Assisted Living in Virginia: A Family Guide
What assisted living is called in Virginia, what it costs, how Medicaid can help, how to check a community’s license and inspections, and who to call if something goes wrong. Every fact links to the official source.
- Licensed communities on Lilisity
- 573 assisted living, 264 with memory care
- Typical cost
- $6,945 a month (state median, CareScout 2025)
- Long-term care ombudsman
- 1-804-565-16002
What assisted living is called in Virginia
- Assisted living facility: residential living care (level of service)The lighter level of care in a Virginia assisted living facility, for adults who need only a little help with daily activities.3
- Assisted living facility: assisted living care (level of service)The higher level of care, for adults who need at least moderate help with daily activities.3
Memory care rules
A resident with a serious cognitive impairment from dementia may be placed in a safe, secure environment, which is a special care unit. Before placing a resident there, the facility must get written approval, in this order: from the resident, if able to decide; else a guardian or legal representative; else a relative; or, if none is available, an independent physician who knows dementia. If that person says no, the facility cannot place or keep the resident in the unit.4
Questions to ask memory care about nights.
What assisted living costs in Virginia
The median cost of assisted living in Virginia is $6,945 a month, above the national median of $6,200 (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, collected July to November 2025). Prices vary with the apartment, the level of care and the community, so ask each one for its current rate sheet, including care-level fees.
If more care is needed later: nursing home costs in Virginia, with CareScout medians and the private-pay rates Virginia nursing homes publish.
Plan with our free tools: how long will the money last? and home care or assisted living?
Paying for assisted living in Virginia
Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Families pay from savings and income, long-term care insurance, or benefits such as VA Aid and Attendance (estimate it). Who actually pays for long-term care.
Medicaid. Medicaid does not pay rent or meals in assisted living. Whether Virginia Medicaid pays for care services in assisted living, and which communities accept it, is a question for the state Medicaid agency or your local Area Agency on Aging.
Auxiliary Grant. A monthly payment from the state for people with low incomes who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and live in an assisted living facility that accepts Auxiliary Grants. You apply through your local Department of Social Services, which has 45 days to process your application.5
How to check a community in Virginia
Look up a license. VDSS's Assisted Living Facility Search lets you look up licensed facilities by name, city or county, or ZIP code, and filter for special care units, assisted living care, and non-ambulatory residents. Search Virginia’s records.6
Lilisity shows Virginia’s inspection record on each community’s page where the state publishes one: the state’s own records, dated and linked to the official source.
Always visit in person, at a mealtime or in the evening if you can. Bring the tour scorecard and the 8 tour questions.
If something goes wrong
Complaints about care or conditions. VDSS takes complaints about licensed or unlicensed assisted living facilities through an online form. Nursing home complaints go to the Virginia Department of Health instead. file online.7
Abuse, neglect or exploitation. Call (888) 832-3858. How to report.8 If someone is in danger, call 911.
The long-term care ombudsman is a free advocate for residents of assisted living and nursing homes: they help resolve problems with a community, including move-out notices. Call 1-804-565-1600 or find your local ombudsman.2
Find assisted living in Virginia
Assisted living by city
Memory care by city
Every community and county in Virginia · 1 with verified resident testimonials
Common questions
The median is $6,945 a month (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025), compared with $6,200 nationally.
Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), Division of Licensing Programs.
VDSS takes complaints about licensed or unlicensed assisted living facilities through an online form. Nursing home complaints go to the Virginia Department of Health instead.
VDSS's Assisted Living Facility Search lets you look up licensed facilities by name, city or county, or ZIP code, and filter for special care units, assisted living care, and non-ambulatory residents.
Sources
- Licensing agency (dss.virginia.gov)
- Ombudsman (dars.virginia.gov)
- License types (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Memory care rules (law.lis.virginia.gov)
- Auxiliary Grant (dars.virginia.gov)
- License lookup (dss.virginia.gov)
- Complaints (dss.virginia.gov)
- Reporting abuse (dars.virginia.gov)
- CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (state medians)
Facts checked against these official sources on September 28, 2026. Rules and programs change; confirm with the agency before making a decision. General information, not legal or financial advice.
What will senior living cost, and how will we pay?
Our free guide shows the starting prices communities post for each kind of care, walks you through a monthly budget, and explains how insurance, VA benefits, Medicaid and Medicare can help.
Free guide · 16 pages
Paying for Senior Living
Costs by type of care, a monthly budget, and how insurance, the VA, Medicaid and Medicare help.