Inova ElderLink recipient of USAging Aging Achievement Award
Fairfax, VA — Inova ElderLink, a service promoting the well-being, safety and independence of older adults and their caregivers throughout Fairfax County, has received the prestigious USAging 2025 Aging Achievement Award for its program ‘Exploring the Dimensions of Aging through Virtual Reality’. The program allows participants to experience life from the perspective of older adults, highlighting challenges such as social isolation, caregiver burnout, and the progression of conditions like Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
The interactive platform, developed with the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging and Embodied Labs and recognized by the 2025 USAging Aging Innovations & Achievement Awards, recognizes new and innovative ways to support older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers as they live in their homes and communities.
“At USAging, we are proud to celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of the 2025 Aging Innovations & Achievement Awards recipients – especially as we mark the 50th anniversary of USAging and our Annual Conference and Tradeshow,” said USAging CEO Sandy Markwood. “These award-winning programs exemplify the creativity, dedication and impact that define our Aging Network. They are not only improving the lives of older adults and caregivers today, but also shaping a stronger, more supportive future for aging in every community across the country.”
The 2025 USAging Aging Innovations & Achievement Awards honors traditional and new strategies in a range of categories, including advocacy, agency operations, caregiving, economic security, elder abuse prevention, healthy aging, home and community-based services, intergenerational programs, nutrition, social engagement, technology, and workforce development and volunteerism.
“We’re proud to partner with the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging to deliver this impactful caregiver training program,” said Lauren Elcesser, Director of Inova ElderLink. “Thanks to the support of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Department of Family Services, hundreds of caregivers have already benefited. Participants consistently find the training eye-opening and highly recommend it to others.”
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About Inova
We are Inova, Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. With expertise and compassion, we partner with our patients to help them stay healthy. We treat illness, heal injury and look at a patient’s whole health to help them flourish. Through our expansive network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, and outpatient services, Inova provides care for more than one million unique patients every year. Total patient visits exceed four million annually, demonstrating our ability to deliver the best clinical care and ensuring a seamless experience for all who rely on us for their healthcare needs.
Consistently ranked and recognized as a national healthcare leader in safety, quality and patient experience, Inova’s world-class care is made possible by the strength and breadth of our network, our 25,000 team members, our technology and our innovation. In 2025, Inova was named the Health System of the Year by Press Ganey, a national leader in healthcare experience, recognizing our excellence in patient care, team member engagement, and commitment to continuous improvement.
Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and provides high-quality healthcare to each person in every community we are privileged to serve – regardless of ability to pay – every day of their life. More information about Inova can be found at www.inova.org.
About ElderLink
ElderLink, a nonprofit founded in 1990 by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging and Inova, addresses unmet community needs through case management, in-home support, caregiver services, free workshops, and more. Its innovative programs, like Exploring the Dimensions of Aging, continue to expand its impact.
About USAging
USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Our members help older adults and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities. For more information, visit usaging.org and follow @theUSAging on Facebook, X and Instagram.