Fairfax City Leaders Review Strategies To Support Growing Older Adult Population

FAIRFAX, VA — Fairfax City leaders reviewed the expanding network of services dedicated to Fairfax’s older residents, emphasizing a shift toward proactive outreach as the 50-plus demographic grows to represent one-third of the city’s population.

Human Services Director Lesley Abashian presented a "Dream Team" of city staff to the Fairfax City Council at its Tuesday night work session, outlining a framework for "age-friendly" livability. The discussion focused on the dual challenges of social isolation and the rising cost of living for seniors.

Although 7,000 people have taken advantage of the city's senior services since it began tracking membership, 1,500 unique members accessed those services from April 2025 to April 2026, which breaks down to about 60 percent county residents and 40 percent from the city.

While many seniors in Fairfax own their homes, city staff warned that financial stability does not prevent social decline. Jay Davison, a community paramedic with the city's Community Response Team, told the council that many residents are "surviving, but not thriving."

"If you're well below the survival mark, I can get you lots of services, but if you're just treading water, it makes it very hard for us to connect them to things," Davison said.

RELATED: Rising Costs Of Willard Sherwood, Other Projects Addressed By City Council

Malika Walters, a CRT licensed clinician, noted that many "middle-income" seniors are ineligible for county-level subsidies despite needing help, creating a gap in the city’s safety net.

The Fairfax City Police Department reported that fraud, welfare checks, and traffic-related incidents are the primary points of contact with residents aged 65 and older. Master Patrol Officer Carrie Johns noted that detectives are increasingly working with banks and the regional Financial Exploitation Prevention Task Force to identify scams targeting seniors before life savings are lost.

Councilmember Tom Peterson raised concerns about homeowners who fear being priced out of their houses by rising taxes and maintenance costs.

In response, Finance Department representatives noted that the city’s real estate tax relief program provided approximately $1.3 million in benefits to 250 qualifying elderly and disabled residents last year. The program offers up to 100 percent tax credit based on income and asset thresholds.

Decisions and Next Steps

• Expansion of Outreach: The City Council expressed a desire to move beyond "one-off" referrals toward a more integrated system that identifies isolated seniors through neighbor check-ins and partnerships with local clubs.
• Caregiver Support: Mayor Read identified a critical need for expanded resources for "burned-out" caregivers, who often face their own health crises while supporting spouses or parents.
• Sherwood Integration: The city will continue planning the transition of senior services to the Willard Sherwood Center from the aging Green Acres Center to accommodate the projected increase in the 50+ demographic over the next five years.