Virginia has more funded respite options than most families realize. Medicaid waiver hours, free NFCSP grants through 25 Area Agencies on Aging, and a dedicated dementia-caregiver program all exist. The money is there; most families just don't know where to ask.
If you're providing daily care for a parent, spouse, or adult child in Virginia, you already know how unsustainable that is without breaks. Research on family caregiver health is consistent: caregivers who take planned respite are healthier, less burned out, and keep their loved ones at home longer than those who push through alone. Respite is not a luxury. It is the infrastructure that makes sustained caregiving possible.
This guide maps every funded respite option in Virginia for 2026.
Why Respite Isn't Optional
Chronic caregiving without planned breaks damages caregivers at a measurable level, not just emotionally but physically. Studies consistently link unsupported long-term caregiving to immune dysfunction, elevated cortisol, higher rates of cardiovascular disease, and significantly shorter lifespan. The evidence also shows something more immediately useful: caregivers who access regular respite keep their loved ones at home significantly longer than those who don't. Respite is an investment in the caregiving relationship, not a retreat from it.
If you need emergency respite today, call 1-800-552-3402 or dial 211. If you're planning ahead, read on.
Funded Respite Options in Virginia
1. CCC Plus Waiver Respite (Cardinal Care)
What it is: The Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC Plus) waiver, now managed through Virginia's Cardinal Care managed Medicaid program, includes in-home and short-term facility respite as covered services for enrolled members. Respite can be authorized as part of the member's care plan.
Consumer-directed respite: Under the consumer-directed services option, the member hires their own worker, which may include an adult child or other eligible relative. A spouse who qualifies under the LRI/Extraordinary Care rules may also be eligible as the paid worker; confirm with the care coordinator. See the Virginia paid family caregiver guide for the full worker-eligibility rules.
Eligibility: Medicaid-eligible Virginia residents enrolled in CCC Plus with an approved care plan that includes respite.
How to access: Talk to the member's Cardinal Care plan care coordinator. Ask for respite hours to be included in the authorized care plan. If your loved one is not yet enrolled in CCC Plus, contact DMAS or the local Department of Social Services to begin an eligibility determination.
Best for: Families already in the CCC Plus system who want planned in-home breaks.
2. NFCSP Grants Through Virginia's 25 Area Agencies on Aging
What it is: The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), funded by Title III-E of the Older Americans Act, flows through Virginia's Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to 25 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Each AAA provides some combination of in-home respite, adult day vouchers, caregiver training, individual counseling, and supplemental services.
Who qualifies: Family caregivers of adults age 60 and older; grandparent and relative caregivers of children under 18; caregivers of any age caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. No income test for NFCSP respite services.
How to access: Call 1-800-552-3402 (Virginia's statewide AAA connection through DARS) or use the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.
Best for: Any Virginia family caregiver regardless of income. NFCSP is among the most underused respite resources in the state.
3. Virginia Caregiver Services Program (Dementia Focus)
What it is: Virginia funds a dedicated Caregiver Services Program through DARS that provides in-home respite specifically for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This program supplements the NFCSP with state Medicaid matching funds, allowing AAAs in many regions to offer more intensive caregiver support than NFCSP alone provides.
How to access: Call DARS or your local AAA through 1-800-552-3402. Ask specifically about the Caregiver Services Program if your loved one has a dementia diagnosis.
Best for: Family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.
4. Adult Day Health Programs
What they are: Adult day health centers and adult day services provide structured daytime programming in a community setting, typically 4 to 8 hours per day, with meals, activities, social engagement, and nursing oversight appropriate to the program's license type. For caregivers of people with dementia, consistent adult day attendance often reduces behavioral symptoms, improves sleep, and restores reliable weekday hours to the caregiver.
Finding programs: The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) licenses adult day centers statewide. Your regional AAA maintains a local directory; call 1-800-552-3402 for referrals.
Who pays:
- NFCSP grants through your AAA can offset adult day costs.
- CCC Plus covers adult day health for eligible enrolled members.
- Long-term care insurance often covers adult day under the HCBS rider.
- Private pay rates vary by program and region; confirm pricing directly with the center.
Best for: Caregivers who need consistent weekday respite and care recipients who benefit from socialization and structured programming.
5. VA Respite for Veterans
What it is: Veterans enrolled in VA health care can access respite through their local VA medical center, including in-home aide services, adult day health, and short-term placement in VA Community Living Centers or contracted facilities.
PCAFC: Primary Family Caregivers in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers receive respite care as part of the benefit package; confirm the authorized days and any co-pay with the VA Caregiver Support Coordinator.
How to access: Call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 or contact the Caregiver Support Coordinator at your local VA medical center. Major Virginia VA facilities include the Richmond VA Medical Center, the Hampton VA Medical Center, the Salem VA Medical Center, and the Washington DC VA Medical Center (serving Northern Virginia).
Best for: Families of veterans enrolled in VA health care, particularly those in PCAFC.
6. Short-Term Facility Respite and Emergency Respite
Short-term facility respite places the care recipient in an assisted living community, memory care unit, or nursing facility for a few days to several weeks. Many Virginia assisted living facilities offer short-stay respite; call facilities in your area for availability and current nightly rates.
Emergency respite for sudden caregiver crises is available through Virginia's AAAs using NFCSP emergency funds. Call 1-800-552-3402 or 211 as a first step.
Who pays: Typically private pay unless NFCSP funds apply, the CCC Plus plan covers facility respite in the care plan, or a long-term care insurance policy applies.
How to Start in Virginia
- Call 1-800-552-3402. This DARS line connects you to your regional AAA for NFCSP respite, caregiver counseling, and the Virginia Caregiver Services Program if your loved one has dementia.
- Talk to the Cardinal Care coordinator if your loved one is enrolled in CCC Plus. Ask to have respite hours added to the authorized care plan.
- Dial 211 for local resource referrals including adult day programs and emergency respite.
- If your loved one is a veteran, call the VA Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 before anywhere else.
- Ask the AAA about adult day programs in your county. Consistent part-time adult day attendance can transform the caregiving week.
Not sure which Virginia respite option fits your family? Chat with Brevy's care navigator for a personalized list based on your loved one's age, diagnosis, and Virginia Medicaid enrollment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. CCC Plus (Cardinal Care) authorizes in-home and short-term facility respite as covered services for enrolled members. Ask the Cardinal Care plan care coordinator to include respite hours in the authorized care plan.
Yes. The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) provides caregiver respite through Virginia's 25 Area Agencies on Aging with no income test. Call 1-800-552-3402 to reach your regional AAA.
The Virginia Caregiver Services Program is a state-funded initiative administered through DARS that provides in-home respite specifically for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It supplements the NFCSP in many AAA regions. Contact your regional AAA at 1-800-552-3402 and ask about this program if your loved one has a dementia diagnosis.
Under the consumer-directed option, an adult child or other eligible relative can be hired as the paid consumer-directed worker, including for respite hours. A spouse may be eligible under the LRI/Extraordinary Care rules; confirm the current requirements with the care coordinator. The full eligibility rules are covered in the Virginia paid family caregiver guide.
Call 1-800-552-3402 to reach your regional AAA, which maintains a local directory. You can also dial 211 for local referrals. VDSS licenses adult day centers statewide.
Learn More
- How to Get Paid as a Family Caregiver in Virginia
- Caregiver Burnout: Signs, Stages, and How to Get Support
- VA Aid and Attendance in Virginia
- The Cost of Senior Care in Virginia
- Medicaid Planning Strategies
Find personalized help navigating respite care options in Virginia at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.