Reston Families: Split Your Homework Into Before, During, and After the Tour

Before the tour

Look up the community's current license status with the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), which licenses Assisted Living Facilities under 22VAC40-73. Note the license number and any conditions attached, so you can ask about them directly rather than fishing blindly during the visit.

During the tour

Ask to see the physical posting of the license (Virginia facilities are required to display it), and ask directly whether there have been any inspection findings in the past year. A well-run community near Reston Town Center or Lake Anne should be able to answer this without hesitation.

After the tour

If anything felt evasive, or you want a second read on what a finding actually means, contact the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging (Division of Adult and Aging Services), which covers Reston as part of Fairfax County, or reach the Virginia Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman directly at (804) 565-1600. Both can point you to the regional ombudsman assigned to this part of the county.

One Reston-specific reminder

If the community includes a nursing or skilled-rehab wing alongside assisted living - not uncommon in larger campuses - that portion is licensed separately by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), not VDSS. Two different state agencies, one address.