Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the most common questions from website visitors and from those who have attended presentations we frequently give in the community..
What is aging in place? Aging in place is more than just planning to stay in your own home. Most older adults prefer to do that even when facing serious health or disability. However, to age in place you should consider a deliberative planning process that includes personal reflection, conversations with family or those who are important to you, and taking action. Our website contains information that can help you plan ahead or to take action when you have health or other issues that make decisions about aging in place something you need to do right away.
I want to find ways to combat loneliness and boredom. Can you help with that? Please sign up for our newsletter where you can find several free events each month that may make it easy for you to connect with others. Also, the Healthy Aging section on our website describes various social activities around Reston as well as lifelong learning and volunteer opportunities.
Why don’t you provide services? Our county and community are rich in the resources older adults may need to age in place and that may be offered elsewhere by what are called Villages. The problem in Reston is that many people do not know about those resources. Our mission is to educate and inform Reston residents about how to age in place. We partner with nonprofit organizations such as Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia that provide services such as rides or simple home repairs. We partner with other community partners that provide services commonly associated with aging in place.
Do you have a toll-free number? No, we don’t have one or a local hotline. Almost all the resources listed on our website link to nonprofit or governmental organizations that have phone numbers. If you have questions about resources or Reston for a Lifetime, however, you can contact us via the website or email us using our info at restonforalifetime dot org address. Fairfax County does have a hot line that may be a good source of information for you. (703) 324-7948 TTY 711 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where can I find someone to help me with minor home repairs? There are a number of local organizations that can help around the house with minor repairs (those not requiring specialized or lengthy effort) such as Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia or Reston Useful Services Exchange. Habitat for Humanity will provide repairs or modifications for low-income individuals who are 62 and older and live in a single family or townhome in Fairfax County. You can find vetted vendors using Best Pick Reports or Consumers’ Checkbook and multiple listings on the Positive Aging Community website.
You have sponsors listed on the site. Does this mean that you endorse them? We do not endorse our sponsors. Sponsors provide the financial means for us to carry out our mission and some of them provide services that may help you age in place.
Do you provide information on home modification? It’s true that more than 80% of older adults want to stay in their own homes as they age. But many people have questions about how to adapt their homes to be age friendly. We have an online tool called My Aging in Place Housing Plan that can help you navigate making a home more age friendly. You can also find links to organizations and articles about this topic in the website’s Housing section.
Where can I find someone to help me with minor home repairs? There are a number of local organizations that can help around the house with minor repairs (those not requiring specialized or lengthy effort) such as Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia or Reston Useful Services Exchange. Habitat for Humanity will provide repairs or modifications for low-income individuals who are 62 and older and live in a single family or townhome in Fairfax County. You can find vetted vendors using Best Pick Reports or Consumers’ Checkbook and multiple listings on the Positive Aging Community website.
Is Reston for a Lifetime a Village? Typically, Villages provide a variety of services through staff or volunteers such as rides, simple home repairs, tech help or social events that help someone age in place. Our job is to educate and inform our community’s residents about existing resources and to share information about services that help our older residents stay independent for a lifetime. We currently represent a different Village model because we don’t provide direct services by staff or volunteers. Reston for a Lifetime belongs to the Village to Village Network and the Washington Area Village Exchange.
What about starting a kind of village in my cluster, church or condo association? We have historically encouraged organized entities around Reston such as town house clusters to consider setting up a volunteer program that allows their older residents to age in place. We call it Neighbors Helping Neighbors. There are start-up materials available upon request through our website. And, Fairfax County employs someone tasked with helping Villages get off the ground, educational opportunities or with ongoing help with management. Our board is open to helping get such a group off the ground as well.
Where can I get free rides to go shopping or for a doctor’s visit? In Reston, we are lucky to have more than one organization that provides rides from vetted volunteers. Both RCC Rides, Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia and Reston Useful Services Exchange (a volunteer time bank) as well as the Herndon Village Network in zip code 20191) provide rides. All require signing up and planning ahead. Some Medicare Advantage plans also offer rides to and from a doctor’s visit or the hospital. Our site contains information on various other transportation options available to Reston residents.
How do I find help with technology? Fairfax County libraries offer technology training for older adults. Our Technology section on the website provides a good overview of what you need to know about technology that can help with aging in place, especially when someone has suffered hearing loss or vision issues.
My family and friends think I should move to assisted living, but I want to stay in my home. At the same time, I should probably look at the options. The Housing section of our website describes many housing options you might consider if you decide to or must move. It also lists ways you can find quality ratings for assisted living or a nursing home. For a comprehensive listing of housing options in Reston and Northern Virginia, visit our partner’s Positive Aging Community website and get a copy of its Sourcebook.