Respite Care in Colorado: A 2026 Guide for Family Caregivers

If you are caring for a parent or spouse in Colorado and the days are starting to run together, respite care is the funded break most families never think to ask for. Colorado pays for it three ways that routinely go unused: Medicaid self-direction that can pay a spouse, free NFCSP grants with no income test through 16 Area Agencies on Aging, and the VA for enrolled veterans.

Caregiving without breaks catches up with you, and burnout is one of the most common reasons a loved one ends up in a nursing facility sooner than the family wanted. Respite is not stepping away from your responsibility. It is what makes caring at home possible for the long run.

This guide maps every funded respite care option in Colorado for 2026, including what to do if you qualify for none of the means-tested programs.

Why Respite Care Matters

Family caregiver burnout is not a personal failing. Federal data show family caregivers fare worse than non-caregivers across most health indicators: nearly 1 in 5 reports fair or poor health, and elderly caregivers who already have a chronic illness and are under caregiving stress face a 63% higher mortality rate than their non-caregiving peers. Planned breaks are what protect both your own health and your ability to keep your loved one at home. In Colorado, the self-direction model adds a real advantage: a spouse can be the paid respite provider under CDASS and IHSS, which is unusual and important for families where the primary caregiver is a husband or wife.5,1

If you need emergency respite right now, call 1-844-265-2372 (CDHS Aging and Adult Services) or dial 211 for local referrals.1

Who Pays for Respite Care in Colorado?

Colorado funds respite through four main doors. One is free and open to nearly everyone; the others depend on Medicaid enrollment or veteran status. The table below compares them, and the sections that follow explain each in detail.

1. NFCSP Grants Through Colorado's 16 Area Agencies on Aging

If money is the barrier, start here: this is the one respite source that asks nothing about your income.

What it is: The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act and administered federally by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), flows through the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) 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.1

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. There is no income test for NFCSP respite services. Supplemental services beyond respite are provided on a limited basis and are set by each AAA, so ask your regional agency what it covers.1

What to expect: NFCSP respite is grant-funded, not an open-ended entitlement. Each AAA sets its own per-caregiver limits, and dollar amounts and available services vary by region. Ask your regional agency exactly what is available in your county before you plan around it.1

How to access: Call 1-844-265-2372 (CDHS Aging and Adult Services) or the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to be connected with your regional AAA.1

Best for: Any Colorado family caregiver regardless of income. NFCSP is consistently underused and available in every county.

2. CDASS and IHSS Medicaid Respite

If your loved one is already on Health First Colorado, you may be leaving paid respite hours on the table that the care plan can authorize.

What they are: Consumer Directed Attendant Support Services (CDASS) and In-Home Support Services (IHSS) are Colorado's two Medicaid self-direction options, both delivered under Community First Choice (CFC) as of July 1, 2025. Both authorize respite as a covered service within the member's approved support plan. Under CDASS the member holds budget and employer authority; under IHSS an enrolled agency serves as the legal employer while the member still directs the care.1,3,6

Who can be the paid respite worker: Under CDASS and IHSS, a spouse or other family member can be the paid attendant, including for respite hours. A legally responsible individual such as a spouse can be paid but cannot exceed 40 hours of attendant care in any 7-day week, and only for care approved on the support plan; an adult child, sibling, other relative, or friend without that legally-responsible relationship is not held to the 40-hour cap.3,2

How to access: Talk to your loved one's HCPF case manager or support coordinator and ask for respite hours to be included in the approved support plan. The member chooses a Financial Management Services vendor (in Colorado, Palco or Public Partnerships) to handle payroll and tax withholding.3

Eligibility: The care recipient must be eligible for Health First Colorado and meet an institutional (nursing-facility) level of care.7

Not enrolled yet? CDASS and IHSS respite is only available once your loved one qualifies for Health First Colorado and meets that nursing-facility level of care. Families already on a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver keep their services and move to Community First Choice at their next Continued Stay Review. If you are not yet enrolled, start the Medicaid application first, and ask the county or your case manager how long authorization will take, because it is not immediate.7

Best for: Families where the primary caregiver is a spouse or co-resident relative who can now be compensated for planned respite shifts.

3. Adult Day Programs

If you need the same reliable hours every week rather than occasional relief, an adult day program may be the steadiest option.

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, and your regional AAA maintains a local directory. Call 1-844-265-2372 or dial 211 for referrals in your area.1

Who pays:

• NFCSP grants through your AAA can offset adult day costs.
• Colorado HCBS and Community First Choice cover adult day health for eligible enrolled members.
• Long-term care insurance often covers adult day under a home-care or community-care rider.
• Private pay is the default for families not accessing other programs; rates vary by center, so confirm pricing directly. For local ranges, see The Cost of Senior Care in Colorado.

Best for: Caregivers who need consistent weekday respite and care recipients who benefit from socialization and structured activity.

4. VA Respite for Veterans

If there is a veteran in your family, this door may open faster than the others, and it is worth checking first.

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.4

PCAFC: Primary Family Caregivers in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) receive at least 30 days of respite care per year as part of the benefit; confirm the authorized days and any co-pay with your VA Caregiver Support Coordinator.8

Veteran-Directed Care (VDC): 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 receives a monthly budget they can direct toward caregiver respite. Other Colorado AAAs partner with VA medical centers to offer VDC in their regions.9

How to access: Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274, or the Caregiver Support Coordinator at your VA medical center.4

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 1-844-265-2372 or 211 as a first step.1

Who pays: Typically private pay unless NFCSP funds apply, the member's Medicaid support plan covers short-term respite, or a long-term care insurance policy applies.

How to Pay for Respite Care in Colorado Without Medicaid

If your income is too high for Health First Colorado and there is no veteran in the family, you are not out of options, but the math changes. Your two realistic levers are a free NFCSP grant and private pay.

Start with your regional AAA at 1-844-265-2372 and claim whatever NFCSP respite hours or adult day vouchers you qualify for; there is no income test, so this door is open regardless of your finances. Because that funding is capped, use it to cover a fixed block each week (say, one or two adult day sessions), then fill the rest with private pay only as your budget allows. Layering a free grant under a smaller amount of paid help is how most non-Medicaid families in Colorado build a break they can sustain. For current local pricing on in-home and adult day care, see The Cost of Senior Care in Colorado.1

How to Get Started in Colorado

Where to Get Help in Colorado

These are the free front doors. Start with the first one that fits your situation.

Learn More

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.