Colorado Family Caregiver Services

In Colorado, you may be eligible to be a paid caregiver for your family member through the Family CNA or In-Home Support Services (IHSS) programs. Eligibility for these programs is based on the medical needs of your loved one and their Medicaid enrollment.

Family CNA Program: If your loved one qualifies for skilled nursing-level care, you can become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and be paid to provide their care. This program requires CNA certification, free of charge through COFK’s program. All types of Colorado Health First Medicaid and HCBS Medicaid Waivers support this program.

IHSS Program: If your family member has a significant disability or medical condition and requires home care services, you may qualify to be paid as their caregiver without needing a CNA license. IHSS allows family caregivers to provide personal care, health maintenance, and homemaker services under the supervision of a registered nurse.

To learn more, start the assessment process, or determine which program is right for you, reach out to the Colorado COFK team.

We work with a wide variety of diagnoses in both the Family CNA and IHSS programs. Some common qualifying diagnoses are autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, traumatic brain injuries, spina bifida, genetic mutations, feeding tubes, and more. Eligibility for the program is based on the individual needs of your loved one.

As outlined by the state of Colorado, the CNA training program must include at least 75 hours of instruction, divided between classroom or online instruction and clinical practice. COFK provides this required training at no cost to family members. We partner with a variety of CNA schools to help you find the best fit for your needs, whether you prefer online, in-person, self-paced, or accelerated programs.

Training requirements vary by class, with some offering a combination of online and in-person components. To obtain your CNA license in Colorado, you must also complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification.

For the IHSS program, caregivers must complete any CPR training and a brief orientation with COFK.

COFK will provide this required training at no cost to the family member and will pay the family member to take this training.

Income earned through the Family CNA and IHSS programs may affect the client’s Medicaid eligibility in Colorado. However, Colorado offers Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid waivers, which allow individuals to qualify for Medicaid without counting family caregiver income against their eligibility.

These waivers help ensure that individuals receiving care can maintain their Medicaid benefits, even if their family member is being paid as their caregiver.

To learn more about HCBS waivers, income limits, and how to protect Medicaid eligibility while participating in these programs, please reach out to our team.

Pay varies between the Family CNA and IHSS programs. We strive to offer competitive rates, comprehensive benefits, sign-on bonuses, quarterly bonuses, and more. For specific pay rates and benefit details, please contact our team.