Personal care aides (PCAs) in Alexandria provide hands-on help with the activities of daily living — bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers, eating, mobility — for seniors who need physical assistance beyond what companion caregivers can provide. Alexandria-area rates run $28–$45 per hour (20 to 30 percent above the national average of national average). PCAs typically hold Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) credentials in Virginia, plus additional training for specific care needs.
What personal care aides do
The six ADLs:
- Bathing — showering, sponge bathing, hair washing
- Dressing — choosing and putting on clothes, including buttons and shoes
- Toileting and continence care — getting to and using the toilet, hygiene afterward
- Transferring — bed to chair, chair to toilet, lying to sitting
- Eating — feeding assistance once food is prepared
- Walking and mobility — safe ambulation around the home
PCAs in Alexandria also support IADLs (meal prep, light housekeeping, medication reminders, errands).
PCA credentials in Virginia
Virginia typically credentials personal care aides through:
- Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA): 75–120 hours of state-mandated training + competency exam
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA): similar training, more common in facility settings
- State-specific PCA credentials: some states have separate personal care attendant certifications
Verify caregiver credentials individually — agency licensing doesn’t automatically certify each caregiver.
Cost of PCA services in Alexandria
- Hourly: $28–$45 (20 to 30 percent above the national average of national average)
- 20 hours/week: $2,400–$3,870 monthly
- 40 hours/week: $4,816–$7,740 monthly
- Live-in: $9,000–$14,000/month for CHHA-credentialed live-in care
Who pays for PCA in Alexandria
- Private pay (most common)
- Long-term care insurance after ADL trigger
- Virginia’s Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC Plus) waiver for income-eligible Alexandria seniors
- VA H/HHA program for eligible veterans through the Washington DC VA Medical Center
- Medicare home health (only as part of short-term episodes ordered by physician)
How to vet a Alexandria PCA agency
- Virginia home care license verification
- Caregiver background checks (multi-state criminal, sex offender, MVR)
- CHHA/CNA credentialing for individual caregivers
- Consistency — same caregiver per visit, 80%+ goal
- Reference calls with 2 current Alexandria clients
A free 15-minute call with a senior care advisor can identify Alexandria-area PCA agencies that match your parent’s specific ADL needs. Talk to an ElderCareServicesNearMe advisor when you’re ready.
