Respite Coalition — Free Family Caregiver Support — Colorado
The Colorado Respite Coalition (CRC) is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to helping family caregivers in Colorado find rest, support, and community. Whether you’re caring for an aging parent, a spouse with a chronic illness, an adult with a disability, or a child with complex needs, CRC’s free Resources This Way hub points you to peer support groups, respite providers, financial assistance, and one-on-one help — all curated specifically for Coloradans. Based in Lakewood and serving the whole state, CRC pairs a navigable online resource finder with a real phone line where caregivers can talk to someone who understands.
What to Expect
CRC isn’t a single weekly meeting — it’s a doorway to caregiver support across Colorado. Their Connect with Other Caregivers section curates free and low-cost support groups, forums, and peer communities organized by what you’re navigating: caring for an older adult, an adult with disabilities, a child with disabilities, or someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Caregivers can also sign up for events through CRC’s calendar, take online classes through the Learning Center, and access topical guidance on respite, healthcare navigation, nutrition, transportation, and balancing work with caregiving. A staff member is available by phone at 303-233-1666 x8 to help you figure out where to start.
Who This Group Is For
CRC is for anyone in Colorado who provides unpaid care to a family member or close friend. That includes adult children caring for aging parents, spouses supporting a partner with a serious diagnosis, parents of children with disabilities, and grandparents raising grandchildren. There’s no income test, no referral required, and no eligibility paperwork. CRC works across the state — Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, the Western Slope, the San Luis Valley — and pulls together resources that are notoriously hard to find in any one place.
Why Peer Support Works
Family caregiving can be invisible work. The hours are long, the emotional load is heavy, and the people around you may not understand what your day actually looks like. Connecting with other caregivers — whether through a group, a forum, or a single phone call — interrupts that isolation. Other caregivers know the specific kind of tired you are. They know the guilt, the small victories, and the practical workarounds. CRC’s role is to make that connection easier to find, so caregivers don’t burn out trying to research it alone.
How to Join
CRC’s resources are free. Visit coloradorespitecoalition.org and click Find Resources or For Family Caregivers to explore the directories. The Resource Finder lets you search by location and need. Call 303-233-1666 x8 to talk to a staff member who can help you map out next steps. CRC also runs a regular Events Calendar, a Learning Center with educational videos, and a respite voucher program for families who need short breaks from caregiving. Sign up for the mailing list on the site to get periodic updates about new resources, grant opportunities, and statewide caregiver events.