For seniors who want to age in place in Grand County, Cliffview Assisted Living Center in Kremmling is home.

As the only assisted living facility in the county, Cliffview serves 23 residents, including seniors and mobile adults who need some level of care.

A recent six-question poll by Grand County government is part of an effort to review the center’s “financial future.”

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Sky-Hi News spoke with several officials about Cliffview’s funding status and future expenses.

Why is the county conducting the poll?

Middle Park Health operates Cliffview, which is owned by the Grand County Housing Authority.

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Housing Authority Manager Sheena Darland told Sky-Hi News that the poll is intended to gather information about Grand County residents’ feelings about the funding of Cliffview and whether that funding structure should be changed in the face of increased operational costs.

For example, the poll asks whether residents would support paying an additional tax to offset Cliffview’s funding shortfalls.

Darland emphasized that the poll was not intended to create panic in the community and that the living facility is not at risk of being shut down.

Christine Travis, Grand County communications director, added that the poll “was shared with the public in order to be transparent about those rising costs.”

“Caring for elders is vital to fostering strong communities,” Travis said. “Although these conversations can be difficult, it’s crucial that we continue having them together.”

County residents speak out

Some community members have expressed concerns about Cliffview over the past few weeks, including to Sky-Hi News, on social media and in commissioner board meetings. 

At the commissioners’ Feb. 25 meeting, Edna Anderson stated that Cliffview is an important resource in the county, especially for those on limited incomes.

“Assisted living is much more affordable than nursing home care,” she said during public comment.

Anderson added that the need for senior services is on the rise as the community ages. She questioned why the commissioners couldn’t use the county’s budget reserves to help fund Cliffview.

“Our county can afford to continue to subsidize seniors in need, some of whom are the most vulnerable among the residents in our county,” she said.

At the commissioners’ Feb. 18 meeting, Abby Loberg also said the county government should use reserves to continue to fund Cliffview.

Loberg said she believed the poll was intended to influence community members to be favorable toward a tax increase.

“I think the county’s going to have to be not just a safety net but an advocate for its citizens,” she said. “That means for everything we need: supporting our schools, supporting our seniors, supporting our health care, supporting our housing.”

How is Cliffview funded?

Cliffview includes 24 private rooms with bathrooms, common areas and a dining room. The facility provides care for independently mobile seniors and adults with disabilities. Residents pay $3,980 per month for their room and receive services including meals, housekeeping, laundry and medication administration.

The county states that it subsidizes the center’s annual financial shortfalls. In 2024, the budgeted support from the county was $627,500, according to Middle Park Health. This year, that number is $813,167.

According to the county’s website, 10 residents pay privately and 13 residents are billed through Medicaid. The county notes that Medicaid “continues to reduce what it pays for senior care facilities.”

Medicaid is funded jointly by the state and federal government to provide health coverage for low-income Americans. About 19% of Colorado residents receive Medicaid, according to KFF.org. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing administers Medicaid throughout the state, and states receive a federal match in funding dollars each year.

Middle Park Health manages all payment collections for Cliffview. Tiffany Freitag, the hospital system’s director of business development, expects the 2025 Medicaid reimbursement to be about $2,500 a month per resident based on 2024’s reimbursement. With the current number of 23 residents, this would equal about $690,000 for the year.

Freitag explained that Medicaid rates “often don’t keep up with rising expenses like inflation, staffing and growing care needs” and added that in addition to “ongoing poor reimbursement from Medicaid,” there are proposed cuts in the future.

On Feb. 25, the U.S House of Representatives passed a budget resolution to cut federal spending, including a proposed $880 billion in cuts to the committee that oversees Medicaid and other health programs.

Freitag encouraged residents and commissioners to lobby state representatives and the Department of Health Care Policy to improve the Medicaid program and not implement proposed cuts.

What costs are increasing?

In 2025, nearly $225,000 in funding from county coffers is for capital and building improvements, Freitag said. She explained that these improvements are needed to keep the “aging building running safely and efficiently.”

Cliffview was built in 1996, and much of it contains original construction, including the boilers and windows, which are set to be replaced this year.

Freitag, who said the boiler system is on its “last legs,” added that the capital improvements are “crucial to prioritize for the building to continue operating.”

Other improvements slated for this year include new furniture and flooring, sidewalk repairs and well replacements, Freitag added.  

In recent years, Cliffview has also contended with the rising costs of food and supplies as well as labor to ensure there are enough staff members for the residents’ safety, Freitag said.

To help cut costs, Cliffview staff members fundraise, accept donations and pursue other money-saving measures.

“Cliffview does an outstanding job working with the community, getting meat donated to help mitigate food costs and seeking out other community support,” Freitag said.

As the county considers the facility’s future, Travis said the increasing costs are a concern.

“The simple fact is that revenue collected for Cliffview Assisted Living Center does not cover its expenses,” Travis said. “Regardless of whether the costs are operational or capital outlay, they’re increasing.”

Whether funding comes from designated funds or increased taxes is up to the county, Freitag said, adding that “the money to support our seniors is a worthwhile investment for our community.”