Area Agency on Aging Colorado: How to Find Help for an Aging Parent

You've just realized your parent can't manage on their own anymore. The bills are piling up, the house is falling apart, and a neighbor called to say they found your parent confused in the driveway. You know help exists somewhere in Colorado's system — but where do you even start?

Colorado's Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are the front door to the state's aging services network. They're not a single office — they're 16 regional agencies that connect older adults and their families to home care, meals, transportation, legal assistance, and long-term care planning.

What AAAs Actually Do

AAAs are federally mandated under the Older Americans Act and funded through a combination of federal, state, and local dollars. In Colorado, they serve as the local planning and coordination hub for services to adults aged 60 and older. Key services include:

Information and referral. AAA staff can direct you to specific programs based on your parent's situation — whether that's Medicaid long-term care, home modification grants, caregiver support groups, or legal aid for power of attorney.

Meals programs. Both home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) and congregate dining sites where your parent can eat with others and maintain social connections.

Transportation assistance. Rides to medical appointments, grocery stores, and community programs — critical for parents who've stopped driving.

In-home services. Some AAAs provide or coordinate homemaker services, personal care assistance, and respite care for family caregivers.

Legal assistance. Many AAAs offer free or low-cost legal consultations for older adults, covering power of attorney, advance directives, and benefit applications.

Caregiver support. Programs for family caregivers including counseling, training, respite care, and support groups through the National Family Caregiver Support Program.

AAAs vs. Case Management Agencies

A common point of confusion: Colorado's AAAs and the newer Case Management Agencies (CMAs) serve overlapping populations but have different functions.

AAAs provide information, referral, and Older Americans Act-funded services (meals, transportation, caregiver support) to anyone aged 60+, regardless of income or Medicaid status. They're the broad safety net.

CMAs coordinate Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS) specifically for people enrolled in Health First Colorado who need a Nursing Facility Level of Care. The CMA handles functional assessments, Person-Centered Support Plans, and waiver/CFC service coordination.

If your parent needs help but isn't on Medicaid, start with the AAA. If they're already on Medicaid or applying for long-term care services, you'll work with the CMA. In many cases, the AAA is the first call that eventually leads to a CMA referral.

How to Find Your Parent's AAA

Colorado's 16 AAAs are organized by region. The Colorado Department of Human Services maintains a directory, but the fastest route is calling the Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado (ADRC) helpline at 1-844-COL-ADRC (1-844-265-2372). They'll connect you to the correct AAA based on your parent's county.

Major AAAs include:

• Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) — serves Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, and Jefferson counties
• Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments — serves El Paso and Teller counties
• Larimer County Office on Aging — serves Larimer County (Fort Collins area)

When to Call

Don't wait for a crisis. If any of these describe your situation, contact the AAA now:

• Your parent has fallen more than once in the past six months
• They're losing weight or the refrigerator is empty
• Mail and bills are piling up unopened
• They've had a near-miss driving incident
• You're providing care yourself and burning out
• They need help applying for Medicaid or other benefits

The AAA can also help you understand when it's time to pursue legal authority — power of attorney while your parent has capacity, or guardianship if capacity is already lost.

The Colorado Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit includes a state agency contact directory with AAA regions, CMAs, and Medicaid offices — so you can connect your parent to the right services while establishing the legal authority to act on their behalf.

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