Assisted Living in Virginia

Learn more about Old Dominion as you search for assisted living in Virginia. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia offers residents and tourists stunning views of flora and fauna as well as historic landmarks. One of the original Thirteen Colonies, Virginia is home to the Virginia General Assembly. Founded in 1619, it is the oldest law-making body still active in North America. During the Civil War, Virginia was split when the state government chose to join the Confederacy while many in the western portions of the state remained loyal to the Union: this led to the formation of West Virginia in 1863.

Today the Commonwealth of Virginia (its official name) is powered by agriculture in the Shenandoah Valley, military facilities, and federal agencies headquartered there. You can find fine dining and live shows in metropolitan areas as well as outdoor fun at national parks, historic battlefields, and the fascinating reenactments at Colonial Williamsburg. Virginia has so much to offer, it's the perfect place to start your search for a new home in assisted living.

Cost of assisted living in Virginia vs nearby states

Virginia vs. Maryland, Kentucky, and North Carolina

Cost of assisted living in a selection of Virginia cities

We have provided the average cost of assisted living in several Virginia cities: Fredricksburg, Martinsville, Richmond, and Woodstock.

The cost of assisted living in Virginia

Per Seniorly data, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Virginia is $4,542. This is higher than the national average, $4,057 per month. This may be due in part to Virginia’s housing costs being slightly higher than the national average. These averages include both highs and lows, however, and it’s very likely that you’ll be able to find Virginia assisted living communities on the spectrum from affordable to luxurious, that suit your needs and budget.

Assisted living communities can provide the peace of mind that comes from not worrying about home maintenance, chores, or errands, as well as help with personal grooming, eating, and other daily activities seniors might have trouble with. However, if your loved one requires nursing care, or has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia that has progressed to a certain point, they might need a skilled nursing facility/home health care, or memory care community instead. These communities (and for that matter, in-home care) might cost more in Florida than assisted living facilities, but the important thing is that your loved one’s needs are cared for in order to provide them with the best quality of life.

If your loved one currently lives in a retirement community, ask whether it is a Continuing Care Retirement Community: these senior living properties are generally designed for residents to age in place. Seniors can get the different levels of care they need, as they need them, without having to move to a different community altogether.

Overall cost of living in Virginia

The cost of living in the United States varies greatly between states. The cost of living index is an important measure that not only tells you how expensive it will be to live in another location, but also provides the difference between one city and another. The percentage is always compared to 100.

Virginia has a cost index of 100.7, which is just slightly less than the national average of 104.63. The housing cost is 112.1, with a transportation cost of 88.7, and grocery cost of 96.1. 

Financial assistance for assisted living in Virginia

Medicaid options for the Virginia seniors

According to benefits.gov, to be eligible for Medicaid/FAMIS in Virginia, you must be a resident of the state of Virginia, a U.S. national, citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien, in need of health care/insurance assistance, whose financial situation would be characterized as low income or very low income. You must also be one of the following:

• Pregnant, or
• Be responsible for a child 18 years of age or younger, or
• Blind, or
• Have a disability or a family member in your household with a disability, or
• Be 65 years of age or older.

Non-Medicaid State assistance programs

Virginia also has a number of special programs that are designed to help those that do not qualify for Medicaid. These programs are:

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Virginia Community Health Care Centers
• Free clinics are located throughout Virginia.
• The Virginia Department of Health 
• The Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services

More ways to finance assisted living

There are several options available to finance assisted living for yourself or a loved one. Long-term care can be financed in several ways:

• Life insurance - Some life insurance policies have a provision for long-term care benefits.
• Long-term care insurance - This type of insurance is intended to cover long-term health care needs for senior care by covering costs for assisted living or long-term care communities.
• Pensions, 401K, and IRA - If you have a pension, 401k, or an IRA to fall back upon this would be a great benefit in paying for assisted living costs.
• Real Estate - Having a home is a great source of income. When it is time to move into assisted living the sale proceeds from your home can cover the costs.
• Veteran’s benefits - While the VA will not directly cover the costs of assisted living facilities, you can obtain help from the VA under the Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits. The Aid & Attendance benefits help eligible veterans and their surviving spouses to pay for assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). Aid & Attendance benefits are often referred to by other names such as “improved pension,” “VA assisted living benefit,” or “veterans eldercare benefits.”

Free assisted living resources in Virginia

Virginia residents can explore state resources that can help answer your questions about certain types of benefits and how they might apply to assisted living.

Find your local Area Agency on Aging: There are multiple agencies per state, enter your zip code or city to find the one closest to you.

The Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs may be able to help you determine if your loved one is eligible for VA benefits.

Find Virginia Social Security offices where you can understand your benefits and get answers to your questions about claims.

Find Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman program where you can file a complaint anonymously for issues relating to long-term care.

Assisted living communities by Virginia city