About RAFT

RAFT’s mission is to keep older adults thriving in their communities!

RAFT, The Regional Older Adults Facility Mental Health Support Team, is one of the programs of the Regional Projects Office in Northern Virginia. RAFT has been supporting older adults with mental illness and dementia for over 10 years, assisting older adults achieve and maintain successful community-based placements!

How We Do This

The RAFT program provides direct intensive mental health services to older adults, trainings and consultations in Assisted Living and Nursing Homes, as well as to interested individuals and groups in the community.

Trainings and consultations strengthen and increase the community’s skill, knowledge base and confidence in serving this high-risk population.

The RAFT team is mobile and provides these services in the individual’s residence throughout Northern Virginia in RAFT Partner Communities.

Service Areas

  • Alexandria
  • Arlington
  • Fairfax
  • Loudoun
  • Prince William

We make things better through collaboration

RAFT collaborates with CSBs, Long Term Care Communities and other community partners to support older adults with serious mental illness and dementia with challenging behaviors live successfully in their communities.

Benefits

RAFT bday cake

Keeping Seniors Near Friends, Family and Community Supports

RAFT fills a vital community need for older adults who require intensive, specialized mental health services. The RAFT program makes it possible to discharge older adults from Piedmont Geriatric State Hospital, and local hospitals to closer-to-home, and less-restrictive nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Northern Virginia.

RAFT also diverts older adults in Northern Virginia from being admitted to state hospitals by providing intensive mental health services in the community. Keeping frail, older adults near family, friends prevents undue hardships for everyone. State hospitals are hours away from Northern Virginia and keeping individuals in the area allows opportunity to receive treatment in the least restrictive environment.

Costs

RAFT services are funded through DBHDS grants, insurance and sliding scale fees that are low cost/no cost to individuals. If individuals do not have insurance, there is no cost for services.