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
- General Procedures and Information for Licensure - effective 08/14/2024 (PDF)
- Regulation for Background Checks for Assisted Living Facilities and Adult Day Centers - effective 08/14/2024 (PDF)
- Replacement Page for Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities - effective 11/06/2024 (PDF)
- Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities - effective 11/06/2024 (PDF)
Applicable Code of Virginia References
New ALF Applicants
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Application Process
The Division of Licensing Programs (DOLP) at the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has a user-friendly and secure on-line application system called the Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application.
Before starting the application process, please read through all instructions.
There are four easy steps for applying on-line through VELA:
- Save all your required documents for upload into VELA. You may wish to review the list of required application forms that are listed under the bullet "Application Forms."
- Review the self-help resources available by accessing the Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application(VELA) Quick Reference Guides and the Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application (VELA) Instructional Videos sub-headings below.
- When you are ready, access the Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application. We recommend that you bookmark the VELA link since you can return to VELA to make changes until the application is submitted. After submission, data cannot be revised.
- Register an account to enter the VELA provider portal where you can complete an application. Self-help resources are available on VELA under the Quick Reference Guides tab.
CONTACT: If you have technical problems accessing VELA or completing the application, please e-mail vela@dss.virginia.gov.
Virginia RelayVirginia Relay enables people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, or have difficulty speaking to communicate by TTY (text telephone) or another assistive telephone device with anyone who uses a standard phone.
TTY: 800-828-1120
Voice: 800-828-1140
Captioned Telephone Service: 877-243-2823
Speech-to-Speech: 866-221-6784
Visually Assisted Speech-to-Speech: 800-855-8220
Spanish: 800-855-8200
If you still need to submit a paper application via mail, you may do so by using the Application Forms below.
Pre-application orientation -- We also highly recommend that applicants attend one of our pre-application orientation sessions. Topics covered include the application process, licensing regulations and approvals required by other state agencies. To register for this pre-application orientation, please reach out to your appropriate Licensing field office.
Application Forms
- New Applicant Memo (PDF)
- 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 Evacuation or Inspection (PDF)
- Staff Information Sheet (DOC)
- Staff Information Sheet (PDF)
Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application (VELA) Quick Reference Guides
Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application (VELA) Instructional Videos
- Instructions for Using Video Controls (English) (PDF)
- Instructions for Using Video Controls (Spanish) (PDF)
- Video: Register an Account (English) (Web page)
- Video: Register an Account (Spanish) (Web page)
- Video: Login Assistance Guide (English) (Web page)
- Video: Login Assistance Guide (Spanish) (Web page)
Current ALF Providers (includes forms)
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Notices
- 2024/11/13: Updated Memo - ALF Liability Insurance Requirements Reminder (PDF)
- 2024/11/06: Out of State ALF Administrator Temporary Authorization to Practice (PDF)
- 2024/11/02: ALF Liability Insurance Requirements Reminder Memo (PDF)
- 2024/09/30: Boil Water Notice (PDF)
- 2024/09/26: 2024 Hurricane Preparedness Memo (PDF)
- 2024/09/17: Infection Control On-Site Training and Assessments Reminder Memo (PDF)
- 2024/08/15: Adult Day Center Regulation Name Change (PDF)
- 2024/08/13: Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) for 22VAC407-73 Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities - MEMO (PDF)
- 2024/07/26: ALF Liability Insurance Requirements (PDF)
- 2024/07/18: Online Infection Prevention and Control Education Memo (PDF)
- 2024/07/11: ALF ISP Training Update (PDF)
- 2024/06/07: Legislation that passed in the 2024 General Assembly (PDF)
- 2024/05/20: Public Comment Notice for Background Checks for ADC & ALF (PDF)
- 2024/04/16: Infection Prevention Train the Trainer Resource Binder and Brochures (PDF)
- 2024/03/07: Updated CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance Memo (PDF)
- 2024/02/01: DOLP Licensing Offices Contact Information Updated (PDF)
- 2023/12/08: COVID and Respiratory Illness Reminders Memo (PDF)
- 2023/11/03: Barrier Crimes List Update ALF/ADCC (PDF)
- 2023/09/29: Revision to Direct Care Staff Training, Chapter Two Infection Control (PDF)
- 2023/05/11: Legislation that passed in 2023 General Assembly (PDF)
- 2023/04/14: Virginia Department of Health (VDH) TBB Screening (PDF)
- 2023/02/14: COVID-19 and Communicable Disease Outbreak Reporting Memo (PDF)
- 2022/12/02: Update to VDH TB Screening Memo (PDF)
- 2022/10/03: Virginia Department of Health (VDH) TB Screening (PDF)
- 2022/07/06: DARS Letter - Auxiliary Grant Rates (PDF)
- 2022/06/23: Legislation that Passed in the 2022 General Assembly (PDF)
- 2022/04/05: Virginia Enterprise Licensing Application v1.0 (VELA) Go Live (PDF)
- 2021/11/17: Update - Return to Full Onsite Inspections (PDF)
- 2021/10/28: Revisions to Chapter 73. Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities (PDF)
- 2021/09/13: Updated Licensing Office Contact Information (PDF)
- 2021/09/13: CORRECTION- Updated Licensing Office Contact Information (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)
- 2020/10/15: Amended Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities, 22VAC40-73 (PDF)
- 2020/07/24: Respiratory Fit Testing Train-the-Trainer for ALFs (PDF)
- 2020/06/26: 2020 Legislative Implementation (PDF)
Documents & Procedures
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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 Centers - effective 08/14/2024 (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)
- Disclosure Statement - Effective 01/23/2025 (DOC)
- Disclosure Statement - Effective 01/23/2025 (PDF)
- Documentation of Physicians or Other Prescribers Oral Order for PRN (as needed) Medication (PDF)
- Individualized Service Plan (PDF)
- Liability Insurance Statement - Effective 01/23/2025 (DOC)
- Liability Insurance Statement - Effective 01/23/2025 (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)
- Resident Agreement - Effective 01/23/2025 (DOC)
- Resident Agreement - Effective 01/23/2025 (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 (PDF)
- VA TB Risk Assessment for Over Age Six User Guide - 2023 (PDF)
- VDSS Infection Prevention and Control Policies and Procedures Manual Template (DOC)
Forms - License Renewal
- ALF Addendum (PDF)
- Instructions: Renewal Application for Licensure (PDF)
- Personal Quailfying Information (PDF)
- Renewal Application (PDF)
- Renewal Application (DOC)
- 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 Direct Care Staff Training - Instructors Guide - Chapter Two - Replacement Pages (PDF)
- ALF Personnel Taking ADS1102 - Private Pay Uniform Assessment Instrument (PDF)
- Commonwealth of Virginia Learning Center Access Directions
- Mandated Reported Training
- Private Pay Uniform Assessment Instrument Online Training
- Staffing in Assisted Living Facilities (PPT)
Manuals
- ALF Assessment Manual (Public Pay) (PDF)
- DARS-APSD-31 (PDF)
- Private Pay Assessment Manual (PDF)
- Transmittal 227 (PDF)
- Transmittal 234 (PDF)
- Transmittal DARS APSD 30 (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)
- Screening and Testing for Tuberculosis - 2023 (PDF)
