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- Residential care facilities;
- Domiciliary homes;
- Rest homes; or
- Adult care homes.
They provide a "homelike" setting for older persons who need some supervision or assistance with activities of daily living. Generally, these homes are less expensive than nursing homes. Local aging networks are usually the source of consumer education on board and care facilities. Local agencies, such as local departments of social services, provide placement.
Board and care facilities have become controversial in recent years. Many are not regulated or inspected by state or local officials, creating the opportunity for less-than-optimal conditions to exist for their residents. Virginia does not regulate board and care facilities. Board and care facilities that house four or more persons are required to be licensed as an "assisted living facility" by the Department of Social Services.
For more information on this and other senior housing options, visit our Links section under the heading "Housing". You can also contact us for more information or assistance.
VDA staff can put you in touch with your local Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program helps people with specific concerns about long-term care service providers find solutions in a confidential manner.
