Nursing Homes and Senior Care in Virginia

Nursing Homes by City in Virginia

The Virginia cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 146 cities are listed below the table. Homes in Virginia average 3.8 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in Virginia

Homes with CMS's top overall rating, ordered by inspection rating. See all highest-rated nursing homes in Virginia.

Assisted Living in Virginia

Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Licensing Programs licenses assisted living in Virginia. License types: Assisted Living Facility. Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• Virginia assisted living facility search
• Virginia assisted living rules
• Virginia assisted living licensing (Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Licensing Programs)

Memory Care Rules in Virginia

Virginia's term is "Safe, Secure Environment (special care unit)"; it isn't a separate license, but rules apply to facilities that offer dementia care. Facilities must give families a written disclosure of their dementia care services.

• A safe, secure environment is 'a self-contained special care unit for residents with serious cognitive impairments due to a primary psychiatric diagnosis of dementia who cannot recognize danger or protect their own safety and welfare.' A facility may have one or more units, or the whole facility may be a special care unit (22VAC40-73-10).
• Before placing a resident in a safe, secure environment, the facility must obtain written approval from the resident if capable, or else a guardian or legal representative, a relative in a set order of priority, or an independent physician skilled in dementia. If one of these persons disapproves, the resident may not be placed or retained in the unit (22VAC40-73-1100).
• At least 21 hours of scheduled activities must be available each week for no less than two hours each day, with a designated activities staff person on site in the unit at least 20 hours a week (22VAC40-73-1120).
• Except during night hours, when 20 or fewer residents are present, at least two direct care staff members must be awake and on duty at all times in each special care unit, plus one more for every additional 10 residents. At night, at least two direct care staff for 22 or fewer residents, three for 23 to 32, and four for 33 to 40 (22VAC40-73-1130).
• The administrator must attend at least 12 hours of training in cognitive impairment within three months of starting, and direct care staff in the unit must attend at least 10 hours within four months of starting (22VAC40-73-1140).
• Doors that lead to unprotected areas must be monitored or secured through devices such as door alarms, cameras, constant staff oversight, security bracelets, pressure pads, delayed egress mechanisms, locking devices or perimeter fence gates. Bedroom, bathroom and common-area windows must have protective devices so they cannot open wide enough for a resident to crawl through (22VAC40-73-1150).
• Facilities that care for adults with serious cognitive impairments in a mixed population (outside a safe, secure environment) must meet separate staffing, staff training, door and window, outdoor access, indoor walking area and environmental precaution rules (22VAC40-73-1010 through 1070).

• Virginia memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in Virginia

Virginia's Medicaid program is Cardinal Care (Virginia Medicaid). For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an income limit of $2,982 (300% SSI Limit, effective 1/1/2026) and an asset limit of $2,000 for one person (ABD resource limit). Residents keep a personal needs allowance of $40 (Personal Needs Allowance, Nursing Facility).

• Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC Plus) Waiver: in-home care and respite. For older adults, individuals with a physical disability, and individuals who are chronically ill or severely impaired who, without waiver services, would require admission to a nursing facility or a prolonged hospital stay. Applicants request a long-term services and supports screening through their local Department of Social Services and must be eligible for Medicaid.

• Cardinal Care (Virginia Medicaid) nursing facility coverage
• Virginia Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in Virginia

Virginia Department of Health, Office of Licensure and Certification, Division of Long-Term Care Services inspects nursing homes in Virginia for CMS. To file a complaint, call 1-800-955-1819 or use the state's complaint page.

• Virginia nursing home inspection lookup
• File a nursing home complaint in Virginia

Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. Ombudsmen help with complaints, residents' rights and problems with care. Call 800-552-5019.

• Contact the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in Virginia

Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division for Aging Services runs Virginia's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through Caregiver Support programs administered by the Area Agencies on Aging (respite, caregiver support groups, individual counseling). Adult day services are licensed or certified by Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Licensing Programs.

• Virginia aging services: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Division for Aging Services
• Area Agencies on Aging in Virginia
• Caregiver support in Virginia: Caregiver Support programs administered by the Area Agencies on Aging (respite, caregiver support groups, individual counseling)
• Virginia adult day services

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to choose a nursing home, what memory care is, how Medicaid pays for nursing home care and what Medicare covers. For local help, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

Frequently Asked Questions