For Families
If you have been carrying this for a long time, we know.
Read at your own pace.
Most parents who reach this page have been thinking about it for years. You may be on visit three or visit seven. Maybe a relative is on the phone with you right now. We wrote this page slowly because that is how it should be read.
Three things, before anything else.
Will the staff actually know my person?
Staff continuity is the biggest single predictor of a good placement, and it is the place we put the first dollars. We pay above the median Utah DSP wage, schedule predictably, and run training that goes beyond the regulatory floor. We track turnover quarterly. The honest answer is: yes, if we keep the staff, and we work hard at it.
Will I still be welcome?
Yes. Always. Holidays, birthdays, weekend trips, every day of the year you would normally see your person. Aspen does not replace a family; we support what is already there. Family preferences are documented in the care plan because they are part of the care plan.
What does it cost?
If your family member is on a Utah Medicaid HCBS waiver and is authorized for our service, the waiver pays it. You pay nothing additional for waiver-covered services. If a service is private-pay, we publish the rate and tell you the dollar amount before you sign anything.
Five steps from first call to move-in.
You call or fill out the form.
We respond within one business day. The first conversation is short. We ask: who is the person, what would matter most to them, what does the timing look like, where are you in DSPD eligibility, and what city or area would work.
We share what we have open, honestly.
If we have a current opening that could fit, we describe the home, the city, the existing roommates, and the staff. If we do not, we tell you that, and we tell you when we expect to. We do not ask you to wait on a maybe.
You and DSPD walk through eligibility.
If your family member is not yet known to DSPD, that is the first system step. If they are on the wait list or in active authorization, your support coordinator handles it. We help you think through what to ask for during person-centered planning. The resources page has a plain-language guide.
We meet, in person, more than once.
Person-centered planning happens with the person who would be moving in, with you, with the support coordinator. We do home visits. We do meals together. We do trial overnight stays where it makes sense. We do not place anyone we have not met. Ever.
Move-in. Then we keep talking.
Settling in takes weeks, not days. We schedule check-ins for weeks 1, 4, and 12, and at six months. Family is part of every check-in by default. You can step out of any check-in you do not want to be in.
Anything. Especially the awkward things.
Money. Dietary preferences and food allergies. Sexual health. Relationships. Religion. Holidays your family observes. What happens at end of life. Whether your person can keep a pet. Whether they can drink coffee. Whether the staff are vaccinated.
If a question feels awkward to ask, ask it first. Awkward questions are usually the important ones. We have heard most of them. The ones we have not heard, we will think about and get back to you on.
Family testimonials will appear here once we have placements and consent. We will not publish made-up quotes, and we will not put words in anyone's mouth.
A note from the Aspen Living team
Bring your hard questions.
First call is a conversation, not a commitment. We listen.