Long Term Services & Supports

The nearest adult day health care center is in nearby Herndon adjacent to the town’s senior center.

The nearest adult day health care center is in nearby Herndon adjacent to the town’s senior center.

Because you may develop chronic conditions as you age in place, you may be unable to do many things you used to do around the house. You need to plan for the possibility that you may need some type of in-home help or what are called home and community-based services and sometimes long-term care.

When someone talks about long-term care, you may think they are referring to care in a nursing home or assisted living facility. However, far more people receive long term care services and supports (LTSS) at home.

LTSS may include housework, taking medication, transportation, meal preparation, caring for a pet, or in-home nursing care. For example, you may need a helping hand such as a minor home repair, an occasional telephone check-in or assistance with chores. Consult the Help Around the House section below for access to local nonprofits that can provide that kind of support.

You need long-term care when you are having serious difficulty with what are called activities of daily living. These may include help with getting dressed or out of bed, bathing, toileting or incontinence, medication management, transferring in and out of bed, making or even eating meals. Often, that kind of support means hiring an agency or individual to help with home care or home health care.

For caregivers, adult day care can be a lifesaver. And knowing that a parent or grandparent has a prepared meal or can sit down and eat with others when they can no longer cook is incalculable .

Sometimes finding what you need and when you need it requires someone to help you figure out next steps. You may want to look for a certified senior advisor who can advise you on what resources would be most helpful. Finding Help will lead you to those who can also provide guidance.

Adult Day Care

Companion Care

Connections

Continuing Care at Home

Help around the House

Home Care

Home Health Care

Meals on Wheels/Congregate Meals

Finding Help

Adult Day Care

Adult day care can provide a caregiver with a break and also give older adults a way to socialize with others. Adult day care centers often offer meals or snacks or transportation to and from the facility. AARP has a good article on what to look for.

National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA). Provides information and listings of local adult day care centers.

Companion Care

Companion care is a form of home care that offers non-medical services to older adults or persons with disabilities. Companions are often provided by businesses or nonprofits and may help with a variety of tasks such as cooking or light housekeeping as well as socialization and other support.

See Finding Help section below for help in finding the right agency or individual.

Connections

Organizing all the connections you have and creating a matrix of those who might help with various needs that help you age in place is worth the effort. For example, is there a close friend or family member who might give you a ride to the doctor’s or check in on you from time to time. If you belong to a faith community, do they have people who volunteer to help those who are elderly or who have disabilities? Creating such an inventory is a way to have our own personal village.
 

Continuing Care at Home

  • Goodwin Living at Home offers several financial plans that provide coverage for long-term care costs and coordination of care while you continue to live at home. In other words, it enables members to age in place rather than move to a retirement community. (703) 575-5202

Help Around the House

  • Reston Useful Services Exchange enables neighbors to help each other through the exchange of services, a type of barter or “time bank” system. Repayment is in kind, by performing services for other USE members. Services like handyman repairs, gardening, telephoning, pet care, shopping, or chores. You can become a member by signing up online for a $15 fee for individuals; $25 for a household. (703) 873-7578

Home Care

Home care offers non-medical help that is delivered at such as household tasks (cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc.), errands, scheduling appointments, or companionship. While you can try to find an individual who provides home care on your own, there are multiple area public agencies or online businesses that can help you find a good fit. AARP has a helpful article online on how to hire a home care aide.

Home care is not covered by Medicare but may be covered by a long-term care insurance policy. Virginia Medicaid will pay for some home care services in order to keep you out of a nursing home.

  • Home Care Registry is a Fairfax County service that lists screened, non-agency individuals who offer companionship and help with activities of daily living. It is updated monthly. Call (703) 324-7800 TTY between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, if you would like a copy mailed to you.

  • In-home care services are offered by the County and are subject to eligibility. (703) 324-5861 TTY 711

  • Virginia Association of Home Care and Hospice has a directory of members in the area.

  • See Finding Help section below for help in finding the right agency or individual.

  • Check out our Partners page

Home Health Care

Home health care services include skilled nursing care, as well as other medical care such as physical, occupational or respiratory therapy, speech-language therapy, or help in addressing medical-social needs. Services are generally covered by Medicare, Medicaid or long-term care insurance and delivered by health care professionals.

  • Medicare.gov provides a compare tool that lists Medicare-certified home health care agencies in the Reston area. You can see Medicare Star ratings that measures quality of care (five being the best).

  • See Finding Help section below for help in finding the right agency.

  • Check out our Partners page for those organizations that sponsor Reston for a Lifetime.

Meals on Wheels/Congregate Meals

Fairfax County’ Area Agency on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program provides 11 nutritious meals a week for residents 60 and over or those with disabilities who cannot shop or prepare their own meals. The program is targeted to those with greatest need or who may be at risk for institutionalization. (703) 324-7948 TTY711

The County also sponsors congregate meal programs in area senior centers such as the Herndon Senior Center. The center has an annual membership fee and serves hot lunches that require a donation based on ability to pay.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal nutrition assistance program for low-income older adults and others. If you are over age 60 and have no earned income, you may be eligible for benefits. You can apply by visiting the Virginia Department of Social Services site or call (833) 522-5582 for help with application.

Finding Help

There are lots of businesses that offer online help to those looking for long term services and supports. Many provide listings of providers who may or may not be paying for them. Start with government or nonprofits that offer help with your search such as those listed here.

  • The Eldercare Locator is the only national information and referral service providing information and resources on housing, transportation and home and community-based services to older Americans and people with disabilities. Its national call center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. (800) 677-1116.

  • Fairfax County Services for Older Adults. The local area agency on aging maintains comprehensive listings of services and supports from adult day health care to memory care, meals on wheels and in-home care and much more. The county offers a Services for Older Adults hotline that can connect you to dozens of resources. Call (703) 324-7948. TTY 711

    •  Virginia Navigator. The area agency’s navigator not only includes caregiving resources but also other services, such as housing and transportation help. A needs assessment tool can help direct you to nearby resources. Same phone number as above.

  • ENDependence Center is a community-based resource run by people with disabilities that offers independent living training, information and support as well as durable medical equipment for people of any age. (703) 525-3268. TTY (703) 525-3553

  • No Wrong Door Virginia. This is a state-wide network of partners supporting older adults, their caregivers for those seeking long term care services and supports. NoWrongDoor@dars.virginia.gov