Get the level of care right first; the rest of the search follows from that.
Fairfax is Northern Virginia's largest jurisdiction by population, and its senior care market reflects that scale - from suburban assisted living campuses to skilled-nursing rehab units tied to a hospital discharge. Because it's Virginia, the first question to answer isn't 'which facility' but 'which kind of license.'
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), Division of Licensing Programs, licenses Assisted Living Facilities under 22VAC40-73. Nursing facilities - including many short-term rehab stays after an Inova Fairfax Hospital discharge - are licensed separately by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Office of Licensure and Certification. If a Fairfax County campus offers both, it may hold licenses from both agencies for different parts of the same address.
The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging (Division of Adult and Aging Services) is a strong first call for general questions, and can connect you to the regional long-term-care ombudsman covering Fairfax County. For a direct line to the state program, the Virginia Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman is reachable at (804) 565-1600, or search the DARS online directory for your specific ombudsman contact.
Families moving a parent out of Inova Fairfax Hospital into short-term rehab are often working on a compressed timeline. It's still worth a same-day call to confirm the receiving facility's VDH license status - hospital discharge planners can usually help make that call quickly.
A free DC-metro advisor can point you to the right jurisdiction, the right regulator, and the right ombudsman - no guesswork.
Or call (571) 497-4418