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DARS Division for Community Living

Providing aging and community-based disability services to citizens of the Commonwealth


The Division for Community Living partners with more than 60 community based organizations that look to the agency for oversight and funding. More than 40 division staff oversee the administration of the exemplary services provided to older adults and people with disabilities by Virginia’s 25 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), 17 Centers for Independent Living (CILs), 13 Public Guardianship Programs, and 13 Brain Injury Programs; explore creative ways to improve services; provides direction to six gubernatorial boards; and devises strategies to address emerging legislative, regulatory, and policy issues.

Our Office for Aging Services serves older Virginians. DARS is committed to having livable communities for those who want to age in place or transition from facilities to community settings with long-term supports and services. We work with local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) as well as various other public and private organizations to help older Virginians, their families and loved ones find the services and information they need.

Our Office for Disability Programs offers a variety of services to which allow individuals with the most severe disabilities to live independently in the community. Services are offered externally through Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and Brain Injury Programs, or internally through the Personal Assistance Services (PAS) Prpogram, or the Long Term rehabilitation Case Management Program.

No Wrong Door Virginia is a virtual system and statewide network of shared resources, designed to streamline access to long-term services and supports – connecting individuals, providers and communities across the Commonwealth.



What can DCL do for you?

Learn about the various programs and services we offer.


Office for Aging Services logo

Staff in the Office for Aging Services works to help older Virginians live as independently as possible by coordinating and providing services to help them maintain their dignity and security. These services include:

  • Information and referral
  • Caregiver support
  • Dementia Services Coordination
  • Congregate and home-delivered meals
  • Chronic Disease Self-Management
  • Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP)
  • Virginia GrandDriver
  • Public guardianship and conservator program
  • Commonwealth Council on Aging
  • Alzheimer’s Commission
  • Public Guardianship Board

Office for Disability Progams logo

Our team in the Office for Disability Programs is available to provide technical assistance and consultation in a wide variety of areas, including:

  • Brain Injury Services Coordination
  • Independent Living Services
  • Long Term Rehabilitation Case Management Services
  • Personal Assistant Services
  • Statewide Independent Living Council
  • Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative
  • Brain Injury Council

No Wrong Door logo

No Wrong Door Virginia is a national leader, supporting older adults, family caregivers and individuals of all ages with disabilities. The system provides valuable tools to strengthen community networks and promote person-centered practices, for individuals to evaluate options and make informed decisions.

The expanding No Wrong Door Network offers:

Access to over 26,300 programs and services
Options provided by 500+ professionals using the No Wrong Door tools
Answers for nearly 50,000 individuals securely connected to valuable resources


Program and Service Highlights


A three-year grant to the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services aims to help prevent falls, the leading cause of injuries and deaths from injury among older Americans. The $554,525 grant from the federal Administration for Community Living will expand Virginia’s falls prevention programs for older adults, including those with early dementia. In addition to increasing the availability of the workshops and prevention awareness among the Commonwealth’s roughly 1.2 million adults over age 65, the grant will help establish a coalition to spearhead a concerted effort to substantially reduce the threat. You can read more in a news release from the DARS Communications team.


Our division works closely with a number of boards and councils around the Commonwealth to better serve our clients. One example is our partnership with the Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council. The SILC works to increase the impact of Independent Living (IL) services in Virginia. The Council is composed of gubernatorial appointees who represent people with disabilities across the state, the interests of CILs, and Independent Living programs and services.


Are you concerned about an older driver? While most older Virginians are safe drivers, there are a few who continue to drive when they are at-risk. For families, friends, and caregivers, the issue of what to do about an aging loved one who is at-risk while driving can be perplexing and painful. Many families have difficulty deciding when their older relative should stop driving and must weigh potential safety considerations against their loved one's sense of independence, pride, and control. Visit our Virginia GrandDriver website for more information.



If you are a caregiver providing care to a loved one with dementia or a provider supporting caregivers, please consider downloading fact sheets from our division. They provide quick and easy to follow information to assist caregivers in managing challenges associated with caregiving.
Note: The fact sheets are available in English and Spanish.


The Division for Community Living contracts with human service agencies across the Commonwealth to provide public guardianship services. A public guardian visits with each client, personally, at least once a month, and depending on the client's needs, supervises medical care, oversees residential care, monitors social service benefits, and advocates on the behalf of the client


The Brain Injury Services Coordination (BISC) Unit serves as a point of contact for internal and external customers seeking general or agency-specific information about brain injury resources. Patti Goodall, Program Director of the BISC Unit , talks about the three-year, $900,000 grant that will enhance access to services and supports for Virginians with traumatic brain injury.