Assisted living facilities (ALFs) are non-medical residential settings that provide or coordinate personal and health care services, 24-hour supervision, and assistance for the care of four or more adults who are aged, infirm or disabled. This care may be provided in one or more locations. Non-residential adult facilities are listed under Adult Day Care.
Assisted living facilities are not nursing homes. A nursing home is a facility in which the primary function is the provision, on a continuing basis, of nursing services and health-related services for the treatment and inpatient care of two or more non-related individuals. Nursing homes are regulated by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). To find a nursing home, visit the VDH website.
Regulations & Code References
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Regulations
- ALF Recommendations for Reopening (PDF)
- General Procedures and Information for Licensure (PDF)
- Regulation for Background Checks for Assisted Living Facilities and Adult Day Care Centers (PDF)
- Replacement Pages for Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities - 22VAC-40-73-540 (PDF)
- Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities (PDF)
Applicable Code of Virginia References
New ALF Applicants
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Application Process
The Division of Licensing Programs at the Virginia Department of Social Services offers pre-application orientation at all licensing field offices. Topics covered include: the application process, licensing regulations and approvals required by other state agencies.
Application Forms
- ALF Addendum (PDF)
- Annual Operating Budget (DOC)
- Annual Operating Budget (PDF)
- Initial Application (DOC)
- Initial Application (PDF)
- Instructions: Initial Application for Licensure (PDF)
- Personal Qualifying Information (PDF)
- Report of Environmental Sanitation Inspection (PDF)
- Request for Building Evaluation or Inspection (PDF)
- Staff Information Sheet (DOC)
- Staff Information Sheet (PDF)
Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application (VELA) Quick Reference Guides
Current ALF Providers (includes forms)
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Notices
- 2022/08/05: Barrier Crimes List Revision (PDF)
- 2022/07/27: REMINDER!! - NEW TRAINING: IPC Training - PPE Part II (PDF)
- 2022/07/11: REMINDER!! - NEW TRAINING: IPC Training - PPE (PDF)
- 2022/07/06: DARS Letter - Auxiliary Grant Rates (PDF)
- 2022/06/30: The Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) ALF Affordability Survey (PDF)
- 2022/06/30: REMINDER - Infection Prevention & Control Grant (PDF)
- 2022/06/23: Legislation that Passed in the 2022 General Assembly (PDF)
- 2022/06/07: REMINDER - IPC Training - Hand Hygiene (PDF)
- 2022/05/23: DSS Provider Memo Inspection Report Documents (PDF)
- 2022/05/17: VDSS/VCU Spring Conference - Narrative Care (PDF)
- 2022/04/15: Publication Order Form (PDF)
- 2022/04/05: Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application v1.0 (VELA) Go Live (PDF)
- 2022/03/28: Periodic Review for 22VAC40-160, Fee Requirements for Processing Applications (PDF)
- 2022/03/28: ALF Periodic Review Notice to Providers and Stakeholders (PDF)
- 2022/03/16: Virginia COVID-19 LTC Task Force - March Newsletter/Testing Reminders (PDF)
- 2022/03/11: Virginia Department of Health Tuberculosis Risk Assessment - Updated Form (PDF)
- 2022/03/11: DOLP Licensing Offices Contact Information - Updated (PDF)
- 2022/02/28: Executive Order 16 – COVID-19 Temporary State of Emergency (PDF)
- 2022/02/18: CORRECTION - Webinar - CDC COVID-19 Updated Guidance for Healthcare Facilities (PDF)
- 2022/02/09: VDSS/VCU Winter 2022 Conference (PDF)
- 2022/02/09: COVID-19 Antigen Testing Supply Resource for LTCFs (PDF)
- 2022/01/14: Regional Meetings for Infection Prevention and Control Grant (PDF)
- 2022/01/13: COVID-19 Antigen Testing Supply Resource (PDF)
- 2022/01/11: Updated - COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidance (PDF)
- 2022/01/11: REMINDER - Infection Prevention & Control Survey & Documents (PDF)
- 2022/01/07: Alzheimer's Association Dementia Training (PDF)
- 2021/12/30: ALF Infection Prevention and Control Survey (PDF)
- 2021/12/17: VDSS COVID Update (PDF)
- 2021/11/18: VDSS Receives Infection Control Grant (PDF)
- 2021/11/17: Update - Return to Full Onsite Inspections (PDF)
- 2021/10/28: Revisions to General Procedures and Information for Licensure (PDF)
- 2021/10/28: Revisions to Chapter 73. Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities (PDF)
- 2021/10/04: Federal Funding Opportunities (PDF)
- 2021/09/21: New COVID-19 Vaccine Resources – Assisted Living Facilities (PDF)
- 2021/09/13: Updated Licensing Office Contact Information (PDF)
- 2021/09/13: CORRECTION- Updated Licensing Office Contact Information (PDF)
- 2021/09/07: VDSS COVID-19 Update (PDF)
- 2021/09/07: REMINDER - COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Survey (PDF)
- 2021/08/31: IMPORTANT - Long-Term Care Facility Vaccine Access Survey (PDF)
- 2021/08/30: Revised Barrier Crimes List (PDF)
- 2021/08/25: VDH Lunch & Learn - Injection Safety and Blood Glucose Monitoring (PDF)
- 2021/07/29: DOLP Public Website Updates (PDF)
- 2021/07/08: CORRECTED Updates to Licensing Offices Memo (PDF)
- 2021/07/07: VDSS DOLP Office Updates (PDF)
- 2021/07/02: FEMA Releases Shelter-in-Place Guidance (PDF)
- 2021/06/28: Expiration of Regulatory Leniency on June 30, 2021 (PDF)
- 2021/06/25: PPE Changes and Updates (PDF)
- 2021/06/15: Legislation that passed in the 2021 General Assembly (PDF)
- 2021/06/14: VDSS Division of Licensing Programs Return to On-site Inspections effective June 15, 2021 (PDF)
- 2021/06/11: VDSS/VDH May 27 ALF COVID-19 Lunch & Learn Recording and Presentation Slides Available & Announcement of Additional Webinar Episodes (PDF)
- 2021/06/03: VDSS & VDH ALF COVID-19 Webinar Series, Episode 3 - COVID-19 Infection Control Update (Recording)
- 2021/06/03: Presentation Slides - VDSS & VDH ALF COVID-19 Webinar Series, Episode 3 - COVID-19 Infection Control Update (PDF)
- 2021/05/21: VDSS/VDH COVID-19 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Episode Three - COVID-19 Infection Control Update (PDF)
- 2021/05/05: VDSS/VDH April 29th ALF COVID-19 Lunch & Learn Recording and Presentation (PDF)
- 2021/05/05: VDSS & VDH ALF COVID-19 Webinar Series, Episode 2 - COVID-19 Testing Update
- 2021/05/05: Presentation Slides - VDSS & VDH ALF COVID-19 Webinar Series, Episode 2 Testing Update.pdf (PDF)
- 2021/04/27: TIME SENSITIVE: VDH Follow-Up Long Term Care COVID-19 Vaccine Completion Survey (PDF)
- 2021/04/27: Reminder & Updated Agenda: VDSS/VDH COVID-19 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Episode Two – COVID-19 Testing Update (PDF)
- 2021/04/26: Reminder: Importance of Reporting PPE Inventory/Burn Rate & Urgent PPE Requests for ALFs (PDF)
- 2021/04/20: VDSS/VDH COVID-19 Lunch & Learn Webinar Series: Episode Two - COVID-19 Testing Update (PDF)
- 2021/03/16: Virginia Department of Health COVID-19 Long Term Care Facility Vaccine Bridge Program (PDF)
- 2021/03/08: Reminder: Virginia Department of Health (VDH) COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Long Term Care Facilities Survey & COVID-19 Vaccine Request Form (PDF)
- 2021/02/25: Virginia Department of Health (VDH) COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake in Long Term Care Facilities Survey (PDF)
- 2021/02/22: Long-Term Care Facility REDCap Form (PDF)
- 2021/01/19: Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and AG Recipients (PDF)
- 2021/01/04: COVID-19 Vaccination Update and FAQ (PDF)
- 2020/12/22: ALF Outbreak Toolkit (PDF)
- 2020/12/18: Governor Northam Announces New Executive Order 72 (PDF)
- 2020/12/09: VDSS Division of Licensing Programs Onsite Inspections - COVID-19 Safety and Health Precautions (PDF)
- 2020/11/20: Update to 11/17/20 Memo (PDF)
- 2020/11/17: Governor Northam Announces New Statewide Measures to Contain COVID-19 (PDF)
- 2020/11/16: Visitation in Assisted Living Facilities: Tips and Best Practices - Updated Visitation Considerations During the Holidays (PDF)
- 2020/11/05: Pharmacy Partnership for COVID-19 Vaccination (PDF)
- 2020/10/28: ALF-Final Point Prevalent Survey (PDF)
- 2020/10/20: Pharmacy Partnership for COVID-19 Vaccination (PDF)
- 2020/10/15: Amended Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities, 22VAC40-73 (PDF)
- 2020/09/17: Assisted Living Facility COVID-19 Vaccine Survey (PDF)
- 2020/08/31: Point Prevalence Surveys in Assisted Living Facilities (PDF)
- 2020/08/21: CARES Act Funding for Assisted Living Providers (PDF)
- 2020/08/13: Nurse Aide Education Program Waiver Update (PDF)
- 2020/07/31: COVID-19 Tips and Best Practices for ALFs (PDF)
- 2020/07/24: Respiratory Fit Testing Train-the-Trainer for ALFs (PDF)
- 2020/07/17: FDA Issues a Hand Sanitizer Alert (PDF)
- 2020/06/26: 2020 Legislative Implementation (PDF)
- 2020/06/23: ALF Recommendations for Reopening (PDF)
- 2020/06/17: Point Prevalence Surveys for Assisted Living Facilities (PDF)
- 2020/04/17: VDSS Updated COVID-19 Information and FAQs (PDF)
- 2020/04/15: Licensing Waivers During Virginia’s State of Emergency-COVID-19 (PDF)
- 2020/03/27: Department on Aging and Rehabilitation (DARS)-Information for Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) during COVID-19 Crisis (PDF)
- 2020/03/17: COVID-19 Letter to Adult Programs - Updates (PDF)
- 2020/03/12: Information on Community Resources - COVID-19 (PDF)
- 2020/02/03: Virginia Department of Health- Information on the Coronavirus (PDF)
Documents & Procedures
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Blood Glucose Monitoring
- Monitoring Protocol (PDF)
- Clarification on Safety Criteria for Fingerstick Devices for Assisted Blood Glucose Monitoring (PDF)
- Clinical Reminder Fingerstick Devices (PDF)
- Diabetes & Viral Hepatitis (PDF)
- Monitoring Update (PDF)
- Payment Information (PDF)
- Resources (PDF)
All Other
- Protocol for Inspections (PDF)
- Risk Assessment - Matrix (PDF)
- Staffing - Plans (PDF)
Background Investigations
- Barrier Crimes (PDF)
- Criminal Background Checks (conducted by Virginia State Police) (Web page)
- Regulation for Background Checks for Assisted Living Facilities and Adult Day Care Centers (PDF)
- Sworn Statement or Affirmation for Adult Facility Employees (PDF)
- Sworn Statement or Affirmation - Applicants for Assisted Living Facility Licensure (PDF)
Forms
- Approval for Placement in Special Care Unit (PDF)
- Assessment of Serious Cognitive Impairment (PDF)
- Authorization for Release of Confidential Information (PDF)
- Auxiliary Grant Program Provider/DSS Communication Form (PDF)
- Auxiliary Grant Program Provider/DSS Communication Form (DOC)
- Department Approved Educational Program for Geriatric Assistant or Home Health Aide or for Nurse Aide (Not Covered Under 22 VAC 40-73-200 C 2) (PDF)
- Discharge Notification and Statement (PDF)
- Disclosure Statement (DOC)
- Disclosure Statement (PDF)
- Documentation of Physicians or Other Prescribers Oral Order for PRN (as needed) Medication (PDF)
- Fillable TB Risk Assessment 512 and Instructions (PDF)
- Individualized Service Plan (PDF)
- Liability Insurance Disclosure Notification Form (DOC)
- Liability Insurance Disclosure Notification Form (PDF)
- Medication Administration Record (DOC)
- Medication Administration Record (PDF)
- Mental Health Screening Determination Form (PDF)
- Non-Availability of Recommended Mental Health Services Form (PDF)
- Record of Initial ALF Staff Training (DOC)
- Record of Initial ALF Staff Training (PDF)
- Record of On-Site Health Care Oversight (DOC)
- Record of On-Site Health Care Oversight (PDF)
- Record of On-Site Health Care Oversight Additional Requirements for Restrained Residents (PDF)
- Record of Required Fire and Emergency Evacuation Drills (PDF)
- Record of Restraint Usage (PDF)
- Record of Staff Training and Education Following Employment (PDF)
- Report of Environmental Sanitation Inspection (PDF)
- Report of Resident Physical Examination (PDF)
- Resident Personal/Social Data (PDF)
- Resident Agreement (DOC)
- Resident Agreement (PDF)
- Review of Appropriateness of Continued Residence in Special Care Unit (PDF)
- Rights and Responsibilities of Residents of ALFs (DOC)
- Rights and Responsibilities of Residents of ALFs (PDF)
- Staff Record (PDF)
- Sworn Statement or Affirmation for Adult Facility Employees (PDF)
- Sworn Statement or Affirmation - Applicants for ALF Licensure (PDF)
- UAI (Uniform Assessment Instrument) Private Pay (DOC)
- UAI (Uniform Assessment Instrument) Private Pay (PDF)
Forms - License Renewal
- ALF Addendum (PDF)
- Instructions: Renewal Application for Licensure (PDF)
- Personal Quailfying Information (PDF)
- Renewal Application (DOC)
- Renewal Application (PDF)
- Request for Building Evaluation or Inspection (PDF)
- Staff Information Sheet (DOC)
- Staff Information Sheet (PDF)
Training
- ALF Direct Care Staff Training - Instructors Guide (PDF)
- ALF Personnel Taking ADS1102 - Private Pay Uniform Assessment Instrument (PDF)
- Commonwealth of Virginia Learning Center Access Directions
- DSS/VCU Training Information
- Mandated Reported Training
- Private Pay Uniform Assessment Instrument Online Training
- Staffing in Assisted Living Facilities (PPT)
Manuals
- ALF Assessment Manual (Public Pay) (PDF)
- Private Pay Assessment Manual (PDF)
- Transmittal 227 (PDF)
- Transmittal 234 (PDF)
- UAI User's Manual (PDF)
Additional Resources
- AG Certification Form (PDF)
- AG Rate Letter (PDF)
- ALF Facilities that Accept AG Grant (PDF)
- ALF Relocation Plan (PDF)
- Local Fire Official Listing (PDF)