Choosing Care

Choosing care starts with one plain question. What does this person need help with today, and what will they need help with in six months?

Most families come to us with a label already in mind. Someone at the hospital said assisted living. A neighbor said memory care. A brother said Mom is fine at home. The labels matter less than the daily details. Can she get in and out of the shower safely? Is he taking the right pills at the right time? Has anyone driven past the mailbox and found a month of unopened bills? Those answers point to a level of care faster than any brochure will.

There are five levels most Colorado families end up choosing between. Independent living is an apartment without yard work or repairs. Assisted living adds help with bathing, dressing, and medication. Memory care is a secure setting with staff trained for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Skilled nursing and rehab brings round the clock nursing and therapy, often right after a hospital stay. Respite care is a short stay, usually so a family caregiver can rest or recover.

The guides in this set walk through each level in plain language, then compare the ones people mix up most. You will find honest comparisons of assisted living and memory care, of home care and a community, and of independent living and staying put with a little help. We also cover the harder conversations. What to do when a parent says no. How to weigh safety against independence without making anyone feel small. How to tell whether a fall was bad luck or a pattern.

Nothing here pushes you toward a move. Sometimes the right answer is a grab bar, a pill organizer, and a check in on Sundays. Sometimes it is a community by the end of the month. Reading these will help you tell the difference, and it will make your first call with any advisor a much shorter one.

If you would rather answer a few questions than read, start with our care level finder. It takes about three minutes and it is free.