Colorado Springs Senior AdvisorWhich rules govern assisted living and nursing homes in Colorado Springs?
State rules do: Chapter 7 of 6 CCR 1011-1 for assisted living residences, CDPHE's nursing facility rules plus federal CMS requirements for certified nursing homes, all enforced by CDPHE's Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division.
Last verified: November 2026The City of Colorado Springs and El Paso and Teller counties do not license care settings. Building, fire and zoning codes touch the structure, but only a CDPHE license lets it provide personal care or nursing.
What changed recently in Colorado's assisted living rules?
The secure environment rules in Chapter 7, Part 25 took their current form on March 17, 2025, with written dementia disclosures, six hours of dementia training within 60 days, one trained awake staff member in the unit at all times and a secured outdoor area.
On CDPHE's current data, 69 senior assisted living residences operate in El Paso and Teller counties; CDPHE does not publish which of them run a secure environment, so the disclosure is the family's main tool.
Where do Colorado Springs families take a problem?
Assisted living complaints go to CDPHE at 303-691-4045, nursing home complaints to 303-692-2442, residents' rights issues to the Pikes Peak long-term care ombudsman at (719) 471-2096, and abuse of an adult living at home to El Paso County Adult Protective Services at (719) 444-5755.
The complaints guide below explains which office handles what.
Colorado Rules: every guide
The license behind every Colorado Springs assisted living residence
How CDPHE licenses assisted living residences (ALRs) in Colorado Springs, El Paso and Teller counties under 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 7: the definition, license types, Medicaid-certified ACFs, administrators and inspections.
Open the guide →How Colorado regulates memory care in a secure environment
Colorado's secure environment rules for memory care in Colorado Springs assisted living: disclosures, admission, six hours of dementia training, one awake staff member at all times and a six-foot secured outdoor area.
Open the guide →Admission, assessments and discharge in Colorado assisted living
Colorado ALR admission and discharge rules for Colorado Springs families: pre-admission assessments, resident agreements, disclosures, 30 calendar days' discharge notice and how to appeal an involuntary discharge.
Open the guide →Who is on duty, and who hands out the pills, in Colorado assisted living
Colorado assisted living staffing and medication rules: no numeric ratio, staff on site whenever residents are present, first aid and CPR coverage, medication administration by qualified staff, and what to ask a Colorado Springs ALR.
Open the guide →Checking a Colorado Springs facility's public record
How to look up a Colorado Springs assisted living residence or nursing home in CDPHE's Find and Compare tool and CMS Care Compare: inspections, citations, occurrence reports, star ratings and what they mean.
Open the guide →Where Colorado Springs families take a problem
How to file a complaint about a Colorado Springs assisted living residence or nursing home with CDPHE, reach the Pikes Peak long-term care ombudsman, and report abuse to El Paso County Adult Protective Services.
Open the guide →Nursing home oversight in Colorado Springs
How nursing homes in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park are licensed by CDPHE, certified and rated by CMS, inspected and penalized, and how to read Care Compare data for El Paso and Teller counties.
Open the guide →Side by side
| Colorado's rules | Colorado's rules do not | |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted living | Require a CDPHE ALR license and a trained administrator | Set a staff-to-resident ratio |
| Memory care | Apply Part 25 to any ALR that restricts exit | Offer a separate memory care license |
| Records | Publish inspections, citations and occurrences in Find and Compare | Flag which ALRs are secure environments |
| Money | Let ACFs serve EBD waiver residents at capped room and board | Have Medicaid pay rent in any ALR |
