Local Government
Area Agencies on Aging
A great place to start is your local area on aging. You can usually find this by looking up “Area on Aging xxx County”
• You can also go to website eldercare.acl.gov to find local eldercare/services
County Resources
Fairfax County fairfaxcounty.gov/
Services for Older Adults: .fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/older-adults
You’ll find a translation option in the top right hand corner of each page.
Loudoun County loudoun.gov/1104/Adults-55
Prince William County pwcva.gov/department/area-agency-aging
Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging seniorsfirst.info/
Serving the Counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Warren, and the City of Winchester
State Government
Virginia Department of Social Services
The Virginia Department of Social Services website helps find local social services department. Local agencies can offer guidance on available home health services, eligibility, and application processes. The local departments can connect patients with appropriate resources and support within their community.
• Website: dss.virginia.gov/localagency/index.cgi
Virginia Medicaid
In Virginia’s Medicaid Managed Care program, you are a member of a Managed Care Organization (MCO). An MCO is a health plan with a group of doctors and other providers working together to give health services to its members. Your MCO will cover all Medicaid services you get now, including doctor visits, behavioral health services, nursing facility services and “waiver” services for community-based long term care. All MCOs meet Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements.
• dmas.virginia.gov/for-members/cardinal-care/managed-care-programs
Virginia Commonwealth Coordinated Care (CCC) Plus Medicaid Waver
The Virginia Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus Medicaid Waiver provides services to elderly residents and individuals with physical disabilities in the community to prevent the premature institutionalization of these groups. Many services are available via this waiver, including assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), such as bathing, grooming, dressing, light housecleaning, preparation of meals, and monitoring of medications.
• www.payingforseniorcare.com/virginia/medicaid-waivers/ccc-plus
Self-Directed Care
CCC+ allows for consumer direction of personal assistance services and respite care services, meaning eligible applicants can choose the caregiver from whom they receive services. This includes friends and select relatives. Spouses and legal guardians cannot be hired to provide care, but the adult children who wish to work as caregivers for their aging parents can be compensated for their caregiving efforts.
Medicaid and Medicare
Full Medicaid benefits are available via CCC+ and include behavioral health services and medical benefits. For those who are also on Medicare, there is an option to coordinate Medicaid and Medicare services through one health plan. However, one does not have to choose this option. (Those who are on both Medicaid and Medicare are commonly referred to as dual eligible.)
Managed Care
This statewide Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid waiver is a long-term managed care program that operates via six managed care organizations (MCOs). For those who are eligible, program participation is mandatory.
Office for Disability Programs
DARS administers programs which offer a broad range of services to individuals with disabilities to enhance opportunities for independent living. These programs allow individuals with the most severe disabilities to live independently and in many cases obtain and maintain employment. Strong support for these community based services (versus nursing home or other institutional care) exists in state government and the disability community. The Division for Community Living staff are available to provide technical assistance and consultation in a wide variety of areas, including: assistive technology, accessing community based services and independent living, personal assistive services, Medicaid, brain injury and spinal cord injury services, case management for people who have long term needs, accessing available resources and loans for Assistive Technology (AT), and the ADA.
You may contact the Division for Community Living Office to help you connect with the appropriate resource within their Division:
• Phone: # 1-800-552-5019
• Website: dars.virginia.gov/cbs