What are Residential Services?

At Ariel, we believe where you live should feel like home—and that everyone deserves a safe, supportive place where they can be themselves, grow, and belong.
Our residential services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are built around each person’s needs and preferences. Some individuals live with family, others in shared homes, and some in their own apartment in the community. Wherever someone lives, our goal is to provide the right level of support to help them feel confident and independent in their daily life. Support might include help with cooking, cleaning, personal care, staying healthy, or learning life skills. But it’s more than just routine, it’s about creating a meaningful life with choices, connection, and dignity. Our caring team works closely with each Member and their circle of support to make sure they feel respected, understood, and part of their community. Because at Ariel, residential services aren’t just about where you live—they’re about how you live.

The Ariel Difference

At Ariel, we believe that every person deserves to live a life filled with dignity, joy, and purpose. Our Residential Services are rooted in a person-centered approach—one that honors each individual’s unique story, strengths, and dreams.

We work to create safe, nurturing, and empowering environments where adults with IDD can grow in confidence, build independence, and feel at home in their lives. Whether it’s learning new life skills, building lasting friendships, or working toward personal goals, we’re here to offer just the right amount of support—never more than needed, always as much as wanted.

Our approach is both flexible and thoughtful, adapting as each person’s needs and aspirations grow and change. We focus on increasing independence, developing social and emotional skills, and helping individuals experience life as fully as possible, with the least amount of intervention required.

At the heart of it all is a commitment to meaningful relationships, emotional well-being, and a true sense of belonging. Because at Ariel, we don’t just support people—we celebrate them.

Types of Residential Services

At Ariel, we offer a variety of living arrangements to meet the unique needs, preferences, and strengths of the individuals we serve—known as “Members” under Medicaid language. Each setting supports safety, belonging, and the highest level of independence possible.

Independent Community Living

In this setting, a Member lives on their own or with a roommate of their choice, with staff support provided as needed. It’s ideal for those who thrive with greater independence but still benefit from guidance and connection. This model honors self-determination, giving individuals the freedom to manage their daily lives—knowing compassionate support is always within reach. It’s about living life on your own terms, with the right balance of freedom and care.

Family Caregiver

In this setting, a Member lives with a family member who is supported by Ariel’s professional team. This arrangement strengthens family bonds while ensuring access to needed services. It allows families to focus on their relationships while feeling confident in the care being provided. With Ariel’s support, loved ones grow together, creating a home built on trust, love, and mutual respect.

Host Home

In this setting, a Member lives with a non-related caregiver or family trained and supported by Ariel. This environment offers the warmth of a family setting and encourages community involvement. Host Homes help reduce feelings of isolation by fostering close relationships and daily connection. It’s a place where individuals are embraced like family—supported, seen, and surrounded by care.

3-Bed Personal Care Alternative (PCA)

In this setting, a Member lives in a shared home environment for up to three Members, with 24/7 support from Ariel staff. PCA homes provide both personal attention and the benefits of community—supporting emotional, medical, and daily living needs while encouraging social interaction and friendships. At Ariel, we believe in meeting people where they are. That means offering just the right level of care—and always starting with the least restrictive setting that still supports safety, growth, and success.

Additional support available with Residential Services

Ariel is committed to supporting not only our Members, but also their families, caregivers, and Host Home Providers. In addition to residential placement, we offer a full spectrum of supportive services:

  • Case Management | Our case managers help connect the dots—coordinating support between individuals, residential providers, and care teams. We focus on building trust, honoring personal choice, and promoting inclusion. Case management ensures that each Member receives the right supports for their unique goals and needs.
  • Respite Care | Respite services offer short-term relief for caregivers, either hourly or daily, in the home or community. Respite care allows caregivers to take a well-deserved break, knowing their loved one is safe and supported.
  • On-Call Support | Life doesn’t only happen during business hours. That’s why we offer after-hours and emergency support to ensure help is always just a phone call away.
  • Therapy | Ariel offers individual, family, and group therapy for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These services are tailored to address mental health challenges that may occur alongside IDD, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and other concerns. We use a variety of approaches to meet each person where they are—including traditional talk therapy and evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and more. Our goal is to support emotional wellness, build resilience, and provide a safe space for healing and growth.
  • Nursing Services | Our on-staff Registered Nurse (RN) helps manage medical needs, answers health questions, supports hospitalizations and discharge planning, and helps educate Members and caregivers on managing conditions. Note: Direct nursing support is available in the Grand Junction area. However, our RN can participate in care planning statewide.
  • Benefits Navigation | Our Benefits Specialists assist with understanding and maintaining benefits like Social Security and Medicaid. Note: In-person support is offered in Grand Junction, but consultative support is available across all Ariel regions.
  • Program Training & Support | Ariel’s Program Trainer provides hands-on, individualized training for Members and Host Home Providers. From technology support to creating customized tools or scheduling, our trainer ensures everyone gets the help they need.

Where we provide Residential Services

Ariel provides residential services across Colorado, supported by our regional headquarters. Each area offers a variety of options based on the local availability of Host Homes, PCAs, and other providers.

While we serve many regions, the specific services available may vary depending on local capacity and licensing. For the most current availability or to explore what’s possible in your area, reach out to our team. We’re happy to help you find the right fit based on your location and needs.

How to get started with Residential Services

In general, qualifying (and payment) for residential services is included under the Developmental Disability (DD) Waiver provided through Medicaid. Once approved for a DD Waiver Members have access for life, though their approved amount of funding may change based on the level of care (LOC) needed throughout their lifetime. For example, medical crises, behavioral changes or criminal involvement can be grounds for requesting change. Ariel is well-versed in navigating these changes from both an administrative and service provision perspective and will support Members and their families through transitions into higher or lower levels of care (LOCs).

For more information on how to apply for a DD Waiver and become eligible for services, you can find the Case Management Directory by county here: https://hcpf.colorado.gov/case-management-agency-directory

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you don’t find what you’re looking for below, feel free to ask your question via our Contact Form.

Yes! From early adulthood to later in life (we’ve had Members in their 90s), we serve anyone over the age of 18 (for those under the age of 18, please visit our children’s services), of any gender, and of almost all ability levels. Our capacity to serve those with severe medical challenges or high-risk sexualized behaviors may vary based on current availability of appropriately skilled staff and providers. However, we do our best to accommodate all Members. Please reach out to our team to discuss more specifics.

Choosing Ariel means choosing a partner who sees the whole person. We go beyond the basics by offering consistent, compassionate, and individualized support to every Member.
Each Member is paired with a dedicated case manager who acts as their main point of contact and advocate. Unlike many agencies that only visit quarterly, our case managers check in at least once a month—building strong relationships, responding quickly to questions, and making sure everything stays on track. This level of attention helps us truly know our Members, not just meet compliance standards, but support them in living full and connected lives.

Ariel offers a wide range of wraparound supports to help Members, caregivers, and providers thrive:

  • Case Management | Ongoing coordination of services with monthly visits to ensure personalized care, close connection, and responsive support.
  • Behavioral Services | Our Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) provide strategies and support to help individuals succeed in their homes and communities.
  • Therapy Services | Individual, group, and family therapy using evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches like CBT, DBT, and EMDR.
  • Nursing Support (Grand Junction only for direct care) | On-staff RNs assist with medical needs, training, and planning—available statewide for team consultation.
  • Benefits Navigation (Direct in Grand Junction; consultative statewide) | Our specialists help Members and families understand Social Security, Medicaid, and other systems.
  • Program Trainer | Offers customized, hands-on training for Members and providers, including evening and weekend support. This includes assistive tools, tech help, and creative problem-solving.

The Supported Living Services (SLS) Waiver offers a more limited level of care compared to the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Waiver, which is required for residential services.

If you only have an SLS Waiver, you may still qualify for other Ariel services, including:

  • Behavioral support
  • Vocational programming
  • Individual and group therapy

Want help understanding what you qualify for? Reach out to one of our Benefits Specialists and we’ll walk through it with you.

While benefits are often managed through your local Case Management Agency (CMA), Ariel’s in-house Benefits Specialists are here to help you understand and navigate what’s available. We’ll support you in gathering documentation, filling out applications, and answering questions along the way.

The Support Intensity Scale (SIS) is used to determine what level of care and funding a person qualifies for. It looks at both medical and behavioral needs and assigns a score from 1–6 (with a level 7 for special circumstances).

This score helps determine eligibility for residential services and other supports under the DD or SLS Waivers. If your needs change—such as a medical event or new behavior concerns—you can request a reassessment.

Yes. Ariel provides 24/7/365 on-call support for Members and caregivers. Our on-call staff are trained in crisis response, suicide intervention, and trauma-informed care.

In a life-threatening emergency, always call 911 or 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).

We love this question—and we’re always looking for compassionate people to join our provider network. As a Host Home Provider, you’ll make a real difference in someone’s life while being supported by a dedicated Ariel team.

We offer a variety of programs and services. Contact us with your individual needs and we will route your request to the person who can assist you best.