Updated November 4, 2026 Alexandria · Arlington · Fairfax · Loudoun 10-minute read

About us: NoVA Home Care Guide is a free information and referral service, not a home care provider. We are not affiliated with any agency or government office named here. This article is general information, not medical or legal advice.

If you’re the one who handles your mom’s meals, your dad’s medicines and every doctor’s appointment, you need time off too. Respite care is short-term care that covers for you, so you can rest, work, run errands or simply sleep. It can be a few hours a week or a few days at a time.

Each Northern Virginia county and city runs its own programs, and some of the best options are low-cost public ones that families don’t hear about. This guide covers the main respite options, then the local programs in Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria and Loudoun County, and where to get help paying.

Respite options at a glance

Option How long Good for
In-home respite from a home care agency A few hours to several days A parent who is most comfortable at home
Public adult day centers (county or city run) Weekdays, during the workday A parent who can’t be alone during the day while you work
Short stay in an assisted living community Usually a few days to a few weeks Longer breaks, travel, or your own surgery
Hospice respite (only if your parent is on hospice) Up to 5 days at a time Families caring for someone on hospice at home

In-home respite. A home care agency sends a caregiver to your parent’s home for the hours you choose. The caregiver can help with meals, bathing, dressing, toileting, light housekeeping, companionship and medication reminders. Many families start with one or two four-hour visits a week. Ask about minimum hours, whether you’ll get the same caregiver each time, and what happens if the caregiver is sick. Our 8 questions to ask a home care agency work for respite too.

Short stays in assisted living. Many assisted living communities offer short “respite stays” in a furnished room with meals and daily care included. Availability and minimum stay lengths vary, so call several communities.

Respite care in Fairfax County

Fairfax County (including Fairfax City and Falls Church residents, who are served by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging) has the most programs in the region.

Fairfax County Adult Day Health Care. The county runs four adult day health care centers for adults 18 and older who need supervision because of dementia, Parkinson’s, or other memory or physical conditions. To enroll, a participant must be able to feed themselves and transfer with help from no more than one person. The centers are open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A sliding fee scale is available and transportation can be arranged.

Center Address
Herndon Harbor 875 Grace St., Herndon, VA 20170
Lewinsville 1611 Great Falls St., McLean, VA 22101
Lincolnia 4710 N. Chambliss St., Alexandria, VA 22312
Mount Vernon 8350 Richmond Hwy., Suite 137, Alexandria, VA 22309

Main line: 703-704-6048 (TTY 711), or email adultday@fairfaxcounty.gov.

ElderLink Respite Program. For full-time family caregivers, ElderLink provides a limited number of hours of in-home personal care, companionship and supervision, with an assessment and ongoing case management. Co-pays depend on your parent’s needs and income. Call the ElderLink intake line at 703-324-5374 (TTY 711) to check eligibility and the current hours. ElderLink also offers free one-hour consultations with a social worker.

Questions about any Fairfax program: Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, 703-324-7948.

Respite care in Arlington

Arlington Adult Day Program. Arlington County’s adult day program serves residents 18 and older who need a safe, supervised place during the day, including people with memory loss, physical limits or frailty. Fees are based on income, with a sliding scale for those who qualify, and some long-term care insurance policies cover it. Before starting, your parent needs a physical exam and TB screening on the program’s forms, then a tour and needs assessment.

When we checked in November 2026, the program was at full capacity and taking names for an interest list, so call early: 703-228-5340.

Other help: Arlington Agency on Aging, 703-228-1700, can tell you about other caregiver support in the county.

Respite care in Alexandria

Alexandria Adult Day Services Center. The City of Alexandria runs an adult day center at 1108 Jefferson St. (at the back of the Lee Center). It serves up to 24 adults age 55 and over, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and offers caregiver respite as part of the program. Fees are based on income, transportation can be arranged, and the city says there’s generally no waitlist.

Other help: The city’s Aging and Disability Resource Line, 703-746-5999, can help you find respite and support. The city also hosts a caregiver support group.

Respite care in Loudoun County

Loudoun County adult day centers. Loudoun County runs three adult day centers for adults 60 and older with memory loss or physical limits who can’t stay home alone during the day. They don’t serve people who need professional nursing care.

Center Address Phone
Eastern Loudoun Adult Day Center 45140 Bles Park Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147 571-258-3232
Loudoun County Adult Day Center, Leesburg 16501 Meadowview Court, Leesburg, VA 20175 703-771-5334
Mac Brownell Adult Day Center 200 E. Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville, VA 20132 571-258-3402

All three are open Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Families choose 2, 3 or 5 days a week, and the daily fee is on a sliding scale based on income. To enroll, call for a tour, complete an admission packet, attend an assessment visit of about two hours, and provide a physical exam and TB screening from your parent’s doctor.

Other help: Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging, 703-777-0257, offers care coordination for families of adults 55 and older.

Hospice respite

If your parent is on hospice under Medicare, wherever you live, the hospice benefit includes inpatient respite care in a Medicare-approved facility, such as a hospice facility, hospital or nursing home. Each respite stay can last up to 5 days, and you may pay 5% of the Medicare-approved amount. Ask the hospice team to arrange it.

Help paying for respite care

Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program. This state program reimburses primary family caregivers for part of the cost of respite care. You must live in Virginia, care for a loved one with a documented disability or medical condition, and live with them at least part of the time. For the year that ended June 30, 2026, it paid up to $595 per household. Funding is limited and not everyone who applies is approved, so check the current terms on the DARS website before you apply.

Sliding-scale fees. All of the public adult day programs above set fees based on income. Ask each one for your actual cost before you rule it out.

Long-term care insurance. Many policies cover in-home respite or adult day care. Call the insurer and ask what’s covered and whether there’s a waiting period.

VA benefits. Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for Aid and Attendance payments that can help pay for care.

How to plan your first respite break

  1. Decide what you need. A few hours a week to work or rest, a full weekday, or several days away.
  2. Pick the setting. Home, an adult day center, or a short facility stay.
  3. Call early. Public adult day programs need a physical exam and TB screening, and some have interest lists.
  4. Start small. Book a short first visit while you’re nearby, so your parent can get used to the new caregiver or place.
  5. Write a one-page care sheet. Include routines, meals, medicines, doctor phone numbers, what calms your parent, and who to call in an emergency.
  6. Book the next break before you need it. Regular breaks work better than emergency ones.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis. Constant tiredness, poor sleep, getting sick more often, or feeling short-tempered are common signs that a caregiver needs regular breaks. Talk to your own doctor if you’re struggling.

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Frequently asked questions

What is respite care?

Respite care is short-term care for an older adult or person with a disability so their usual family caregiver can take a break. It can happen at home, at an adult day center, or during a short stay in a care community.

Is there free or low-cost respite care in Fairfax County?

Fairfax County’s ElderLink Respite Program provides a limited number of in-home respite hours for full-time family caregivers, with co-pays based on need and income. The county’s four adult day health care centers also use a sliding fee scale. Call ElderLink at 703-324-5374 or the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at 703-324-7948.

Where can I find adult day care in Arlington or Alexandria?

Arlington County runs the Arlington Adult Day Program (703-228-5340) for residents 18 and older. The City of Alexandria runs the Alexandria Adult Day Services Center at 1108 Jefferson St. for adults 55 and over; call the city’s Aging and Disability Resource Line at 703-746-5999. Both set fees based on income.

How much does respite care cost in Northern Virginia?

It depends on the setting. Home care agencies charge by the hour, usually with a minimum visit length. The public adult day programs in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and Loudoun charge fees based on income. Call each provider for current rates.

Does Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare generally doesn’t pay for respite care unless the person is on hospice. Under the Medicare hospice benefit, respite stays of up to 5 days at a time in a Medicare-approved facility are covered, and you may pay 5% of the approved amount.

Sources

Serving families in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, McLean, Vienna, Reston, Herndon, Springfield, Annandale, Mount Vernon, Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling and Purcellville.

Is a parent coming home from the hospital?

Read our hospital discharge guide: what to ask, your Medicare appeal rights, and how to set up help at home quickly.