• View a list of assisted living residences (search by city or county)
• Get survey, complaint, and occurrence information for  assisted living residences (search by city or county)
• Additional consumer resources

State Licensure

• Licensure regulations (see 6 CCR 1011-1, Chap VII)
• Medication Administration regulations (see 6 CCR 1011-1, Chap XXIV)
• Initial licensing information for opening an assisted living residence
• Letter of Intent for licensing and certification - initial application, changes and closure
• Licensure fees
• Architectural requirements and plan review

State Medicaid Certification

• HCPF Volume 8 regulations (see 10 CCR 2504-10, Section 8.495)

Facility Data

• Secured unit beds report  

Advisory Committee

• ALR Advisory Committee meeting agenda and minutes

Health Facilities

Assisted Living Residences (includes Residential Treatment Facilities for the Mentally Ill)

There are three types of assisted living residences in Colorado: private pay, alternative care facilities (assisted living residences that are Medicaid certified) and residential treatment facilities for persons with severe and persistent mental illness. There are about over 500 assisted living residences in Colorado. Any assisted living residence caring for 3 or more residents must be licensed.

Private pay assisted living residences are licensed. Alternative care facilities have Medicaid clients, and are licensed and certified. The Department conducts the regulatory inspections for Medicaid certification on behalf of the state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF).  Residential treatment facilities are mental health facilities and are licensed. They are operated by the local mental health center.

Assisted living residences range in size from 3 to more than 200 beds. The most common reasons for admission to assisted living residences are medication management, bathing and dressing assistance, and the need for protective oversight and supervision.

Assisted living residences provide room, board and at least the following: personal services, protective oversight, social care and regular supervision available on a 24-hour basis.

Personal services include a physically safe environment, supervision, assistance with activities of daily living such as medication administration, bathing, dressing, eating, laundry, recreational activities and arrangements for transportation. Protective oversight includes monitoring the needs to ensure the residents receive the services and care necessary to protect their health, safety and well-being. 

The Dept ensures that assisted living residences meet established standards for health and safety which include resident rights, protection from abuse, quality of residents' lives and quality of residents' care through unannounced annual surveys and complaint inspections.

Consumer Resources

• How to Choose an Assisted Living Residence
• Resolving Concerns in Assisted Living Residence
• Protecting Personal Property in a Colorado Nursing Home or Assisted Living Residence

Provider Resources

Compliance Assistance

• Policies and procedures checklist
• ALR/ACF regulations checklist
• Interpretive guidelines
  • Activities  
  • Resident agreement  
  • Keeping bedridden residents after admission  
  • Hot water temperatures
• Incident Intervention and Tracking Log
• Consultant list
• 30-Hour administrator training
• First Aid Training Resources
• FAQs for first aid certification, lift assistance policy and information on CPR directives

Department Policies

• Informal dispute resolution policy

Disease Prevention/Clinical Protocols

• Presentation slides on Outbreaks in LTC and ALR

Educational Materials

Assisting your residents in health care planning

• Your personal "Preparedness Plan" and the Purpose of Advance Directives
• Introduction to Health Care Planning: Questions Often Asked and their Answers
• Colorado Law in Plain English
• Sample Form, Appointment and Acceptance of Medical Proxy (show this to your legal counsel and ensure that you understand when it applies and how to use it)
• Checklist for Assisted Living Facilities Residents' Advanced Care Planning

Recreational Activities:

• Activity resource list
• Activities: Are You Doing All That You Can?  

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