City Receives Grant to Reduce Social Isolation In Older Residents

Published on February 06, 2026

The grant is part of a statewide initiative to reduce the public-health risk of social isolation.

Fairfax Village in the City has received a $10,000 state grant to help reduce social isolation among older adults in Fairfax City. The funding will support a new volunteer training program focused on effective communication, identifying safety and well-being concerns, and building trust with Village members.

“With this training, volunteers will be better equipped to recognize social isolation and address it before it becomes a crisis,” said Lesley Abashian, Fairfax City’s human services director.

Founded in 2022, Fairfax Village in the City serves 155 members with the support of 70 volunteers. The Village helps older adults remain independent while aging at home by fostering personal connections, providing practical support, and linking members to community resources. Services include check-in calls, visits, and transportation to appointments.

The grant is part of Aging Well with Virginia Villages, a statewide 2025–2026 initiative funded by the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services and managed by the Virginia Villages Collective and the Washington Area Villages Exchange. The initiative aims to reduce the public-health risk of social isolation by expanding volunteer-run, aging-in-community Villages.

“Social isolation affects not just individuals, but the entire community,” said Anita Light, chair of the city’s Village board. “It contributes to cognitive and physical decline, which carries real human and economic costs.”

For information about membership and volunteer opportunities, visit fairfaxva.gov/village.