Frequently Asked Questions

Finding the right senior living community for someone you love is a big decision, and it's normal to have questions along the way. Below, we've answered the ones we hear most often about how ViaVera works, what it costs, and what you can expect when you reach out. If you don't see your question here, we're always happy to talk it through directly.

  • ViaVera helps families navigate the senior living search process. We get to know your loved one's needs, preferences, and budget, then match you with communities that are the right fit. We tour facilities with you, answer your questions, and support you every step of the way.

  • Nothing. ViaVera's services are completely free to families. We receive a referral fee directly from the community once a placement is made.

  • Our goal is always to find the right fit for your loved one. Our advisors have deep, firsthand knowledge of the communities in our area, and our reputation is built on making the right matches, not just any move-in.

  • We work with a range of senior living options, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and more. Every family's situation is different, and we'll help you understand which type of care is the right fit before you ever set foot on a tour.

  • Our advisors have worked in leadership roles within senior living communities, so they know how they operate.

    ViaVera is locally focused and personally guided. You’ll work with a real person in your community, not a national call center.

  • We are currently serving families in the Greater Richmond Area.

  • Simply reach out to book a free consultation with one of our advisors here.. We'll start with a conversation to learn about your loved one and what you're looking for, and go from there.

  • None at all. A consultation is just a conversation. There is no pressure and no commitment required.

Senior Living Terminology

Searching for the right senior living option often means wading through unfamiliar terms, and to make things more complicated, definitions and licensing categories can vary from state to state. Below, we've broken down the terms families most often encounter, from independent living to skilled nursing, so you can walk into this process with confidence.

  • For seniors who don't need daily help but want a maintenance-free lifestyle, social activities, and amenities like dining and transportation. No medical or personal care services included.

  • Housing plus help with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, medication management, and mobility, combined with meals, housekeeping, and social programming. In Virginia, this is a licensed category ("Assisted Living Facility") with two tiers: Residential Living Care (lower level of support) and Assisted Living Care (higher level of support, sometimes for those who'd otherwise need a nursing home).

  • A specialized form of assisted living designed for residents with Alzheimer's or other dementias. Communities offer secured environments, structured routines, and staff trained specifically in dementia care.

  • Medical care delivered by licensed nurses, 24/7, for people recovering from surgery, managing complex medical conditions, or needing a higher level of care than assisted living can provide. Often used short term for rehab, but also long term for those with significant medical needs.

  • A single campus offering independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing, so residents can move between levels of care as needs change without relocating.

  • Short term stays (days to a few weeks) in an assisted living or memory care community, often used to give family caregivers a break or to trial a community before committing.

  • Smaller, home like settings (often a converted residential house) offering personal care for a small number of residents. An alternative to larger assisted living communities.

  • Medical or personal care services delivered in the senior's own home, rather than in a community.

  • The basic self care tasks (bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, continence) used to assess what level of care someone needs. This term will come up a lot when communities evaluate a resident.

  • A rating (often numbered, like Level 1 to 4, or "Tiers") that a community assigns to a resident based on how much help they need with ADLs, medication management, mobility, and supervision. It's typically determined by a nursing assessment before move in and reassessed periodically as needs change. The level of care directly affects the monthly cost. A higher level means more staff time and services, so it's usually priced as a base rent plus a care level fee on top. This is one of the most common sources of "surprise" cost increases for families, since a resident's level (and price) can go up if their needs increase after move in.