What you’ll learn in this guide to becoming a family caregiver in Colorado:
- What is a family caregiver?
- Who qualifies as a family caregiver under IHSS in Colorado?
- Roles and responsibilities of a family caregiver
- Steps to become a family caregiver under IHSS in Colorado
- Benefits of being a family caregiver
- FAQs to Becoming a Family Caregiver in Colorado
- How Entrust Health can support your caregiving journey
What is a family caregiver?
A family caregiver, or Attendant, is someone who provides consistent care for a loved one in need, whether it’s assistance with daily living, medical tasks, or emotional support. Through Colorado’s IHSS and CFC programs, attendants can be trained and compensated for this important role.
These care models are designed to empower families to choose trusted individuals to provide care, often creating a collaborative, flexible web of support that includes parents, adult children, siblings, and extended family members.
Who qualifies as a family caregiver under IHSS in Colorado?
To become an Attendant under Colorado’s IHSS model (delivered via CFC starting July 2025), the care recipient and caregiver must meet certain qualifications:
- Care recipient: Must be enrolled in Colorado Medicaid and demonstrate a need for institutional-level care.
- Attendant: Can be a relative, parent, sibling, adult child, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or a trusted non-relative.
Roles and responsibilities of a family caregiver
Attendants provide:
- Health maintenance tasks (e.g., medication administration, range-of-motion support)
- Personal care (e.g., hygiene, mobility, toileting)
- Homemaker duties (e.g., cooking, light housework, errands)
Thinking of becoming a family caregiver?
Entrust Health is here to guide you every step of the way.
We help you navigate the application process, provide caregiver training for family members, and connect you to ongoing coaching and resources. Our goal is to support your confidence, strengthen your caregiving network, and ensure your success—not just as an individual, but as part of the family team making home care possible for your loved one.
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Steps to become a family caregiver under IHSS in Colorado
- Confirm eligibility
Work with Entrust to verify:- The care recipient is on Colorado Medicaid
- There is a demonstrated need for In-Home Support Services
- Schedule an assessment
A qualified case manager conducts an evaluation to determine service needs. - Enroll in Community First Choice (CFC)
Beginning July 2025, all IHSS services will be accessed through CFC, simplifying enrollment and broadening access. - Choose Entrust Health as your provider
Entrust will help with:- Application and documentation
- Service planning and coordination
- Long-term care management and quality oversight
- Begin caregiving and training
Once approved, you’ll receive training, start logging care, and gain access to caregiver support tools.
Benefits of being a family caregiver
As an Attendant under IHSS and CFC, you benefit in many ways:
- Compensation for caregiving work
- Flexible scheduling aligned with your family’s needs
- Support and training tailored for caregivers
- Ongoing professional oversight to ensure quality and compliance
FAQs to Becoming a Family Caregiver in Colorado
Can a parent be paid to care for their child in Colorado?
Yes, under CFC guidelines, parents can be compensated as attendants when all criteria are met.
Are there restrictions on who can become an Attendant?
No. Anyone who meets the agency’s hiring requirements can typically be employed as an Attendant, though there may be limits on the number of hours they can work per day or week.
Are background checks or orientations required?
Yes. Entrust Health supports you through compliance and orientation processes.
Is formal training required?
No licenses are required. Entrust provides structured family caregiver training at no cost.
What services can I provide?
You may deliver personal care, health maintenance, and homemaker services under clinical guidance.
How soon can I begin receiving pay?
Processing timelines can vary, but Entrust Health helps streamline approvals.
What will my compensation be?
Pay rates are based on authorized hours and Medicaid reimbursement. We provide full transparency.
Is there a cap on paid hours?
Yes, authorized hours are based on the care recipient’s assessment.
How is payment handled?
Payments are issued by Medicaid, coordinated through Entrust Health.
Will this impact my taxes or benefits?
Caregiver pay is considered income. A tax advisor can help you plan.
Does Entrust Health offer ongoing support?
Absolutely. We offer end-to-end support, including enrollment, training, coordination, and oversight.
Ready to become a family caregiver in Colorado? We can help.
At Entrust Health, we know caregiving often begins with love and a sense of duty to family. For many Colorado families, becoming an Attendant is a meaningful way to support loved ones at home.
As a licensed and Medicaid-enrolled provider, we specialize in In-Home Support Services (IHSS) and self-directed care through Community First Choice (CFC), guiding families through every step.
If you’re caring for someone across Colorado’s Front Range, from Fort Collins to Pueblo, we’re here to support you. Whether you’re a primary caregiver or part of a family team, our experts are ready to help.
Contact us at info@entrust.health or call (719) 501-1286 to connect with someone who understands your journey.