According to Virginia state law, an assisted living home or personal care community is defined as a congregate residential building with the purpose of providing personal care services, supportive care services, health services, housekeeping services, meal services and 24-hour supervision to a residential population of four or more adults who are aged, disabled or infirm.
There are approximately 560 assisted senior care homes operating in Virginia.
| City | Monthly Minimum | Monthly Maximum | Monthly Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $2,350 | $6,555 | $4,355 |
| Lynchburg | $1,600 | $4,650 | $3,307 |
| Norfolk | $2,300 | $5,933 | $3,851 |
| Richmond | $1,150 | $5,600 | $4,673 |
| Roanoke | $3,050 | $4,931 | $3,865 |
| Virginia Beach | $2,300 | $5,933 | $3,851 |
The average cost of living in Virginia is $3,933 per month. This monthly cost also will depend on the amount of personal care needed. Compared to the remainder of the United States, Virginia falls above the national average cost for long-term senior care among the moderately expensive states. Within the state, average area prices fall among the $3,000-$4,000 monthly cost range.
For more information about assisted living costs in Virginia, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.
Neighbored by the Atlantic Ocean on one side, Virginia offers a unique mixture of appealing activities ranging from the beach to the majestic Virginia wilderness. Known as the largest city in Virginia, Virginia Beach is comprised of a myriad of activities including the sprawling coastline of beaches for one to enjoy relaxing or water sports.
The urban areas of Virginia Beach offer an array of restaurants, museums, and historic monuments. Deep in the wilderness of Virginia lies a National Historic Landmark named the Natural Bridge. The Natural Bridge was created a long time ago when a cavern naturally collapsed leaving a large hole connecting two sides of the geological formation. The Natural Bridge has been cited throughout history by many peoples including Native Americans and George Washington when he was first surveying the land. Visitors can spend days roaming the historic streets experiencing guided tours, shopping, historic attractions and Williamsburg’s acclaimed art museums.
Virginia is rooted in deep history, and the current American colonial architecture evidences that. Virginia has it all with beautiful natural scenic views, and urban landscapes as well. Typically, you will find that Virginia residents are warm and welcoming of newcomers.
Like most of the United States, Virginia experiences four distinct seasons throughout the year. Virginia is considered to be in a humid subtropical climate. Winters are fairly cold with average daytime temperatures falling between the 30 and 40-degree range.
Spring and summer tend to be the most humid and wettest seasons. Virginia experiences an average accumulation of 43 inches of rainfall yearly. Daytime time temperatures during the summer a fairly hot with averages rising into the low 80-degree range.
Assisted Living homes are regulated by a state-to-state basis. Every state has a publicly accessible legal document outlining the regulations, licensing, operation and other rules for assisted living. The complete document outlining the official regulations for assisted living homes operating in Virginia can be obtained online. These records will also detail, if any, the differences between assisted living and personal care. Public records concerning citations, violations, inspections and the like pertaining to individual homes can be obtained through the facility search page via the Virginia Department of Social Services website.
In Virginia, crime rates are lower than the national average, meaning you should have a positive experience finding a secure area to live in. If you are not sure where to start your search, take a look at some of Virginia’s safest communities:
| Location | Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents | Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater | 0.17 | 2.36 |
| Broadway | 0.00 | 3.43 |
| Purcellville | 0.11 | 4.53 |
| Lexington | 0.69 | 4.53 |
(Source: safewise.com)
For those seeking financial assistance, Virginia offers the state funded program for residents named the Virginia Auxiliary Grants (AG) program. This program is designed to offer direct financial aid to those residing in Virginia approved assisted living residences or adult foster care homes to cover a portion of the costs associated with these long-term senior care communities. To find more information on this program, please visit the official Virginia Auxiliary Grants page via the Virginia Department of Social Services website.
Virginia’s Medicaid offers a waiver intended for residents who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory-related conditions. The program is designed to provide supportive services and personal care services to participants in assisted living residences only. For more information on this program, please visit the official Alzheimer Assisted Living Waiver page via the Virginia Department of Social Services website.
Alternate payment options are available. Families can apply for an assisted living family loan. This provides temporary or long-term financial assistance when paying for assisted senior care. The program allows multiple people to contribute to payment.
Residents of personal care homes in Virginia do not give up the rights guaranteed to them as a resident or citizen of the United States. While residing in the home, a resident retains constitutional civil rights, rights of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. The resident also retains the right to personal possessions, autonomy over personal finances, bodily autonomy, and power of attorney. The resident has a right to be informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations, abuse, neglect and the like. The complete list of resident rights as guaranteed by the state of Virginia can be obtained online via the Virginia Department of Social Services website.
Virginia assisted living homes are required to provide appropriate health services that are ordered by an attending physician, as well as keep all medical information confidential, accurate, and complete. Medical records must include a recent photograph of the resident, and shall be kept for a no shorter than 5 years from death or discharge date.
Residents in Virginia personal care communities have access to their medical records and can request a copy of all or a portion of their medical records. They can also request a copy of some or all of the information, and it is to be provided at a cost not to exceed the community standard for photocopies.
