Respite Care for Dementia Caregivers in Colorado

Respite Isn't a Luxury — It's What Keeps the Whole System Running

If you're the primary caregiver for a parent with dementia in Colorado, you already know the cycle: you push through another week of disrupted sleep, constant supervision, and escalating behavioral challenges, telling yourself you'll take a break "when things settle down." Things don't settle down with dementia. They intensify.

Respite care exists specifically for this situation — planned, temporary relief that gives you time to rest, handle your own life, or simply stop being on alert for a few hours. Colorado has several pathways to access it, some funded through Medicaid and some through independent programs.

The Colorado Respite Coalition (Easterseals Colorado)

The Colorado Respite Coalition, operated through Easterseals Colorado, is the state's coordinating body for respite services. They don't directly provide all respite care, but they connect caregivers with programs across the state, including:

• Short-term in-home relief care
• Volunteer companion programs
• Information about funded respite through Medicaid waivers
• Connections to local respite providers who serve people with dementia specifically

Easterseals Colorado also manages respite-related grants and voucher programs when funding is available. Availability varies by region and budget cycle, so contact them early rather than waiting until you're in crisis.

Medicaid-Funded Respite Through the EBD Waiver

If your parent qualifies for Health First Colorado's Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) waiver, respite care is one of the covered services. This means Medicaid pays for a trained caregiver to come to your home — or for your parent to stay temporarily at a certified facility — so you can take a break.

The respite benefit under the EBD waiver isn't unlimited, but it's built into your parent's Person-Centered Support Plan (PCSP). When your CMA case manager develops the plan, ask specifically about respite hours. Some families don't realize respite is an available line item and end up with a plan that covers personal care hours but doesn't include any scheduled relief for the family caregiver.

EBD waiver eligibility for 2026 requires:

• Income below $2,982 per month (a Miller Trust can be used if income exceeds this)
• Countable assets at or below $2,000
• Meeting nursing facility level of care on the Colorado Single Assessment

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)

The National Family Caregiver Support Program is a federally funded program administered through Colorado's local Area Agencies on Aging. It provides a range of supports to family caregivers, including:

• Information and assistance finding local services
• Individual counseling and caregiver training
• Respite care (in-home, adult day, or temporary facility placement)
• Supplemental services like home modifications and emergency supplies

NFCSP has its own eligibility criteria — generally focused on caregivers age 18+ caring for someone age 60+ — and the program operates on a budget that varies year to year. It's particularly useful for families who don't qualify for Medicaid but still need help. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find out what's available in your parent's county.

Practical Respite Options Outside the System

Formal programs aren't the only option. Some families piece together respite from multiple sources:

Adult day programs. At roughly $1,950 per month (or a daily rate for part-time attendance), adult day programs provide 8–10 hours of supervised care on weekdays. That's structured, predictable respite that lets you maintain a work schedule or handle errands without worrying about your parent's safety.

Faith-based and community volunteer programs. Some churches, synagogues, and community organizations run companion visit programs where trained volunteers sit with your parent for a few hours. These are typically free but have limited availability and work best for parents in earlier stages of dementia who are comfortable with visitors.

Family rotation. If you have siblings or other family members who can take shifts — even remotely, by handling phone calls, paperwork, or medical appointment coordination — distributing the non-physical caregiving tasks can relieve some of the cognitive load.

Short-term residential stays. Some assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities offer short-term stays — a few days to a few weeks — for respite purposes. This is the most expensive option outside of Medicaid funding, but it gives you the most complete break and can also serve as a trial run if residential placement is on the horizon.

Getting Respite Into Your Care Plan

If your parent is already connected to a CMA and has a support plan, ask for respite hours to be added at the next annual review — or sooner if your situation has changed. Case managers understand that caregiver burnout leads to premature institutional placement, which costs the system far more than funding a few hours of weekly respite.

If your parent isn't connected to the system yet, contacting your regional CMA is the first step for both your parent's care coordination and your own access to caregiver support programs.

The Colorado Dementia & Memory Care Guide includes a CMA intake tracker and care plan checklist that walks you through the specific services to request — including respite — so nothing gets left off the table during the assessment process.

See more Colorado guides →