Home Care in Virginia

The average starting cost of home care in Virginia is $32 per hour, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. Based on our ranking methodology, the top-rated home care agencies in Virginia are Ready 2 Serve Home Health Care LLC - Alexandria, VA, Seniors Helping Seniors of Hampton Roads, VA or Griswold Home Care for Northern Virginia East, VA. Home care can help older adults remain in familiar surroundings while receiving support with personal care, meals, companionship, and everyday routines.

From Virginia Beach and Richmond to Norfolk and Alexandria, provider availability can differ across the state. Families often compare caregiver reliability, scheduling flexibility, communication, and whether services can adjust as their loved one’s needs change.

Home care provides nonmedical support with activities such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, and companionship. Home health care is different because it includes medical services delivered by licensed health professionals. Some companies provide both, but A Place for Mom’s network consists of nonmedical home care providers. A Place for Mom partners with 338 home care agencies in Virginia to help families compare local options.

Home care in Virginia costs $32 per hour, compared with the national average of $32. Rates can differ by community based on caregiver availability, travel distance, and local demand.^[01] What a family pays will also depend on the agency, the services provided, and how often care is scheduled.

Monthly expenses depend largely on the number and length of caregiver visits. A lighter schedule may provide enough time for companionship, meal preparation, errands, or help around the house. Someone who needs regular assistance with bathing, dressing, mobility, or other personal care may need more frequent visits.

• Part-time care (20 hours/week): $2,704 per month
• Full-time care (44 hours/week): $5,949 per month

Home care rates in Virginia may also be affected by:

• The type and amount of help your loved one needs
• Specialized support, such as dementia care
• The number and length of visits
• Evening, overnight, weekend, or holiday schedules
• 24-hour or live-in care
• Caregiver experience and training
• The availability of caregivers in the local area
• Agency minimum-hour requirements

Virginia families may use private funds, public benefits, or a combination to pay for nonmedical home care. Depending on eligibility, VA benefits or Virginia Medicaid’s CCC Plus Waiver may help cover some support delivered at home.

Private pay options

Private pay can give families more control over the agency, schedule, and type of assistance their loved one receives. Families may rely on one payment source or combine several. Common private payment sources include:

• Social Security benefits
• Savings, investments, or pensions
• Long-term care insurance
• Life insurance conversion
• Reverse mortgages

VA benefits

Eligible veterans and surviving spouses in Virginia may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that help with care at home. Depending on the program, this support may include help with daily activities, temporary relief for family caregivers, or additional pension payments that can be used toward care.

Veterans enrolled in VA health care may qualify for home- and community-based services, including:^[02,03,04]

• Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care, which may provide help with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and other daily activities
• Respite Care, which provides short-term support while giving family caregivers time away from caregiving responsibilities

Eligibility and availability can vary based on the veteran’s needs and local VA resources. Some veterans may also have a copay.

VA Aid and Attendance provides additional monthly pension payments to eligible veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities or are largely confined to their homes. Families may be able to use these funds toward the cost of nonmedical home care.^[05]

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services can help veterans and their families understand benefits, prepare claims, and connect with accredited assistance.^[06]

Read more: Home Care Options for Veterans: Eligibility and Services

Virginia Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps eligible people pay for health care and long-term services. Virginia Medicaid’s Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC Plus) Waiver provides home- and community-based care for people who would otherwise need care in a nursing facility or certain specialized medical facilities. The waiver serves people of all ages and does not have a waiting list.^[07,08]

Depending on assessed needs and an approved plan, services that may support someone at home include:^[08]

• Personal care and help with activities of daily living
• Respite care
• Personal emergency response systems
• Assistive technology
• Environmental modifications

Personal care and respite can be provided through agency-directed or consumer-directed models. With Consumer Direction, the member or designated representative takes on employer responsibilities such as hiring, training, managing, and, if needed, terminating the attendant.^[08,10]

Certain legally responsible individuals, including a participant’s spouse, may be paid to provide qualifying personal care when program requirements are met. The care must be extraordinary in nature, limited to approved activities of daily living, and subject to other program limits.^[11]

Access depends on Medicaid financial eligibility and an LTSS screening. Screening considers the help a person needs with activities of daily living, ongoing medical or nursing needs, and the risk of nursing facility admission or hospitalization without services and supports.^[08,09]

Read more: Medicaid Home Health Care and Nonmedical Home Care: Your Questions, Answered

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. It may cover limited help with bathing, dressing, grooming, or toileting when your loved one is also receiving qualifying skilled care through Medicare’s home health benefit. Medicare generally doesn’t pay for ongoing personal care, companionship, meal preparation, or housekeeping when those are the only services needed.^[12]

Read more: Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?

Virginia licenses home care organizations through the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Licensure and Certification. A home care organization may provide home health services, nonmedical personal care services, or both. Because A Place for Mom’s network consists of nonmedical home care providers, the information below focuses on personal care services provided in a person’s residence.^[13,14]

Does Virginia require home care agencies to have a license?

Yes. A business that meets Virginia’s definition of a home care organization must be licensed by the Virginia Department of Health. Personal care services provided in a person’s residence fall within the state’s home care organization framework.^[13,14]

Does Virginia conduct inspections of home care agencies?

Yes. The Home Care and Hospice Unit conducts state licensure inspections of home care organizations and investigates complaints. Virginia’s Division of Acute Care Services also monitors compliance through on-site inspections.^[13]

How to check licensing and inspection reports for home care agencies in Virginia

Use the Virginia Department of Health’s OLC Portal to confirm whether an agency is actively licensed and view license information available online. Inspection records are state records and can be requested through the department’s centralized public-records process.^[15] Licensed agencies must meet requirements related to:

• Staff qualifications
• Safety protocols
• Care standards

Some agencies may also seek voluntary accreditation from organizations such as The Joint Commission, which can indicate a commitment to meeting nationally recognized quality standards.^[16]

What are hiring practices for home care agencies in Virginia?

Virginia requires home care organizations to screen and document workers before they provide care. Compensated employees must complete a sworn criminal-history disclosure, and the agency must obtain a Virginia State Police criminal record report, generally within 30 days of employment. Agencies must also verify required professional credentials and provide job-specific orientation.^[17,18]

Personal care services must be supervised by a registered nurse or another qualified health professional, and home attendants who provide personal care must receive at least 12 hours of in-service training each year.^[19]

When comparing agencies, ask about background checks, reference checks, caregiver training, supervision, backup care, and how the agency handles complaints or missed visits.

Choosing a home care agency is easier when you understand how caregivers are selected, how care will be supervised, and what happens when plans change. Look for a provider that communicates clearly, explains its policies, and can offer the services and schedule your family needs. Consider the following as you compare agencies:

• Verify licensing. Confirm that the provider has a current Virginia home care organization license that covers the services it provides. A Place for Mom verifies the licensing status of agencies in its network twice each year.
• Review caregiver screening. Ask about criminal background checks, reference checks, and how the agency handles concerns about a caregiver.
• Ask about training. Find out what caregivers learn before working independently and whether they receive ongoing education.
• Read reviews and testimonials. Look for patterns in feedback about reliability, communication, compassion, and caregiver consistency.
• Request clear pricing information. Ask about hourly rates, minimum service requirements, weekend or holiday rates, overnight care, cancellation fees, and additional charges.
• Confirm available services. Make sure the agency can provide the support your loved one needs, such as companionship, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, or dementia care.
• Ask how care is supervised. Find out who manages the care plan, how often supervisors check in, and whom your family should contact if your loved one’s needs change.
• Plan for backup care. Ask what the agency does when a scheduled caregiver is sick, late, or unable to visit.
• Meet potential caregivers. A good personality fit can help your loved one feel more comfortable receiving support at home.

A Place for Mom helps families compare home care agencies and find providers that match their loved one’s care needs, budget, and preferences. In states that require nonmedical home care agencies to be licensed, A Place for Mom verifies the licensing status of agencies in its network twice each year.

Read more: How to Choose a Home Care Agency