Residential Living vs. Assisted Living Care in Virginia
The short answer: Virginia licenses assisted living homes at two care levels. Residential living care is for people who need a little help with daily life. Assisted living care is for people who need moderate help or more.1 The level a home holds decides who it can care for, and for how long.
Why this matters for your parent
Needs change. If your mom moves into a home licensed only for residential living care and later needs more help with bathing, dressing or getting around, she may have to move again. A home licensed for assisted living care can keep caring for her as those needs grow, up to the limits Virginia sets.
How Virginia decides the level of help
Before move-in, every resident gets the Uniform Assessment Instrument, or UAI. It's a standard Virginia assessment of daily activities like bathing, dressing, eating and moving around.2 The results show which level of care your parent needs.
Overnight staffing differs too
Homes licensed for assisted living care must have staff awake and on duty overnight. Some smaller residential-living-only homes are allowed to have staff asleep on site instead.3
How to check a home's license
Ask the home directly, then confirm on the Virginia Department of Social Services licensing search, where you can also read inspection reports.4
Where Woodhaven fits
Woodhaven is approved for the assisted living care level. That means we can keep caring for your parent as their needs grow, within the limits Virginia sets. Questions? Send me a message or call (703) 861-6513.