Data & State Plans for Aging Services

In accordance with the Older Americans Act of 1965, as amended, and pursuant to § 51.5-136 of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), as Virginia’s designated State Unit on Aging, is mandated to submit a State Plan for Aging Services to the U.S. Administration on Community Living (ACL), the Governor, and the General Assembly.

Draft Amended State Plan for Aging Services (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2027)

In 2023, DARS issued its current Virginia State Plan for Aging Services (October 1, 2023-September 30, 2027).

Since that time, the federal Administration for Community Living (ACL) has issued revised federal Older Americans Act (OAA) regulations (45 CFR Part 1321) and new State Plan Guidance (OMB # 0985-0083) that requires states to update their current State Plans by October 1, 2025.

DARS has drafted amendments to the current State Plan to bring it into compliance with the new federal regulations and State Plan Guidance. The draft amendments include:

• These sections have been revised: Letter from the Secretary of Health and Human Resources; Letter from the DARS Commissioner; Verification of Intent; Attachment A: Assurances; and Attachment B: Information Requirements
• Attachment B includes Virginia’s intentions for Grab and Go meals and Program Development and Coordination Activities (PDCA)
• These sections have been added: Attachment D: Geographic Services Boundaries and Attachment E: Evidence of Public Comment
• This section has been removed: Appendix 6: Listing of Area Agencies on Aging, which is now contained in the new Attachment D

As required by federal regulations and the State Plan Guidance, DARS is hosting a 30-Day Public Comment Period on the draft amended State Plan from March 24 to April 23, 2025.

• To make a public comment via the Town Hall website, please visit:Virginia Regulatory Town Hall (GDForum ID: 2688)
• Written public comments may also be submitted:
• Via Mail: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, C/O Charlotte Arbogast, 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Henrico, VA 23229
• Via Email: stateagingplan@dars.virginia.gov
• Via Fax: (804) 662-7663

DARS will also be hosting a Virtual Public Hearing on the draft amended State Plan on Friday, April 11, 2025 at 1:00 P.M.

• To register for the Virtual Public Hearing please visit: https://dsa-virginia.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_HLTAjJClQ9uOXMHjElpEuw
• The Virtual Public Hearing will include live captioning and ASL interpretation
• If you have questions or need additional accommodations, please email stateagingplan@dars.virginia.gov or call (804) 662-7093

The final amended State Plan for Aging Services must be submitted to ACL by July 1, 2025. Once the amended State Plan is approved by ACL, a final version will be available on this webpage.

Virginia State Plan for Aging Services (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2027)

Guided by federal requirements and grounded in a comprehensive needs assessment process, DARS developed the State Plan for Aging Services in collaboration with older Virginians and caregivers as well as the state's aging network, state agencies, Virginia universities, and stakeholder organizations. Submitted to the Administration for Community Living (ACL) on June 30, 2023, the Virginia State Plan for Aging Services received ACL approval on September 19, 2023.

2022-2023 Needs Assessment Process

To inform the State Plan for Aging Services, DARS completed a comprehensive needs assessment. The needs assessment process produced a series of materials, which can be found on this webpage.

These materials include: 1) a complete statewide report with the results of a September 2022 survey of older Virginians, 2) an executive summary of the September 2022 statewide survey report, 3) reports for each Area Agency on Aging (AAA) with the results of the September 2022 survey for their planning and services areas (PSAs), 4) a 2023 statewide report with the results of listening sessions with stakeholders as well as an analysis of data and trends related to the conditions and characteristics of older Virginians as conducted and produced by the Virginia Center on Aging, and 5) a December 2022 report on the in-home services and home modification needs of older Virginians.

2023 State Agency Reports on Aging

As required in § 51.5-136 of the Code of Virginia, DARS collected state agency reports on the impacts of aging on their services, operations, and workforce. State agency reports can be found via the SharePoint link below.

Demographic Data on Aging for Virginia

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If you have general questions about the Virginia State Plan for Aging Services please contact:

Charlotte Arbogast
Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
8004 Franklin Farms Drive
Henrico, VA 23229
E-mail: charlotte.arbogast@dars.virginia.gov
Phone: 804-662-7093
Fax: 804-662-7663