Home Care in Woodbridge, VA

With its peaceful small-town feel, abundance of natural beauty and proximity to Washington, D.C.’s museums, restaurants and services, Woodbridge is a great place to spend your retirement years. This census-designated place is home to almost 4,700 residents, about 9.8% of whom are aged 65 and older.

Woodbridge is located in Prince William County, an area known for its more than 4,400 acres of public parks and walking trails. The County’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism department operates a number of swimming pools, community centers and golf courses, and as a senior, you’re eligible for reduced fees at all county-run recreational facilities.

You’ll also be happy to know that there are a number of top-ranked hospitals and health care facilities in the Woodbridge area, including the 183-bed Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center. Specialized clinics at this nonprofit hospital include a primary stroke center, heart and vascular center, urology clinic and 24-hour emergency department.

Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey shows that on average, seniors in Woodbridge pay $4,601 per month for home care services. Home health care services are slightly costlier at $4,767 per month, since this type of care also includes some basic medical services such as monitoring of vital signs and catheter care.

The rates documented in the Genworth Survey are based on 44 hours of care per week, which may not reflect the number of hours of support you require. To get an idea of what your costs would be, you can simply multiply the average hourly rate of $24.13 for home care, or $25 for home health care, by the number of hours of care you expect you’ll need.

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

Rates for in-home care in Woodbridge are more affordable than in Charlottesville, where seniors pay an average of $5,148 for either home care or home health care. The cost in Richmond falls about midrange between the averages paid in Woodbridge, at $4,671 per month for both types of care. Further to the south in Virginia Beach, the identical rates for home care and home health care are much lower at an average of $3,813 per month.

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.

OmniRide Public Transit

What You Should Know
OmniRide is the public transit provider for Prince William County, and all its buses are fully ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible. OmniRide operates a number of bus routes that serve Woodbridge, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., that you can use to travel to medical appointments, go shopping or explore the region’s many parks and museums.

OmniRide also operates the regional paratransit service for those who can’t use the regular fixed-route service due to disability or health issues. Paratransit service is available on weekdays from 5:25 a.m. to 8:15 p.m., except on holidays.

Who Is Eligible?
Anyone can use OmniRide’s transit services, and as a senior aged 60 or older, you qualify for discounted fares during off-peak weekday hours, which are from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and after 7 p.m.

To use the paratransit service, you need to complete OmniRide’s eligibility process in accordance with ADA guidelines. If you qualify, a care attendant can accompany you at no additional cost.

How to Get Started
To learn more about OmniRide fixed-route and paratransit services, call the customer service line at (703) 730-6664.

Neighborhood Housing Rehabilitation Program

What You Should Know
Keeping up with home repairs can be a challenge, and that’s especially true for low- and moderate-income seniors. The Neighborhood Housing Rehabilitation Program is designed to help keep owner-occupied homes throughout Prince William County well-maintained and code-compliant.

This program provides money to qualified homeowners who need financial assistance to improve the energy-efficiency, safety and curb appeal of their homes. The funds can also be used to restore landscaping, install wheelchair ramps and other mobility aids, remove lead paint and eliminate tripping hazards, such as loose carpeting and damaged flooring.

Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for home repair funds through the Neighborhood Housing Rehabilitation Program, you must own and occupy a home within Prince William County. Your gross household income can’t be greater than 80% of the adjusted median income for the Washington, D.C., area, and the repairs and upgrades you’d like to use the funds toward must be approved by the program administrators.

How to Get Started
For more information, contact the Prince William County Office of Housing and Community Development at (703) 492-2303.

Legal Services of Northern Virginia

What You Should Know
Legal Services of Northern Virginia is a nonprofit law firm that provides legal information, advice and representation on civil matters. Legal professionals with the LSNV’s Elder Law Practice Group conduct regular information workshops to help seniors learn about their legal rights.

LSNV helps seniors who need legal assistance with Medicare and Medicaid coverage, public benefits such as food stamps and tax exemptions, consumer issues and elder abuse. The LSNV can also offer limited help with advance directives for seniors, including wills, medical and durable powers of attorney, and living wills.

Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for free legal assistance through LSNV, you must be a senior aged 60 or older who’s unable to afford the cost of a lawyer.

How to Get Started
To learn more about LSNV’s Elder Law services, call (703) 778-6800 or (866) 534-5243.

In-Home Assistance

What You Should Know
The Area Agency on Aging for Prince William County’s In-Home Assistance program helps seniors remain safe and comfortable in their own homes. Services available through this program include in-home help with activities of daily living, such as preparing meals, toileting and grooming, and transferring in and out of bed.

The program also includes professional care coordination services. A case manager works with each senior and their family to determine what supports are needed, and to help secure funding for in-home care.

Who Is Eligible?
Any senior who lives in Prince William County can contact the In-Home Assistance program for an assessment.

How to Get Started
For more information, call the Prince William Area Agency on Aging at (703) 792-6374.

Nutrition Services

What You Should Know
It can be hard to maintain a healthy diet at any age, and that’s especially true for seniors who live independently in the community. To help ensure that seniors have access to nutritious meals, the Prince William Area Agency on Aging operates two nutrition programs for older adults.

The Agency runs the regional Meals on Wheels service, which provides homebound participants with a hot, home-delivered meal each weekday for just $1.50 per meal. Alternatively, seniors can enjoy a hot lunch at either the Manassas or Woodbridge senior center on Monday through Friday, and these meals also cost $1.50 each.

Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for either Meals on Wheels or a hot lunch at the local senior center, you need to be aged 60 or older. The Meals on Wheels service is geared toward those who have difficulty leaving their home due to mobility issues or other medical concerns.

How to Get Started
To learn more about Prince William Area Agency on Aging’s nutrition programs, call (703) 792-6374.