Frequently asked questions

A senior living advisor helps families understand their options and find the right community. We assess your loved one’s needs, recommend well-matched communities, help coordinate tours, and support you through the move. Think of us as a knowledgeable local guide for a decision most families only make once or twice.

Yes. Porchlight Senior Services is an independent advisory and placement consultancy. We are not owned by any senior living community, and our recommendations are based on your loved one’s needs, preferences, and budget.

We explain exactly how our services work, including any costs, during your first conversation so there are no surprises. Call us at 804-713-6994 or send an email and we will walk you through it.

Some communities pay us a referral fee when a family we help moves in, and families can also hire us for paid advisory services. We explain exactly how we are paid before you commit, and we only recommend communities that fit your loved one.

We work with families across Richmond and Central Virginia, including surrounding counties. We also help out-of-town families who are moving a parent closer to them in the Richmond area.

Absolutely. Many of the families we help are coordinating from a distance. We can handle much of the work by phone, video, and email, and keep everyone informed along the way.

Independent living is for older adults who can manage daily life on their own and want a maintenance-free, social lifestyle. Assisted living adds personal care, such as help with bathing, dressing, and medications, with staff available around the clock.

Memory care is designed for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. It is often the right choice when safety becomes a concern, for example wandering, confusion, or behaviors that are difficult to manage at home or in assisted living.

Common signs include recent falls, missed medications, weight loss, isolation, a home that is becoming hard to maintain, or a family caregiver who is exhausted. A personalized assessment can help you sort out what level of support makes sense.

It depends on your situation. Some families plan months ahead, while others need to move quickly after a hospital stay. We adapt to your timeline and help you move as quickly or as carefully as you need.

Memory care is a specialized form of senior living for people with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. It combines help with daily care, such as bathing, dressing, meals, and medications, with a secure setting, a structured daily routine, and staff trained to support people with memory loss.

Both offer help with daily living, but memory care adds secured doors and outdoor spaces to prevent wandering, staff with dementia-specific training, and activities designed for people with cognitive changes. Many people start in assisted living and move to memory care as their needs change.

Services differ from community to community, but memory care in the Richmond area typically includes 24-hour supervision, medication management, help with personal care, meals and snacks, structured daily programming, and secure outdoor areas. Ask each community how it handles sundowning, falls, hospital visits, and changing care needs.

The best memory care community is the one that fits your loved one’s stage of dementia, personality, medical needs, budget, and where family lives. Visit more than once, including at mealtime, watch how staff interact with residents, ask about training and staffing, and review the community’s inspection history with the Virginia Department of Social Services.

In Virginia, most memory care is provided in assisted living facilities licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services, which has additional requirements for units that serve residents with serious cognitive impairment. Nursing homes are licensed by the Virginia Department of Health.

Generally, Medicare does not pay for the room, board, and personal care that make up most of the cost of memory care, though it may cover certain medical services. Some families use savings, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, or Virginia Medicaid programs. Not every community accepts Medicaid, so ask each one directly.

Most families use a combination of savings, retirement income, the proceeds from selling a home, and long-term care insurance. Some veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for benefits that help offset costs. We help you understand what applies to your situation.

Generally, Medicare does not cover the cost of room, board, or personal care in assisted living. It may cover certain medical services. Medicaid coverage rules vary by state, so we recommend speaking with a qualified elder law attorney or benefits specialist for your specific case.