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Colorado’s capital lives by its nickname: “Mile High City” — with Rocky Mountain views in a large city sitting one mile above sea level. So, whether you are looking for city skylines or natural beauty, independent living in Denver, Colorado, combines the benefits of both into one by offering all-inclusive, resort-like amenities and stimulating activities within eyesight of natural wonders. Seniors have a variety of independent living facilities to choose from in both the city and surrounding suburbs. A Place for Mom has 30 independent living partner communities within 10 miles of the Denver city center. This radius includes the surrounding suburbs of Lakewood, Littleton, and Centennial.
Independent living is for seniors who can live without personal or nursing care. In this guide, you’ll learn more about independent living in Denver, including ways to pay, local regulations, typical services and amenities, and an overview of the city of Denver.
Types of care available in Denver, CO
Independent Living
What our family likes the most about the Lakeview Senior Living community is the working staff team as well as the overall value for cost. Based on the experience we have had so far, we have already recommended the Lakeview Senior Living community to other families and will continue to do so.
From the minute we toured MorningStar Boulder we knew this was the right fit for my dad. My mom was so scared to move him, and the staff here made all the difference. They understand his needs and really make him feel at home. My mom is happy to visit him and see how well he is doing here.
I have moved in to Westhaven Apartment Homes, and I really like it so far. I like that I can still maintain an independent lifestyle here, but that it is also a very active and social retirement facility. The staff is great, and they have a lot of activities like Bingo, movies, crafts, story time; there’s a gym, too. It’s an older building, but it’s clean, and they do a good job keeping it up. I also like that it is cost efficient, and I would recommend it to others looking to keep up an independent lifestyle.
15255 E. 40th Ave., Denver, CO 80239
Sable Ridge Residences is a beautiful new senior residence at I-70 and Chambers. We are near to shopping, restaurants and bus service. Apartments have 9 ft ceilings with beautiful large windows, central air-conditioning, private balconies, storage, dishwashers, wood cabinetry and washer/dryer...
3030 Richard Allen Ct, Denver, CO 80205
919 Elm St, Denver, CO 80220
15351 East 12th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011
6275 Kearney St, Commerce City, CO 80022
6140 E 63rd Pl, Commerce City, CO 80022
Like living here. My concern is my rent, which I have never complained about lived here for 10 years. So our ssi. checks went up 20 dollars knew our rent would also. but this time mine was raised more then...
1663 Steele St # 101, Denver, CO 80206
My mother has lived here for 7 years and she loves it!
The mission of Montview Manor is to provide a comfortable living environment for people 55 years of age or over. In an independent living setting, Montview Manor honors individual privacy, yet nurtures the spirit of community. The Manor's goal is to maintain high-quality housing priced below...
15972 E 13th Pl, Aurora, CO 80011
10745 E Kentucky Ave, Aurora, CO 80012
1380 Detroit St, Denver, CO 80206
11265 East Mississippi Avenue, Aurora, CO 80012
I have been very pleased with the care that my mother has been receiving at this community, The staff have been absolutely wonderful and really have made sure my mom has felt comfortable and welcomed in her...
Canterbury Gardens provides a full range of choices for today's seniors. Choosing a senior living community represents a lifestyle choice and we understand that our residents are choosing much more than a comfortable living environment to call home. Our community delivers both Independent and...
1401 Josephine St # 101, Denver, CO 80206
1801 E 19th Ave, Denver, CO 80218-1200
301 S Harrison St, Denver, CO 80209
Pricing promotions expiring soon
525 S Holly St, Denver, CO 80246
HILLTOP RESERVEAt Ascent Senior Living Communities, we are more than Colorado-based. We are 100% Colorado-present. Every community we develop and manage is in the state of Colorado. Our roots go deep. For us, it’s personal. That’s why you’ll regularly find us walking through our communities,...
1295 Race St, Denver, CO 80206
Everything is working very well for my mother at this community and I'm very pleased.This is a nice community and it is very well-kept and everything looks nice and clean. This is more an apartment living...
Campbell Stone Memorial Residence is a comfortable senior housing complex located in beautiful Denver, Colorado. If you are looking for a secure and enjoyable place to call home, then Campbell Stone Memorial Residence is the place for you. Denver is truly a city for everyone. Surrounded by...
1599 Williams St, Denver, CO 80218
1375 High Street, Denver, CO 80218
Loved every aspect of the building and the staff is still trying to secure garage parking for my motorcycle.
LIVE IT UP! This is your time to live life to the fullest at 1375 High Street-a one-of-a-kind active adult lifestyle community for those 55 and better. A unique 10-story, vertically integrated, active adult lifestyle retreat that is a seamless blend of sophistication and relaxing living. With...
1705 Franklin St, Denver, CO 80218
1535 Park Ave, Denver, CO 80218
2202 Downing St # 3, Denver, CO 80205
2160 Downing St, Denver, CO 80205
1640 S Quebec Way, Denver, CO 80231-8018
2770 California St # 410, Denver, CO 80205
605 26th St, Denver, CO 80205
Within 10 miles of the Denver city center, the cost of living in a partner independent living community is $3,883, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.[01] This figure includes rent and any add-on fees. This cost is also what seniors actually pay per month. Independent living costs can vary depending on the facility’s unit sizes, amenities, services, and location. Depending on the community, there may also be entrance fees or an all-inclusive rate.
Independent living costs include rent and multiple conveniences that allow seniors to live independently without homeowner responsibilities like maintenance, repairs, lawn care, etc. Depending on the community, baseline monthly costs for independent living may include access to the following types of on-site amenities, ranked from most common to most luxe:
Additionally, the cost for an independent living community may vary depending on the types of add-on services a senior chooses, such as:
The following figures are average baseline costs for independent living in Denver. This cost does not include add-on fees.
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Medicare, long-term insurance policies, and Colorado’s Medicaid program — Health First Colorado — do not cover independent living costs because independent living communities are not care facilities. These programs, however, can help cover in-home health care services. If future care is ever needed, seniors may be able to use these resources to help pay for health care at their community of choice.
Most seniors pay for independent living using their private resources. Here, you can find information on private pay options and local public assistance resources for seniors, including housing assistance, VA benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Since long-term care insurance does not cover independent living costs, seniors must find other ways to pay rent. Many seniors use savings, Social Security benefits, pensions, and investment returns to pay for independent living costs. Below are other commonly used ways to privately pay for independent living costs:
Since independent living communities do not offer personal care or health care services, they are not regulated like traditional assisted living or skilled nursing communities. However, 21 out of 30 of our Denver independent living partners also offer assisted living care on the same campus. So, these communities are regulated like any individual assisted living facility. If you would like to check out the Denver regulations for assisted living communities, see our guide to Denver Assisted Living.
Stand-alone independent living communities do not follow assisted living facility guidelines. They typically follow rental regulations and inspections common to the landlord-tenant laws of the state. Besides local rental guidelines, independent living communities typically have their own restrictions, such as an age requirement. Most independent living facilities require residents to be at least 55 or 62 years old. These requirements can typically be found on the independent living community’s website.
As of Jan. 1, 2023, Denver launched its residential rental licensing program, which requires apartment rentals to be licensed. This license must be renewed every four years. Additionally, apartment buildings must undergo and pass an inspection to receive a license. The residential rental property licensing program looks at 10% of the apartments on the property. In these inspections, the third-party inspector may check the following conditions:
Independent living communities also need to follow traditional apartment guidelines. These guidelines have specific regulations for apartment owners and occupants. Under Colorado law, owners of rental properties have to abide by the following guidelines:
While landlords have their own regulations to follow, so do tenants. Occupants in every apartment complex must adhere to the following:
Besides these laws and regulations, Colorado law aims to provide tenants with safe living accommodations thanks to an extensive list of tenant rights. Tenants are protected through the following rights:
In addition to these rights, the Colorado Antidiscrimination Act prohibits discriminating against occupants based on age, sex, race, sexual orientation, disability status, sources of income, etc. Additionally, the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act prevents landlords from discriminating against or threatening tenants based on their immigration status.
If you believe your tenant rights are not being met, you can dial 3-1-1 to contact the local Department of Public Health and Environment.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek South Drive
Denver, CO 80246
Phone: 303-692-2000
Denver independent living communities do not have any specific COVID-19 regulations or guidelines to follow and typically function like any rental community.
However, if the community offers additional care types like assisted living, the facility must follow additional COVID-19 guidelines. Because 21 of 30 of our independent living partners in Denver have assisted living on the same campus, we provided those additional assisted living guidelines here.
Learn more about CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines for assisted living communities.
The following COVID-19 regulations are for Colorado senior living communities that also offer assisted living services.
Vaccinations. Vaccinations are recommended for staff and residents. The facility must have vaccinations accessible to residents and staff.
Masking. Masks are encouraged, and supplies must be available throughout the community.
Facility cleanliness. At least one staff member must be in charge of cleaning and disinfecting the community with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved, hospital-grade disinfectant.
Staff safety. The facility should have personal protective equipment (PPE) accessible to staff members.
Social distancing. Social distancing is encouraged.
Quarantining. If a resident or staff member tests positive or suspects COVID-19 infection, facilities are encouraged to follow the CDC’s isolation guidelines. This includes isolating for at least five days from testing positive. Self-isolation can stop after five days if the infected person has been fever-free for 24 hours.
Number of in-network assisted living facilities in market
Seniors in Denver can experience nearly year-round sunshine in the bustle of city living or laid-back suburbs with resort-like amenities and activities at our independent living partners’ facilities. Below you’ll learn more about the different types of independent living Denver has to offer.
While there are many independent living communities within the city itself, senior living is booming in nearby suburban areas like Lakewood, Arvada, and Littleton. Seniors aged 65 and older are approximately 12% of Denver’s population. However, many suburbs within the 10-mile radius of downtown Denver see an increase in senior population. Some suburbs, like Arvada, see up to 18% of its population consisting of seniors age 65 and older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Seniors may gravitate to the surrounding suburbs because of the location, cost, and lack of traffic.
Heading farther out from the Denver city center increases the number of A Place for Mom independent living partners in the area to 54 independent living facilities. These facilities are located in surrounding suburbs like Highlands Ranch, Louisville, Broomfield, Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Brighton, Boulder, and Thornton. While some of these areas do not see a dramatic increase in senior population, there is a slight increase in cost. The average cost raises to $4,084 when including these suburban areas. Over half of these independent living communities include additional care types like assisted living or memory care.
Independent living communities in Denver emphasize the importance of active living. Over 85% of our Denver independent living partners offer at least one of the following resort-like features:
In addition to all-inclusive amenities, many independent senior living communities also host activities and events for their residents. Some facilities have an on-site activity and event coordinator, while others have resident-run groups. The following are some activities and events common to independent senior living communities:
Denver independent living facilities also encourage socialization among residents with community-based clubs, such as the following:
While stand-alone independent living communities do not specifically offer personal care, many include health care services. Approximately 66% of our independent living partners in Denver offer access to an on-site home care agency, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. This allows seniors to experience exceptional care while enjoying the freedom of independent living. If an in-home care agency is not available on-site, many independent living communities offer additional health care services. In fact, 90% of our independent living partners in Denver offer in-home appointments from visiting medical professionals like dentists, nurses, physical therapists, and podiatrists.
Only nine out of 30 of our independent living partners in Denver are stand-alone independent living communities. Our other partners in Denver add on another care type, such as adult day care, memory care, or assisted living. Exactly half of our partners are continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) with care services for independent living, assisted living, and memory care on the same campus. Since care needs are ever-changing, a continuum of care on the same campus helps seniors age in place. If you do not like moving around and expect your needs to change, a CCRC may be a better option for a longer period of time.
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Percentage of seniors 65 and older within the Denver population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau
Percentage of seniors 65 and older with retirement account income, per U.S. Census Bureau
Denver offers a variety of health care providers. However, two hospitals receive higher rankings with national recognition and outstanding ratings for geriatric care.
Among all the health care systems in Denver, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital ranks No. 1. This hospital has national recognition for five adult specialties and is within the top 10% for geriatric care, according to U.S. News and World Report.[10]
SCL Health St. Joseph Hospital is highly recommended, ranking second in Denver and third in the state of Colorado. The hospital is also high performing in geriatric care.[10]
Approximately 98% of A Place for Mom’s independent living partners in Denver include complimentary transportation services for residents. In addition to these services, Denver features multiple transportation options, making the city accessible.
Besides Denver’s buses and taxis, Denver has RTD, a light rail system that covers 113 miles across the city and suburbs. RTD provides a discount and accessibility options for seniors 65 and over. However, if money is an issue, Denver has a free hybrid shuttle bus known as the 16th Street Mall Ride that travels through 16th street in downtown Denver. The free Mall Ride travels from Denver Civic Center Station to Denver Union Station with a stop along each road in between. This provides easy access to the 16th Street Mall, the Colorado Convention Center, restaurants, local tourist attractions, and theatres.
The following ratings, each out of 100, were compiled according to transportation accessibility in Denver, per Walk Score.
61
45
72
Denver is a large city surrounded by mountain views and offering a seamless balance between beautiful natural settings and interesting indoor activities. Whether you’re looking for local restaurants, hiking paths, accessible museums, or active living programs specifically for seniors, Denver has something for everyone.
From outdoor walking trails to fishing sites, Denver Mountain Parks offer over a dozen outdoor areas where Colorado residents can enjoy the state’s beauty up close. One of the most well-known outdoor areas is the renowned Red Rocks Amphitheater, where Colorado residents and their visiting families can explore hiking trails or experience an outdoor concert. Other parks are also known for various activities:
The urban area of Denver houses a wide range of museums, from fine art to miniature toys. Seniors can experience the following museums:
While seniors may enjoy these historical and art museums, they may not be enticing for their visiting grandchildren. Seniors can take their families to these local specialty or interactive museums:
Denver is the home of two professional sports stadiums. In the heart of downtown Denver rests Coors Field, where you can enjoy watching Major League Baseball’s Colorado Rockies. When the home field is unoccupied, Denver sports fans can take a look behind the scenes through stadium tours. Approximately 5 miles away is Empire Field at Mile High, where Denver Broncos fans can be heard cheering for their home National Football League team. When football is in the off-season, this stadium also hosts a variety of events, from dirt bike competitions like Supercross to live concerts.
Denver is home to numerous food and drink options, including various restaurants, wineries, breweries, and distilleries. Many restaurants in Denver are award-winning or staff an award-winning chef. Denver residents can explore their palette with local foods like homemade ice cream, French pastries, Indian Tandoori dishes, and American diner food.
The downtown Denver area offers an array of food scenes, such as a British pub, a café-style French restaurant, and a historic venue with upscale food and live music. Besides year-round access to local food and drinks, Denver celebrates this foodie culture with annual festivals like the Great American Beer Festival and A Taste of Colorado.
Besides the various activities around Denver, the city encourages active living for seniors through Denver’s Active Older Adults (AOA) programs. These programs provide a variety of indoor and outdoor hobbies for seniors in Denver. Denver seniors age 60 and older can sign up for a My Denver PRIME membership. This membership offers free access to Denver’s recreation centers, pools, parks, and recreation facilities.
Brookdale Meridian Arvada, Brookdale North Boulder and Brookdale Longmont are the top-rated Independent Living facilities near Denver, CO. These Independent Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Independent Living in Denver is 3,706 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101) [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Medicare. Home health services.
Denver The Mile High City. (2022, March 10). Denver Launches Residential Rental Licensing Program.
Denver The Mile High City. (2022, Oct. 20). Residential rental inspection checklist.
Revised Municipal Code of the City and County of Denver, Colorado: Housing, Denver Code of Ordinances § 27 (1973 & rev. 2022).
Denver The Mile High City. (2022, October). Denver tenant rights and resources.
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. (2023, Jan. 12). Assisted living and group homes for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101) [Data set]. American Community Survey.
U.S. News and World Report. (2023, January 13). Best hospitals in Denver, CO.
Walk Score. Living in Denver.
Elliott, R. (2022, October 11). Personal communication [Zoom interview].
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