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Free personalized senior living guidance for families
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Virginia · Everything here is free · Reviewed July 2026
If you or someone you love is getting older in Virginia and money is tight, please take a breath. You are not alone, and there is real help out there — help that does not cost you anything. This page is written for older Virginians who have Medicare, Medicaid, or both, and who cannot afford to pay privately for senior living.
Not sure where to start? Call for free1-855-242-8282TTY 1-888-221-1590. The official state line to apply for Virginia Medicaid (Cardinal Care) and ask about coverage. Monday–Friday.
A lot of families call us feeling scared and overwhelmed. Maybe a parent is coming home from the hospital and needs care. Maybe the money that once felt like enough is stretching thinner every month. Whatever brought you here, the programs below are free, they are run or funded by the government and trusted nonprofits, and they exist for exactly this moment.
Take it one call at a time. You do not have to figure everything out today.
Tap what fits. You'll jump straight to the right help — no reading through the rest.
Still not sure? Just make the call above — they'll help you figure it out. One call is a great start.
Start here for most families
Here's news that surprises many families: Medicaid can help pay for care in your own home, not just in a nursing home.
Learn what you qualify for (Department of Social Services / Area Agency on Aging)
Ask your local Department of Social Services or your Area Agency on Aging about the Auxiliary Grant and the CCC Plus Waiver.
Virginia's Medicaid program is called Cardinal Care (you may have heard the older names “Medallion” or “CCC Plus” — it's all part of Cardinal Care now). It covers doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and — importantly — long-term care, both in nursing facilities and at home.
Who qualifies? Eligibility depends on your income, your assets, and your care needs. There are special rules for people 65+ and for people who need long-term care that let you keep more than you might expect. Income and asset limits change every year, so please don't count yourself out based on a number you heard from a neighbor. The only way to know is to ask.
Call Cover Virginia and a person will walk you through it, apply online at CommonHelp, or apply in person at your local Department of Social Services office.
If you're applying because you need long-term care, tell them that up front — it puts you on the right track from the start.
PACE is a wonderful option if it's available near you. It wraps all of a person's care — doctors, therapy, prescriptions, a day center, even rides to appointments — into one program, usually at little or no cost for those who qualify for Medicaid. It's designed to help people 55+ who need nursing-home-level care keep living in the community.
Good news: Virginia has many PACE programs, in regions including Richmond, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Roanoke, Salem, Charlottesville, Winchester, Alexandria, Lynchburg, Farmville, and the far southwest.
Ask your Area Agency on Aging, call Cover Virginia, or search the national PACE directory to find the program near you.
If you're on Medicare
If you have Medicare and a modest income, please read this part. You may be leaving money on the table.
Apply through Cover Virginia or your local Department of Social Services, or ask VICAP to help you.
Apply for the prescription drug subsidy through Social Security.
VICAP counselors can check all of these for you in one sitting.
Virginia's Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) gives free, one-on-one Medicare help from trained counselors who don't sell anything and aren't paid on commission. They can compare drug plans, untangle a confusing bill, help with appeals, and check whether you qualify for programs that lower your costs.
Reach a VICAP counselor, or search “VICAP” on the site. You can also reach VICAP through your local Area Agency on Aging.
Everyday essentials
SNAP
Helps buy groceries. Apply online at CommonHelp or through your local Department of Social Services.
Your Area Agency on Aging runs home-delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) and senior center lunches. Call the Eldercare Locator to get connected.
Dial 211 for local food pantries.
If rent is a struggle or your home no longer feels safe, help exists.
Area Agency on Aging
Can connect you to senior housing, home repair and safety programs, and energy bill assistance.
Virginia Housing
Rental resources for Virginians.
Dial 211 for local housing options.
If you're facing eviction or a housing problem, the legal help below can step in.
Guidance & protection
Virginia has a network of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) that serve every county and city. Think of your AAA as your local senior help desk: home-delivered meals, rides, help bathing and dressing, caregiver support, and guidance on what you qualify for. Virginia calls this the No Wrong Door system — no matter which door you knock on, they'll point you to the right help.
Call the Eldercare Locator, or visit Easy Access to find your agency.
Free legal help for Virginians age 60 and older with things like public benefits, Medicaid denials, guardianship, financial exploitation, and abuse or neglect.
If you believe an older adult is being abused, neglected, or financially exploited, call 24 hours a day.
If you or a loved one lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility and something isn't right, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a free advocate who works for the resident — not the facility. They help resolve complaints about care, dignity, and rights.
A free, confidential advocate for residents of long-term care facilities. Reach the program through DARS or find your local ombudsman online.
National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Locator
The national locator, an alternative way to find your local ombudsman.
Dial 211 for a real person who knows local Virginia resources.
Connects you to your local Area Agency on Aging.
Call Cover Virginia at 1-855-242-8282 to start a Medicaid (Cardinal Care) application, or apply at commonhelp.virginia.gov.
Call for free1-855-242-8282It's the name of Virginia's Medicaid program. It covers health care and long-term care for people with limited income and resources.
No. Medicare does not pay for room and board in assisted living. Medicaid's CCC Plus Waiver can pay for care services at home, and Virginia's Auxiliary Grant can help low-income seniors with approved assisted living costs.
Yes. Nearly every program on this page is designed for people living on Social Security or a small pension. Start with a call — you may qualify for more than you think.
Yes. The QMB Medicare Savings Program can pay your Part B premium (about $185/month) plus deductibles and copays. Call Cover Virginia or VICAP to apply.
Care at home means aides and services come to you so you can stay in your own place — often through the CCC Plus Waiver. A nursing home provides 24-hour care and is also covered by Medicaid when medically needed. Your Area Agency on Aging can help you weigh the choice.
Yes. VICAP (1-800-552-3402), your Area Agency on Aging (via 1-800-677-1116), and the Senior Legal Helpline (1-844-802-5910) are all free.
You've already done the hard part by looking for help. Please make one call today — even one — and let a real person guide you from there. These programs exist because Virginia wants its older residents cared for with dignity.
Program details, income limits, and contact information can change. The agencies linked above can confirm the most current specifics for your situation. This page is for general information and isn't legal or financial advice.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Program details, income limits, and contact information can change — the linked agencies confirm the most current specifics.