Families across the Denver metro area often do not realize that free help with aging is just a phone call away. The Denver Area Agency on Aging, run by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), is the region's main connection point for that help. It is a federally funded local agency that helps older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers find meals, transportation, in-home support, and other services across the Denver area, most of it at no cost.
This guide walks through who the agency serves, what it actually offers, what it costs, and how a family can get connected.
What Counties Does the Denver Area Agency on Aging Serve?
The Denver Area Agency on Aging covers eight counties in the metro area: Denver, Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Douglas, Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin. A family living anywhere in that footprint, from downtown Denver to the mountain communities west of the city, can call the same regional number for help.
DRCOG is a planning organization that coordinates transportation, housing, and other regional issues for the Denver area. The Area Agency on Aging is one part of that work, funded mainly through the federal Older Americans Act. That funding supports programs meant to help older adults stay independent, whether they live at home, in an apartment, or in a senior community.
Who Can Use These Services?
Most programs are open to adults age 60 and older, along with adults 18 and older who have a disability. Family members, friends, and professional caregivers can also call on behalf of someone else. There is generally no cost just to ask a question or get pointed toward the right resource.
The agency does not require a diagnosis or a crisis before a family reaches out. A household that is simply noticing changes, such as a parent skipping meals or struggling to get to the pharmacy, can call before things become an emergency. Grandparents raising grandchildren and caregivers of any age can also connect with support here.
What Services Does the Denver Area Agency on Aging Provide?
The agency organizes its help into several categories, and most families end up using more than one. The table below summarizes the core services, what each one covers, and roughly what it costs.
Service What It Includes Typical Cost Information and assistance (ADRC) A single phone line connecting families to every program the agency runs Free Nutrition and food assistance Home-delivered meals, congregate meal sites, and help with grocery costs Free or a suggested donation Transportation Rides to medical appointments, pharmacies, and other errands Free or low-cost, based on availability Options counseling and case management One-on-one help building a plan for staying independent at home Free Caregiver services and support Respite vouchers, counseling referrals, and caregiver training Free; some respite grants have income guidelines Ombudsman services Advocacy for residents living in nursing homes or assisted living Free Legal assistance Referrals for wills, powers of attorney, and elder law questions Free or low-cost Veteran directed care Help for eligible veterans to direct their own in-home care Program-specific criteria applyA few of these deserve a closer look, since they tend to matter most to families early in the process.
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What Other Help Does the Agency Offer Beyond Meals and Rides?
Housing resources connect a family to general information about assisted living and nursing facility options in the area, along with how those options tend to compare on cost and level of care. This is not a placement service, and staff will not recommend one specific address over another, but it can turn an overwhelming list of possibilities into a shorter, more manageable one.
The agency also runs an elder abuse prevention effort, giving families and older adults a way to report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation. A call about a worrying situation can lead to a wellness check, a referral to law enforcement, or simple guidance on setting up safer financial oversight going forward. None of this requires proof before someone can ask a question.
How Does the Aging and Disability Resource Center Work?
The Aging and Disability Resource Center, known as the ADRC, is the single phone number and website that connects a family to every program the agency offers. Rather than researching each service on its own, a family calls once, and an options counselor sorts out what actually fits the situation.
An options counselor asks about daily routines, health needs, and what kind of help would make the biggest difference right now. From there, the counselor can set up a home-delivered meal, arrange transportation, connect a family to a support group, or start a legal referral. The same line also handles Medicare counseling questions, so a family can get help comparing drug plan options or understanding a coverage gap.
How Much Do These Services Cost?
Information, options counseling, and case management through the Denver Area Agency on Aging are provided at no charge. Nutrition and transportation programs are usually free or ask for a voluntary donation, and neither turns anyone away for being unable to pay. This funding comes through the Older Americans Act, which is separate from Medicaid, so most core services do not use an income or asset test.
A few specialized programs, including certain respite grants and veteran directed care, do have their own criteria tied to that funding source. An options counselor can explain which programs apply to a specific household and what documentation, if any, is needed.
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(385) 200-2175What Support Is Available for Family Caregivers?
The caregiver services and support program gives unpaid family caregivers access to respite vouchers, counseling referrals, and skills training. A caregiver can use a voucher to pay for in-home help or adult day care for a few hours or a few days, creating a planned break from daily caregiving duties. Support groups and short counseling sessions are also available at no cost.
This kind of caregiver support follows a national model built around a simple idea: caregiver stress affects the person receiving care almost as much as it affects the caregiver. Grandparents raising grandchildren can access a version of the same support, since the program recognizes kinship caregiving as its own category of need.
How Do Families Get Started?
Getting connected usually takes one phone call, though it helps to go in prepared.
- Call the resource line: Dial 303-480-6700 to reach an options counselor at the Aging and Disability Resource Center.
- Describe the day-to-day situation: Share what is actually happening at home, not just a diagnosis or a single incident.
- Ask about every category: Mention meals, transportation, and caregiver support even if only one feels urgent, since needs often overlap.
- Follow up in writing: Ask for a summary of what was discussed and any referral numbers to keep for later.
When to Talk to a Local Advisor
The Denver Area Agency on Aging is a strong first call for meals, transportation, and caregiver support, but it does not compare specific communities or help a family weigh cost against changing care needs over time. Once that basic support is in place, a local senior living advisor can walk through options like assisted living in the Denver area and point caregivers toward broader family caregiver support resources as needs grow. Advisors also track outside safety resources, including the CDC's fall-prevention guidance for older adults living independently, so a family gets a fuller picture than any single agency provides. A conversation with an advisor costs nothing and can help a family sort out next steps without adding another task to an already full week.
