What kind of care does Assisted Living provide?
Unlike many other regions, assisted living in Northern Virginia is commonly divided into two levels of care: assisted living care and residential living care. Assisted living care is an excellent option for seniors who may need more hands-on assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) but still desire a degree of independence. In Northern Virginia, assisted living communities can vary widely in size, amenities, and care services. Of course, providing residents with adequate freedom and privacy is a primary concern for assisted living communities in the Northern Virginia area. Still, comfort and safety are the central priorities at this level of care.
Residential living care is suitable for seniors who need less hands-on care for most ADLs, with minimum need for assistance with cooking, bathing, dressing, and other daily routines. Residential living care allows seniors to maintain the highest level of privacy and autonomy in the assisted living environment while still offering seniors proper assistance with activities they find slightly more challenging to carry out on their own.
Assisted living services generally include, but are not limited to:
- Private or companion room/suite and utilities (gas, electric, water, sewer, and trash removal)
- 24-hour on-site supervised care
- Three meals a day and snacks
- Assistance with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, incontinence care, feeding, transferring, and ambulation
- Assistance with medication management
- Housekeeping, laundry, and linen services
- Transportation
- Social and recreational activities
How much does Assisted Living cost in Northern Virginia?
The cost of assisted living in the Northern Virginia area varies depending on many factors, including care needs, suite type and size, community amenities, and property location. Still, the costs generally range from around $4,500 to $7,500 per month.
Many assisted living communities in Northern Virginia, like Brookdale, Sunrise Senior Living, Pacifica, and others, are similar to hotels, with on-site caregivers and a base monthly rental cost. The base monthly rental price generally covers the room, utilities, housekeeping, meals, activities, and more. Care is a separate charge that varies based on the specific care needs of the resident. One resident may only need medication management, whereas another resident might require utmost care for all ADLs.
Are there Assisted Living resources in Northern Virginia?
Resource |
Contact |
Services |
National Center for Health Statistics |
800-232-4636 |
The National
Center for Health Statistics
delivers comprehensive health data and tools related to, among
others, providers and patients of long-term care, including home
health care, nursing home care, and residential care communities. |
Virginia
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services |
804-662-9333 |
The Virginia
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
provides various free services, including Adult
Services and Adult
Protective Services. The
professional counsellors are trained to provide advice for
various senior-related topics, such as long-term care insurance,
Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, and prescription drug
counselling. |
Virginia’s
Office for Aging Services |
800-552-3402 |
Virginia’s
Office for Aging Services
(OAS) provides a wide range of senior programs and
resources, including free Senior
Legal Services, Senior
Health Insurance Counseling,
and many others. OAS also organizes various activities, services,
and initiatives to support seniors, individuals with
disabilities, and their families and care partners. |
Virginia
Association of Area Agencies on Aging |
804-545-1644 |
The Virginia
Association of Area Agencies on Aging
operates five local Agencies on Aging in the Northern Virginia area, including Alexandria,
Arlington,
Fairfax,
Loudoun,
and Prince
William. These agencies
provide a wide range of services for seniors, including meal
services, case management, and transportation. |
Virginia
Department of Veterans Services |
703-359-1210 |
The Virginia
Department of Veterans Services
(DVS) provides eligible Veterans and
their spouses with access to federal and state benefits that may
help them afford certain long-term care services. Along with
providing referrals, the DVS can assist Veterans in applying for
Aid and Attendance benefits or the VA pension. |
Virginia
Department of Social Services |
804-726-7000 |
The Virginia
Department of Social Services
(VDSS) provides comprehensive regulations that assisted living
communities throughout Virginia must follow. The VDSS also allows
users to retrieve information on assisted living communities throughout Virginia. |
Office
of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman |
804-565-1600 |
The Office
of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
advocates for older persons receiving long-term care services. Whether the care is provided in an assisted living community, memory care location, nursing home, or community-based services to help seniors still living at home, the Office is a great resource. The
Office also provides seniors, their families, and the public with
information, advocacy, and assistance resources to help resolve
care problems. |
Virginia
211 |
211
800-230-6977 |
Virginia 211 is a free service that helps seniors and caregivers connect with local resources, such as non-medical transportation, nutritional programs, legal services, and case management. Individuals can call the toll-free number to speak with trained professionals who provide recommendations for local services and organizations based on their specific needs. |