Colorado family caregivers can access funded respite through Medicaid self-direction, free NFCSP grants, and a network of 16 Area Agencies on Aging. Most families never ask, and the programs go unused.
Caregiving without breaks catches up with you. Research consistently shows that unsupported family caregivers experience more depression, more physical illness, and shorter lives than the general population. And the care recipient suffers too: caregivers who burn out are more likely to turn to nursing facilities they didn't want. Respite is not stepping away. It is what makes long-term caregiving at home possible.
This guide maps every funded respite option in Colorado for 2026.
Why Respite Makes the Difference
The research is clear: family caregivers who take planned breaks are healthier, less burned out, and keep their loved ones at home longer. In Colorado, the self-direction model adds a meaningful advantage: a spouse can be the paid respite provider under the CDASS and IHSS programs, which is unusual and important for families where the primary caregiver is a husband or wife.
If you're in crisis right now and need emergency respite, call 303-866-2800 or dial 211 for local referrals.
Funded Respite Options in Colorado
1. CDASS and IHSS Medicaid Respite
What they are: Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS) and In-Home Support Services (IHSS) are Colorado's two self-direction options, both now delivered under Community First Choice as of July 1, 2025. Both authorize respite as a covered service within the member's approved support plan.
Who can be the paid respite worker: Under CDASS and IHSS, a spouse or family member can be the paid attendant, including for respite hours. Legally responsible individuals (which includes a spouse) can be paid but cannot exceed 40 hours of care in any seven-day period. An adult child, sibling, other relative, or friend without the LRI relationship may be hired without the 40-hour cap.
How to access: Talk to your loved one's HCPF case manager or the support coordinator. Ask for respite hours to be included in the approved support plan. The Financial Management Service agency (Palco or PPL) handles payroll.
Eligibility: The care recipient must be enrolled in a qualifying HCBS waiver program and meet nursing-facility level-of-care criteria.
Best for: Families where the primary caregiver is a spouse or co-resident relative who can now be compensated for planned respite shifts.
2. NFCSP Grants Through Colorado's 16 Area Agencies on Aging
What it is: The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, flows through Colorado's Department of Human Services Aging and Adult Services division to 16 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Each AAA provides some combination of in-home respite, adult day vouchers, caregiver training, counseling, and supplemental services.
Who qualifies: Family caregivers of adults age 60 and older; grandparent and relative caregivers of children under 18; caregivers of any age caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. No income test for NFCSP respite services.
How to access: Call 303-866-2800 (CDHS Aging and Adult Services) or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to be connected with your regional AAA. Specific dollar amounts and available services vary by AAA region.
Best for: Any Colorado family caregiver regardless of income. NFCSP is consistently underused and available in every county.
3. Adult Day Programs
What they are: Adult day health centers and adult day services provide structured daytime programming, typically 4 to 8 hours per day, with meals, activities, social engagement, and nursing oversight appropriate to the center's license type. For caregivers of people with dementia, consistent adult day attendance often reduces behavioral symptoms and restores reliable weekday hours to the caregiver.
Finding programs: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) licenses adult day programs statewide. Your regional AAA maintains a local directory. Call 303-866-2800 or 211 for referrals in your area.
Who pays:
- NFCSP grants through your AAA can offset adult day costs.
- Colorado HCBS waivers cover adult day health for eligible enrolled members.
- Long-term care insurance often covers adult day under the HCBS rider.
- Private pay is the default for families not accessing other programs; rates vary by center, so confirm pricing directly.
Best for: Caregivers who need consistent weekday respite and care recipients who benefit from socialization and structured activity.
4. VA Respite for Veterans
What it is: Veterans enrolled in VA health care can access respite through their local VA medical center, including in-home aide services, adult day health, and short-term placement in VA Community Living Centers or contracted facilities.
PCAFC: Primary Family Caregivers in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers receive respite care as part of the benefit package; confirm the authorized days and any co-pay with the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator.
Veteran-Directed Care: The DRCOG Area Agency on Aging partners with the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center to offer Veteran-Directed Care in eight Denver-metro counties; the veteran can direct their budget toward caregiver respite.
How to access: Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 or the Caregiver Support Coordinator at your VA medical center.
Best for: Families of veterans enrolled in VA health care, particularly those in PCAFC.
5. Short-Term Facility Respite and Emergency Respite
Short-term facility respite places the care recipient in an assisted living community or nursing facility for a few days to several weeks. Many Colorado assisted living facilities offer short-stay arrangements; call facilities in your area for current pricing and availability.
Emergency respite is available through Colorado's AAAs for sudden caregiver crises. Call 303-866-2800 or 211 as a first step.
Who pays: Typically private pay unless NFCSP funds apply, the member's HCBS plan covers inpatient respite, or a long-term care insurance policy applies.
How to Start in Colorado
- Call 303-866-2800. This CDHS Aging and Adult Services line connects you to your regional AAA for NFCSP grants and caregiver support programs.
- Talk to the HCPF case manager or support coordinator if your loved one is enrolled in CDASS or IHSS. Ask for respite hours to be added to the approved support plan.
- Dial 211 for local referrals to adult day programs and emergency respite.
- If your loved one is a veteran, call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 before anywhere else.
- Ask the AAA about adult day options. Part-time adult day attendance two or three days a week can make a significant difference in a caregiver's week.
Not sure which Colorado respite program fits your family? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for a personalized list based on your loved one's age, Medicaid enrollment, and whether a spouse or family member would be the paid respite worker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. CDASS and IHSS (now under Community First Choice) authorize respite as a covered service within the member's support plan. A spouse or family member can be the paid respite worker under the self-direction rules. Ask your HCPF case manager or support coordinator to add respite hours to the plan.
Yes. Under CDASS and IHSS, a spouse who is a legally responsible individual may be paid as the attendant, including for respite hours, up to 40 hours in any seven-day period. This is one of the more flexible spousal-care rules among U.S. states.
Yes. Colorado's 16 Area Agencies on Aging distribute NFCSP funds for caregiver respite with no income test. Call 303-866-2800 or 1-800-677-1116 to reach your regional AAA.
Call 303-866-2800 to reach your regional AAA, which maintains a local directory. You can also dial 211 for local social service referrals. CDPHE licenses adult day centers statewide.
Learn More
- How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Colorado
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Aid and Attendance in Colorado
- The Cost of Senior Care in Colorado
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating respite care options in Colorado 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.