Home Care in Fairfax, VA

Fairfax’s population of approximately 24,019 features a healthy number of seniors: More than 14% of the city’s residents are age 65 or older. The population is diverse and trends toward well educated.

Those who choose to live in Fairfax enjoy the city’s two dozen parks, which together provide roughly 200 acres of outdoor space to enjoy. The city also features recreational trails for walking, jogging and bicycling. Residents interested in history have access to tours and educational programs through Fairfax itself and through Northern Virginia’s wider offerings. Another attractive feature is the presence of many restaurants and coffee shops. As for public safety, Fairfax has been noted for its low rates of property and violent crime.

Fairfax is home to the Young at Heart Senior Center, where older individuals can make use of a fitness facility and take part in fulfilling programs. Additionally, Fairfax provides tax breaks on real estate and rent relief to residents who are age 65 or older and meet certain other eligibility requirements.

Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey estimates that home care in Fairfax costs $24.13 per hour, and home health care costs $25.00 per hour, on average. Those translate to typical monthly costs of $4,601 and $4,767 for 44 hours of home care and home health care, respectively.

Costs can go up and down depending on care needs. For instance, an individual requiring around-the-clock care, or 168 hours per week, would pay an average of $17,567 for home care and $18,201 for home health care each month. At 20 hours per week, those projections drop to $2,091 and $2,167, respectively.

Note: Data for Fairfax was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Washington, D.C., was used instead.

The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities

Home care and home health care are more expensive in Fairfax than in some nearby cities, such as Winchester, where home care is $4,242 and home health care is $4,385 per month on average. However, Fairfax’s costs are roughly in line with Richmond’s. There, seniors can expect to pay around $4,671 per month for either type of care. In terms of price, Fairfax compares favorably to Charlottesville, where both types of care carry an average monthly cost of $5,148, which is several hundred dollars more than costs in Fairfax.

Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.

NV Rides

What You Should Know
NV Rides helps Northern Virginia’s elderly population access transportation so that they can travel to grocery stores, doctor’s offices and other destinations. The organization’s drivers are volunteers who provide kindness and conversation along with rides. The volunteers undergo background checks and receive training.

NV Rides was established in 2014 and has helped transport thousands of seniors. Based at the Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, which is in Fairfax, the organization has received a grant from the Federal Transit Administration.

Who Is Eligible?
NV Rides works with partner organizations to serve seniors who live throughout Northern Virginia. It focuses on helping non-driving seniors.

How to Get Started
To begin the process of accessing a ride, you can use the color-coded map on this page to find an NV Rides partner network nearby. That page has a contact button to reach the organization as well. NV Rides is also reachable by phone at (703) 537-3071. To schedule a ride, let your partner network know the date and time of the ride request. The day before the ride, the driver will call to touch base.

Fairfax Area Meals on Wheels Program

What You Should Know
The Fairfax Area Meals on Wheels Program provides seniors with two meals, five days per week. Meals are delivered daily or three times per week, depending on location. The program offers vegetarian meals that make use of soy-based proteins. In certain locations, ethnically Vietnamese meals are also available. The meals are delivered by community volunteer groups contracted by Fairfax County.

Who Is Eligible?
This program serves the seniors of Fairfax County and the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax. To be eligible, you must be 60 years of age or older. The program targets its services toward those with economic and social needs as well as individuals at risk of institutional placement. Participants can contribute monetarily toward the meals’ cost; however, anyone unable to prepare their own meals can continue to receive meal deliveries regardless.

How to Get Started
To request service, refer someone or receive information, the number to call is (703) 324-5409, TTY 711. Your family members, caregiver, friends and medical professionals can also make referrals. Early in the enrollment process, you will receive a home visit assessment from a social worker.

Home-Delivered Nutrition Services Program

What You Should Know
Another way you can receive meals is through the Home-Delivered Nutrition Services Program. It is operated by Virginia’s Office for Aging Services, which is part of the Division for Community Living. Clients enrolled in this program receive both meals and safety checks, plus an opportunity for face-to-face interaction with another person. Additionally, clients gain access to other nutrition-related support services, such as education, screening and counseling.

Who Is Eligible?
The program is open to isolated or homebound individuals who are 60 years of age or older. Other eligibility requirements include an inability to prepare meals and a lack of access to nutrition through other means. In certain situations, caregivers, spouses and individuals with disabilities may also be eligible.

How to Get Started
If you’re interested in this program, the person to contact is Kelly Wright, who can be reached at (804) 662-9319 or [email protected].

The Home Repair for the Elderly Program

What You Should Know
The Home Repair for the Elderly Program, which is run by Fairfax County, facilitates minor home repairs. Though the program cannot perform emergency repairs, it does handle minor repairs to electrical systems, plumbing, windows, doors, gutters and downspouts. Additional services include grab bar and handrail installations as well as electric hot water heater repairs and replacements. You can access a Fairfax County–provided labor crew for up to one week and $500 in materials. The services are provided free of charge.

Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible, you must be a Fairfax County resident who is 62 years of age or older. Individuals with disabilities or those residing with a family member with a disability are also eligible. Certain financial eligibility limits apply; for instance, a two-person household cannot make more than $63,700.

How to Get Started
To learn more, you can call the Home Repair for the Elderly Program at (703) 246-5179, TTY 711. Another option is to email [email protected].

In-Home Care

What You Should Know
Fairfax County also offers in-home care services that are delivered through a pair of programs: Adult Services and ElderLink, which gives seniors access to a care manager. Additionally, the county’s Home Care Registry acts as a database of screened home care providers.

Who Is Eligible?
An assessment by a social worker determines eligibility for Adult Services. ElderLink is available based on a sliding income scale. The Home Care Registry is freely available.

How to Get Started
To receive help figuring out if ElderLink or Adult Services is right for you, call the Aging, Disability & Caregiver Resources Line at (703) 324-7948, TTY 711. You can also receive a hard copy of the Home Care Registry by calling that number. Alternatively, the registry itself is online here.