies a flat individual income tax. The statutory rate is 4.4%, though recent tax years have applied temporary reductions (such as 4.25%) tied to the state's TABOR surplus. Confirm the rate in effect for your filing year with the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Medicaid Look-Back

Colorado applies a 60-month look-back to asset transfers for long-term-care eligibility. Informal payments to a family caregiver without a written agreement can create a transfer-penalty period. A properly drafted personal services contract at fair-market rates protects future eligibility.

VA PCAFC Stipend

The PCAFC monthly stipend is federal tax-free and is not reported on a W-2.

Not sure which Colorado caregiver program fits your family? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for a personalized comparison based on your loved one's Medicaid enrollment, veteran status, and whether a spouse or family member would be the paid caregiver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Under CDASS, a family member including a spouse may be hired and paid as the member's attendant. Colorado is one of the few states that does not bar a spouse from being the paid Medicaid attendant.

CDASS makes the member (or their representative) the employer: they hire, train, schedule, and set pay within a budget, with a Financial Management Services organization handling payroll. IHSS is also participant-directed but a contracted agency provides support and handles the employment relationship. Both allow family members to be paid.

Effective January 1, 2026, the statewide HCBS direct-care base wage is $17.00 per hour, with higher floors of $19.29 in Denver and $18.17 in Edgewater. Under CDASS the member sets the attendant's pay rate within their allocated budget, at or above the base wage.

Yes. The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides free respite through Colorado's 16 Area Agencies on Aging with no income test. Call CDHS Aging and Adult Services at 303-866-2800 or dial 211.

Call CDHS Aging and Adult Services at 303-866-2800, or dial 211 for the broader social-services network. Colorado has 16 AAAs serving every county; they handle NFCSP respite grants, adult day referrals, and caregiver training.

Learn More

Find personalized help navigating Colorado caregiver programs at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.