The 10 Best In-Home Care Services for Seniors in Virginia Beach, VA for 2023

The most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Beach has 457,672 residents. The senior community accounts for 14.2% of the population, which is a little smaller than the national average of 16.8%. Situated along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach is a vibrant coastal city that offers seniors miles of beaches, relaxed living with low crime rates and access to high-quality health care. Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital is high-performing in eight adult procedures and conditions, and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is high-performing in five specialties and 11 procedures and conditions, including geriatrics. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, seniors who need nonmedical personal care pay an average of $4,767 per month for home care services. Home health care may be a better option for those who need light medical services.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Virginia Beach– complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

Monthly home care costs in Virginia Beach are equal to the state average of $4,767 and $190 lower than the national average, according to Genworth Financial’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey. Rates in the city are affordable compared to several other cities in Virginia, including Blacksburg to the far west, Charlottesville in the north-central region and the capital of Richmond, just northwest of Virginia Beach. Rates in the far northern part of the state in Winchester average around $100 per month lower.

Home care is for seniors who need personal care and help with household chores, while home health care is for those requiring limited skilled nursing or rehabilitative therapies. In Virginia Beach, both of these services are equal in price. Adult day care offers daytime assistance and activities in a group setting and costs an average of $3,077 less than home care, making it an affordable alternative. Assisted living rates are $77 lower than in-home care and, with housing and meal costs included, may be a better option. Nursing homes charge $3,643 more per month for semiprivate accommodations.

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.