Housing

Reston was designed from the start to offer housing options that allow anyone to live here for a lifetime regardless of age, health status, income, or race

Reston was designed from the start to offer housing options that allow anyone to live here for a lifetime regardless of age, health status, income, or race

For most people, aging in place means staying in my own home as I grow old regardless of what happens in terms of my health or frailty. The majority of older adults in the U.S. feel that way. That isn’t always easy to do.

Less than 1% of U.S. homes have features that support aging in place.

It’s a good idea to begin planning for aging in place early before there’s a crisis that may make it necessary for you to move elsewhere. In other words, you need to do scenario planning such as what would happen if I could no longer navigate the stairs or climb a stepladder to reach a high shelf. Are there modifications I can make to my home that would allow me to stay put?

If you own your own home, you may be able to make such modifications or you may be lucky that it was originally designed with that in mind. But sometimes, it’s necessary to explore other options such as an apartment, continuing care retirement or life plan community, independent living facility, assisted living or even a nursing home.

The decision to move from your existing home can depend on your need for constant health or long-term care, a wish for more social interaction with those of a similar age (often to combat loneliness), your inability to get around on your own or to use stairs, the danger of falling, affordability, or just the comfort of knowing that where you choose to live in is senior friendly and you are in a community where there is plenty of social connection.

The best advice if you own your own home is to begin planning early on what you might need or want to do.

Accessory Dwelling or Living Unit

Affordable Housing

Age-Restricted Housing

Apartment Living

Assisted Living

Board and Care Homes

Cohousing with Adult Children

Condominiums

Continuing Care/LifePlan Communities

Downsizing

Home Modification

Home Repairs

Home Sharing

Nursing Home

Right Sizing

Shelter for the Homeless

Accessory Dwelling or Living Units

Fairfax County recently permitted the building of accessory living units (ALUs), basically a second and usually smaller home on the same property with special permission. ADUs can be an attractive option for older adults or persons with disabilities who still have access to property because such units can be built to accommodate those with special needs.


Affordable Housing

In Reston, there are a number of options for seniors who need a lower cost, independent living option. These range from subsidized housing that often has long waiting lists to affordable apartments or town houses. For details, contact Fairfax County’s Office of Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

  • Cornerstones, a Reston nonprofit, owns and manages affordable housing, including some for older adults. 571-323-1420.

  • The Reston-based Fellowship Square Foundation provides subsidized housing to those over 65 or people with disabilities who qualify based on income (703) 860-2536:

    • Hunters Wood Fellowship House (703) 620-4450. TTY 800-828-1140

    • Lake Anne House (571) 496-8096. TTY 800-828-1140

While not solely for those over age 55, there are a number of apartments with reasonable rents for those with limited income and resources.

  • HousingApartments.org lists affordable housing in Reston such as Island Walk Cooperative that require prospective residents to meet income eligibility requirements and other guidelines specific to a housing authority. It also lists properties that are open to all residents needing affordable housing.

  • Fairfax County provides a listing of affordable rental housing for seniors with vacancies. It also offers a listing of current affordable housing options for all ages.

Age-Restricted Housing

Beyond affordable housing for those with limited income and resources, Reston does not have specific age-restricted developments. But there are several nearby as close as Herndon and Sterling.

Apartment Living

There are a variety of apartment rentals in Reston that are not age or income restricted and may have many different price ranges. Some buildings that are not senior specific may have social directors, indoor and outdoor pools, gyms and other amenities attractive to older adults who want to be amongst those of different ages. There are also many options for searching: Zillow, Trulia, Hot Pads to Apartments.com.

Assisted Living

For those older adults or persons with disabilities who need help with some activities of daily living such as mobility and everyday tasks or simply can no longer live completely on their own, assisted living is often the next best option for those who still want to live as independently as possible. By definition, assisted living provides personal care but not continuous medial attention like a nursing home. There are several assisted living facilities in Reston proper and nearby that charge an average monthly fee of $6,000 but most fees tend to be higher than that. It’s always a good idea to visit different facilities to see what they are like and to learn about the costs.

Virginia’s Department of Health Office of Licensure and Certification licenses and inspects assisted living facilities and reports can be found on their website. For guidance on the reports, contact the Northern Virginia Long-Term care Ombudsman Program at (703) 324-5861, TTY 711 or by email NVLTCOP@fairfaxcounty.gov.

  • AARP publishes a helpful checklist for consumers to use before moving to assisted living as do the associations that represent the industry.

Board and Care Homes

These are homes that are located in residential neighborhoods that are equipped and staffed to provide daily care for a small number of residents. While there are none in Reston, you can find them nearby in Vienna and McLean.

  • AARP has a good article about what to consider when comparing board and care homes with assisted living and ways to assess whether it’s a good fit for you or someone you care about.

  • The federal government’s Eldercare Locator lists area agencies that may help you find one nearby or you can ask at a local senior center or a certified senior advisor for help finding one.

Cohousing with Adult Children

While there are no cohousing developments currently in Reston, many older adults 65 to 79 live in multi-generational households with adult children in homes they own, while many over age 80 live in the homes of adult children. Often this is in an “in-law” suite.

Condominiums

Condominium purchases are an attractive option for many older adults. Again, you can find different price ranges. Some options that are popular among those over 55 are The Savoy and Stratford House both located near the Reston Town Center. Consult Zillow or a local realtor for a comprehensive listing of available condos.

Continuing Care/Life Plan Communities

For those with more substantial financial resources, sometimes moving to a place where all levels of housing, health and long-term care are available is very appealing. This kind of arrangement allows you to stay in the same community as your personal and medical needs change. While there is no facility in Reston exactly like this, many Reston residents have found a continuing care retirement community (CCRC)/life plan community nearby that meets their needs. In general, these types of facilities demand a buy-in or upfront fee plus a monthly payment according to a contract you accept.

  • Leading Age lists not-for-profit CCRCs/Life Plan communities in the area. For example, there are not-for-profit facilities in Ashburn and Alexandria.

  • The Positive Aging Sourcebook also lists Life Plan communities in our region.

Downsizing

Downsizing may mean giving up that home you’ve lived in for years so that you can age in place. It may be because of too many stairs or a feeling that you and/or your spouse no longer need that much space. The process of selling your house or moving to a smaller residence can be complicated and emotional. A very good article on creating a plan is available from National Church Residences, an Ohio-based nonprofit provider of housing and services for older adults.

There are a number of places in Reston or Herndon where you can donate possessions such as clothing, furniture scubas The Closet of Greater Herndon and the Bargain Loft.

Home Modification

Sometimes the best solution is to modify your home so that you can age in place even when you need long-term services and supports. Many improvements are meant to prevent falls or to enable someone with a disability can move about easily.

  • The National Council on Aging has a Home Safety for Older Adults website page that contains a checklist and many valuable tips for ensuring your home is suitable for aging in place.

  • The federal Eldercare Locator offers a Modifying Your Home for Healthy Aging brochure that is filled with helpful information and photos.

  • The National Institute on Aging has an aging in place infographic that is helpful.

  • AARP has a HomeFit Guide that offers ideas on making improvements with a questionnaire that covers kitchens, bathrooms, steps, ramps and similar topics. It also tells you about do-it-yourself fixes and those that require skilled expertise.

  • You may find a home modification and repair provider near you in the Home Modification Information National Directory.

  • Hiring an occupational therapist to make recommendations about what will meet both current and future needs (ask your doctor for a recommendation).

For external modifications such as a ramp when you live in a place where homeowner associations have architectural rules, you will want to check with your association on whether its design will meet its rules and those of the Reston Association.

Home Repairs

Some local organizations will help older homeowners with free minor repairs by vetted and trained volunteers such as replacing a screen or simple electrical or plumbing repairs. There are also online options such as NextDoor to find such help but be mindful that you have no way of knowing whether someone is trustworthy or not.

Not doing planned maintenance to your home can be very expensive and could make it harder to age in place there. You may want to hire a certified home inspector, just as you would when selling your home, to take a hard look and make recommendations

  • Home Repair for the Elderly Program offers minor home repairs for eligible low and moderate income elderly in Fairfax County. The County will provide one week’s crew and up to $500 for materials. (703) 246-5179 TTY711

  • Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia has volunteers who will do small repairs at your home. While there is no charge for labor and the program is open to any older adult, you would have to pay for any materials. (703) 291-0067

  • Habitat for Humanity partners with TruBlue Total House Care to provide repairs and/or modifications to low-income individuals who are 62 and older and live in a single-family home or townhome in Fairfax County. These include but are not limited to threshold replacement, bathroom fixture replacements and grab bar installation.

Home Sharing

Home sharing is an arrangement by which two or more people share a dwelling within which each person retains their own private space.

Nursing Home

A nursing home or skilled nursing facility is for those people who can no longer perform three activities of daily living, such as toileting, grooming, or feeding oneself and who need round the clock nursing care that they can no longer receive at home. Most nursing homes also offer rehabilitation services which, unlike custodial or long-term care, may be covered by Medicare. While there is no nursing home in Reston, there are some nearby. The average cost of nursing home care in Virginia is about $8,000 a month for a semi-private room although this is likely far higher in our area.

To find a current list of nearby homes and compare their quality or overall star ratings, visit Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare tool. Among other things, the government program includes data on annual nursing staff turnover and staffing rates.

It’s a good idea to read the National Institute on Aging’s How to Choose a Nursing Home before beginning your search and tours. There is no substitute for visiting a home before you choose and experts say to pay special attention to and ask questions of staff and your medical providers.

25 Common Nursing Home Problems and How to Solve Them. This Justice in Aging guide identifies facility falsehoods, explains relevant law, and offers step-by-step instructions for protecting resident rights and securing better care.

If you or someone you care about is living in a nursing home and is concerned about the quality of care, the Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is there to help. Call (703) 324-5961 or e-mail NVLTCOP@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Right-Sizing or Decluttering

Over time, individuals fill their homes with touching memories connected to possessions that ultimately may grow unwieldy at some point. Reducing clutter also becomes a matter of safety and improved mobility. Professionals can help with decluttering, organizing room by room, drawer by drawer, and/or preparing for a move to a smaller space.

For tips about decluttering, Fairfax County offers help. In the extreme, the situation could be hoarding, which is considered to be a mental illness or a medical condition that may require evaluation and treatment. For more information, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America offers help.

Shelter for the Homeless

Cornerstones, a non-profit organization in Reston, manages a number of programs that help those with low income find housing, food and urgent help. This nonprofit also operates Embry Rucker Shelter, Reston’s homeless shelter, which offers emergency housing for individuals and families. (571) 323-9555

Fairfax County has an office that can help solve problems facing those who are homeless or about to be. (703) 246-5000 | TTY 711