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Located on the mid-Atlantic coast, Virginia is a fantastic destination for older adults and nursing home residents. The state has miles of scenic shorelines along the Chesapeake plus iconic views of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains. With 11 metropolitan statistical areas plus easy access to the nation's capital, seniors are never far from world-class medical care and community-based services that can enhance their health and quality of life. The state is home to several nationally recognized medical facilities, including the Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, the VCU Medical Center in Richmond and the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.
Virginia has more than 245 nursing homes that cater to individuals who are leaving the hospital or have complex medical needs that require ongoing monitoring and rehabilitative care. Seniors who are active and independent but require occasional assistance typically turn to assisted living facilities or home health care providers for ongoing care. Families who would like to learn more about long-term care options, including financial assistance programs and government resources, will find helpful details in this comprehensive guide.
Virginia is an age-friendly state for nursing home residents. According to SeniorAdvice, Virginia has a SeniorScore of 78, which is six points higher than the U.S. average. This livability index rates communities based on more than 100 variables ranging from local amenities to climate to long-term care costs. The state's lowest rating was for Recreation & Leisure, with just 63 points. Virginia has a high number of parks, 325 golf courses and more than 3,000 churches, and older adults represent about 30% of the population.
Ratings for Health & Safety climbed to 65 thanks to the state's robust health care system, which includes a high number of physicians, long-term care providers and home health aides. These features may contribute to Virginia's above-average life expectancy of 79 years. General Quality of Life received a positive rating of 72 points. Although the climate is rainy, temperatures are pleasant, with a year-round average of 55.6 degrees, which may benefit older adults who are sensitive to extreme heat and cold.
Virginia earned its highest score in Finances with 75 points. Property and sales taxes are lower than average. Although the state income tax is slightly higher than the U.S. median, residents earn significantly more than the average American-based household and per capita income, which may help residents pay for nursing home care. Ratings also considered long-term care costs, which are lower than average across the board.
Burke Health and Rehabilitation Center is a 120 bed nursing facility situated nearby the West Springfield neighborhood of Burke, Virginia. The neighboring area is densely populated, with roughly 44,000 poeple living in the 22015 zip code. With an ...
Located at 46531 Hary Byrd Hwy in Sterling, Virginia, Potomac Falls Health and Rehab Center is a 150 room nursing care facility. The surrounding area is heavily populated, with roughly 39,000 individuals living in the zip code of 20164. ...
Situated in the North Springfield neighborhood, Aarondale Retirement Community is a senior care facility serving Springfield, Virginia. The neighboring area has an average population density, with approximately 18,000 individuals living in the 22151 zip code. It is a ...
Fairfax Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is located at 10701 Main St in Fairfax, Virginia. It is a 200 bed skilled nursing facility. The surrounding area has a dense population, with around 56,000 residents in the 22030 zip code. ...
Located in the Glencarlyn neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, ManorCare Health Services-Arlington is a 161 unit nursing care facility. With roughly 48,000 residents in the 22204 zip code, the encompassing area has a dense population. It is a mostly ...
Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare is situated within the Taylor Run neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia. It is a 307 room nursing care facility. The community is in a largely affluent area, with a median per-household income of $108,931. ...
Commonwealth Health and Rehab Center is located at 4315 Chain Bridge Rd in Fairfax, Virginia. It is a 37 bed nursing facility. The facility is in a largely well-to-do area, with an average family income of $111,385. ...
Iliff Nursing and Rehab is located in the Idylwood neighborhood of Dunn Loring, Virginia. It is a 130 unit nursing facility. The neighboring area is sparsely populated, with roughly 3,000 people residing in the 22027 zip code. ...
Lynchburg Health and Rehabilitation Center is a 180 bed nursing facility. It is located at 5615 Seminole Ave in Lynchburg, Virginia. The surrounding area is heavily populated, with around 44,000 individuals living in the 24502 zip code. ...
Gainesville Health and Rehab Center is located at 7501 Heritage Village Plaza in Gainesville, Virginia. It is a 120 room nursing home facility. The facility is in a mostly affluent area, with a median household income of $115,136. ...
Leewood Healthcare Center is a 132 bed nursing home facility. It is situated within the North Springfield area of Annandale, Virginia. The surrounding area has a dense population, with approximately 57,000 poeple living in the zip code of ...
Ashby Ponds is located at 21160 Maple Branch Terrace in Ashburn, Virginia. It is a 44 unit senior care facility. The community is in a generally upscale area, with an average per-family income of $124,031. With about ...
Regency Care of Arlington is a 240 bed senior housing facility. It is situated in the Aurora Highlands area of Arlington, Virginia. With approximately 24,000 poeple living in the zip code of 22202, the encompassing area is densely ...
The Laurels of Willow Creek is situated around the Huguenot neighborhood of Midlothian, Virginia. It is a 120 room senior community. The facility is in a predominantly upscale area, with a median family income of $116,282. With ...
Cherrydale Health and Rehabilitation Center is situated within the Cherrydale area of Arlington, Virginia. It is a 240 room nursing care facility. The surrounding area is densely populated, with around 32,000 individuals residing in the zip code of ...
The Laurels of Bon Air is a 100 bed senior care facility located nearby the Hioaks area of Bon Air, Virginia. With about 31,000 residents in the 23235 zip code, the surrounding area is densely populated. It is ...
Located at 602 Madison Rd in Culpeper, Virginia, Culpeper Health and Rehabilitation Center is a 180 unit skilled nursing facility. The surrounding area is heavily populated, with approximately 32,000 poeple living in the zip code of 22701. With ...
Located at 125 Buena Vista Cir in South Hill, Virginia, VCU Community Memorial Hospital is a 161 unit skilled nursing facility. The community is in a mostly middle income area, with a median per-family income of $40,628. It ...
Located at 1811 Jamestown Rd in Williamsburg, Virginia, Consulate Healthcare of Williamsburg is a 90 room nursing care facility. The facility is in a predominantly middle income area, with an average per-family income of $71,872. With around 47,000 ...
Lexington Rehabilitation and Healthcare is located at 1776 Cambridge Dr in Richmond, Virginia. It is a 190 unit nursing facility. With a median family income of $91,363, the community is in a predominantly well-to-do area. It is ...
Seniors in Virginia benefit from competitive nursing home costs that are lower than the national average and more affordable than most neighboring states. Nursing home prices are $365 higher than North Carolina, where this type of care averages around $7,300. However, residents also save $91 on the national average of $7,756. Additionally, rates are 25-39% lower than neighboring states like Maryland ($10,190), West Virginia ($11,376) and Washington, D.C. ($12,471).
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Virginia's Top Cities
Nursing home costs vary by more than $2,900 across Virginia's most populous cities. Prices are on par with the state median in Virginia Beach and Blacksburg and slightly lower than average in Lynchburg ($6,644), Charlottesville ($7,452) and Roanoke ($7,513). Seniors in Richmond pay $9,064 per month for nursing home care, and prices increase further in Harrisonburg, which has an average of $9,125. In Winchester, nursing home care costs $1,901 more than the state median.
Senior Care Cost Comparison in Virginia
Skilled nursing facilities provide 24-hour medical care for seniors who have complex medical needs, so it's not surprising that it costs more than alternatives like memory care ($6,063) and assisted living ($4,850). Seniors pay $4,195-$4,385 per month for chore assistance and light medical care. Adult day care is another option for residents with less intensive needs. These programs cost just $1,603 per month on average.
As you can see above, Nursing Home Care is often the most expensive senior care option – sometimes even 2-3 times the cost of other types of senior living. The primary reason for this is the 24/7 skilled nursing and other medical services that are provided. Thankfully, most people aren't forced to pay for skilled nursing care entirely out-of-pocket. Rather, many qualify for financial assistance programs to help cover the cost of nursing care.
Medicaid is the most comprehensive financial assistance program – but, not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid. And because each state operates its own Medicaid program within federal guidelines, eligibility and benefits vary from state to state. Below, we provide more information on Medicaid in Virginia.
Virginia's Medicaid program is managed by the Department of Medical Assistance Services with help from local Department of Social Services offices. Today, more than 1.6 million Virginians or about 12% of the population is covered by Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program, which represents a 71% increase since 2013. Although Medicaid primarily serves as an insurance program for low-income families, it also covers about 60% of seniors who live in the state's 245 nursing homes.
Medicaid Eligibility in Virginia
Traditional Medicaid is available to Virginia residents aged 64 or younger who earn up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. For the state's Aged, Blind or Disabled Medicaid program, which covers senior citizens and disabled adults, this limit decreases to $859 per month for individuals or $1,162 for couples for 2021. Fortunately, the state also offers institutional Medicaid benefits and Medicaid waivers to individuals who require a nursing home level of care. These programs come with increased income limits as follows:
Virginians can apply for Medicaid online at CommonHelp.Virginia.gov or by submitting a paper application to one of the state's 121 Department of Social Services offices. Application assistance is also available by calling CoverVA at (855) 242-8282.
Nursing facilities, hospitals and home health care agencies in Virginia are licensed and inspected by the Department of Health, Office of Licensure and Certification. Additionally, nurses and related professionals who work in these facilities are subject to regulations established by the Virginia Department of Health Professionals and the Virginia Board of Nursing.
Scope of Care | Nursing facilities in Virginia must provide comprehensive care that addresses residents' medical and social needs and complies with all federal policies and procedures. Facilities must provide nursing and medical services as well as specialized rehabilitative care from occupational, physical or speech therapists and adjunct professionals. Such services must be authorized by an attending physician and consistent with the resident's written plan of care. |
Care Planning | Skilled nursing facilities must have an RN conduct initial and ongoing needs assessments for each resident. A complete assessment that addresses all medical conditions, impairments, therapies and activities must be performed within 14 days of admission, every 12 months thereafter or following a significant change in the resident's physical or mental health. |
Pharmacy Services | Nursing homes must develop policies for obtaining, storing and dispensing prescription medications and other pharmacy products. Services may be provided by an off-site pharmacy as long as 24-hour emergency service is available. Facilities must work with a qualified pharmacist who visits the facility at least monthly. Residents' medication orders must be reviewed at least once every 60 days by a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant. |
Staff Screening | Virginia requires all RN and LPN candidates to complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check as part of the licensing process. Nursing homes must complete a comprehensive criminal background check on all compensated employees within 30 days by reviewing results from the Central Criminal Records Exchange. Individuals who have been convicted of barrier crimes may not be employed in long-term care facilities. For certain misdemeanors, this requirement is waived if it's been at least five years since the offense. |
Staff Training | Certified nursing aides who work in Virginia must complete a state-approved training course. By 2023, all programs must include at least 140 hours of instruction with at least 40 hours of clinical training in a direct-care setting. The state also requires nursing aides to complete an on-the-the-job orientation plus at least 12 hours of annual in-service training related to job-specific responsibilities. |
Medicaid Coverage | Virginia's Medicaid program pays for nursing homes and other forms of long-term care. Applicants must meet income and asset limits to qualify, and they must use the majority of their income to pay for medical bills or related expenses, excluding a $40 monthly personal needs allowance. |
Reporting Abuse | Instances of suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation should be reported immediately to a local Department of Social Services office. Reports may also be made by calling the 24-hour Adult Protective Services hotline at (888) 832-3858. Mandated reporters include health care professionals, guardians and conservators. |
Richmond-based Virginia Health Information partners with public and private organizations to gather data, assess service quality and develop a strategic plan for enhancing the state's health care system. It provides in-depth information about hospitals, health insurance plans and long-term care providers. VHI publishes a comprehensive long-term care guide for consumers, and it provides a directory of local, state and federal agencies that serve older adults and family caregivers.
Virginia Health Care Association
The Virginia Health Care Association and Virginia Center for Assisted Living represent more than 345 long-term care communities statewide. Its consumer resource library includes information about long-term care, Medicare/Medicaid, estate planning, elder rights and other age-related concerns. Families can reach out to the HVCA-VCAL for more information about relevant state agencies, fall-prevention courses, health insurance counseling and long-term care regulations.
Senior Navigator has been directing older adults and their caregivers to local resources for more than 20 years. This free nonprofit resource helps Virginians who are dealing with age- or disability-related issues. The directory includes resources related to housing, legal questions, financial assistance programs, community-based services and healthy aging programs. Senior Navigator also offers services for caregivers who need help with decision-making issues, Alzheimer's and mental wellness.
Statewide Senior Legal Helpline
Sponsored by the Virginia Poverty Law Center, the Statewide Senior Legal Helpline provides free legal services to seniors aged 60 and older. It helps residents who need assistance with government benefits like Social Security and Medicaid as well as estate planning documents, such as wills, powers of attorney and advance directives. Seniors can also take advantage of an array of resources related to nursing home admissions and long-term care alternatives.
Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
Address: 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Henrico, VA 23229
Phone Number: (800) 552-5019
Website: vadars.org/
DARS is dedicated to improving older adults' quality of life. It's home to the state's Office for Aging Services and Long-Term Care Ombudsman as well as its Adult Protective Services division, which accepts reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation occurring in nursing homes or the community. The department also serves as a public guardian for adults who are unable to make their own decisions and don't have access to a suitable decision-making surrogate. Services are available to seniors, families and their loved ones.
Virginia Office for Aging Services
Address: 610 Forest Avenue, Suite 100, Henrico, VA 23229
Phone Number: (804) 662-9333
Website: www.vda.virginia.gov/
Part of DARS, the Office for Aging Services works closely with the state's Area Agencies on Aging and other partners to help seniors and disabled adults live safely and independently. It engages in advocacy, oversees various state and local programs and works to support Virginia's growing population of older adults. Families can contact the agency for information about respite care grants, Medicare/Medicaid, chronic disease management, health insurance counseling and care transitions to address resident's changing needs.
Virginia Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Address: 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Henrico, Virginia 23229
Phone Number: (800) 552-3402
Website: elderrightsva.org/
The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a comprehensive resource for seniors who have questions or concerns about the care they're receiving in the state's nursing homes. It works with families who need help choosing a provider or understanding their options. The ombudsman resolves confidential complaints from residents and other concerned parties, and specially trained advocates are available to assist individuals who have questions or concerns about Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus and the state's Medicaid managed care benefits.
Seniors aged 60+ have access to 25 Area Agencies on Aging located in designated cities statewide. These government-sponsored nonprofits connect seniors, caregivers and family members to financial assistance programs, long-term care facilities and community-based resources. Families who need help navigating long-term care decisions can contact their AAA to schedule a one-on-one options consultation. Staff members also direct residents to long-term care ombudsmen and Medicare insurance experts. Families can visit the Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging online or call (804) 545-1644 to find the nearest office.
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services provides free assistance to help veterans and their dependents access state and federal benefits, including health care and disability compensation. It operates several Veterans Care Centers that provide affordable nursing and long-term care, and its Aid and Attendance program is available to military pensioners and surviving spouses who are disabled, homebound or live in skilled nursing facilities. The DVS operates service offices statewide. Veterans and their family members can visit the department online to find a benefits office in their community.
The Social Security Administration administers retirement and disability payments as well as Supplemental Security Income and related stipends. Virginians can manage their benefits online or apply for compensation by contacting their local SSA office. Nursing home residents and their families can take advantage of the administration's Representative Payment Program, which is available to beneficiaries who are unable to manage their own affairs. It also offers benefits for spouses and survivors. To find a local office, residents should visit the SSA online.
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