751 Hillsdale Dr, Charlottesville, VA 22901
To contact a resident: (434) 973-1155
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Our Lady of Peace
Pros
The building is clean and the staff are amazing.- Dana and Lori are incredible to work with, and their kindness and thoughtfulness help residents feel comfortable and part of the community.
- One reviewer recommends Our Lady of Peace to anyone looking for a place to feel at home.
- The environment is warm and friendly.
- The priests provide good, pertinent and interesting homilies.
- The experience is described as always a pleasure.
Cons
One reviewer described the facility as overrated and not worth recommending.- Another reviewer said the dining room issues and staff ignoring questions about meals were ridiculous, and they would not recommend the place.
- A third reviewer noted poor food quality with a staff member named Alex ignoring special requests, and meals described as rubbery and cold.
- A fourth reviewer called the facility horrible, claiming it overpromised and underdelivered, with reports of patients found in feces and urine and inadequate discharge planning.
- A nurse reviewer stated the care did not meet a five-star standard or the $7,500-per-month price, urging families to look for long-term care elsewhere.
Review
This community is best suited for seniors who prize a warm, home-like atmosphere and strong, personal relationships with caregivers. Families that value kindness, steady reassurance, and a sense of belonging will find this setting appealing, especially when spiritual or social programming adds continuity to daily life. It is less suited for residents who require tightly managed clinical oversight, perfectly predictable dining, or highly flexible dementia care plans that accommodate a wide range of behaviors and needs. In short, the best fit is a resident who thrives on attentive, personable care and a welcoming community, while patience and vigilance will be essential for those weighing higher expectations for operations and consistency.
The strongest positives center on environment and caregiving relationships. The building is clean and calm, which immediately supports comfort and routine. Front-line staff is repeatedly described as compassionate and responsive, with Dana and Lori singled out for their warmth and helpfulness. Families report feeling listened to and included in daily life, not treated as expendable or anonymous. The cultural fabric, friendly residents, ongoing pastoral offerings, and practical, approachable staff, creates a sense of home that can ease anxiety for new admissions and sustain engagement over time.
Yet there are substantial red flags that cannot be dismissed. Several accounts highlight deficiencies around food service, including unaddressed special requests and meals that are cold or unappealing. The demeanor of the dining operation, whether viewed as a routine weakness or a management failure, casts a long shadow over daily satisfaction and trust in the facility’s ability to meet basic resident preferences. More troubling are reports of serious cleanliness lapses, with residents found in distressing conditions and rooms in disarray. When multiple families raise similar concerns, the implication is not merely a glitch but a systemic vulnerability that demands immediate scrutiny and corrective action.
The gap between the positives and the negatives hinges on reliability and safety. The favorable experiences demonstrate that a nurturing staff and a homelike vibe can produce meaningful improvement in mood, participation, and perceived quality of life. However, the severity and frequency of the negative incidents, especially around basic hygiene, consistent meal service, and responsive care during nonstandard dementia scenarios, undercut confidence in stable, long-term outcomes. This is a setting where favorable anecdotes can coexist with alarming deficiencies, making consistent performance the critical question for any prospective resident.
For families who must minimize risk in cleanliness, nutrition, and care coordination, alternatives deserve careful consideration. If meals and dietary customization are non-negotiable, or if a resident’s dementia care requires flexible, individualized planning beyond cookie-cutter approaches, other Charlottesville-area options with stronger track records in food service and housekeeping should be explored. Likewise, if the priority is unwavering safety and discharge planning that never leaves families guessing, it is prudent to compare facilities with transparent processes, robust state history, and demonstrable stability in nursing leadership and housekeeping.
Practical, check-the-box due diligence should precede any commitment. Schedule an in-person tour with a focus on meal service, housekeeping routines, and nursing oversight. Request candid conversations with the dietary manager, the director of nursing, and several frontline staff to gauge consistency and responsiveness. Review the most recent state survey results and any deficiencies, paying attention to repeat issues and management’s corrective actions. Verify staff-to-resident ratios and turnover, and seek out few firsthand accounts from current residents or family members about day-to-day life, especially around meals and bathroom hygiene. If these tests pass and the community’s warmth aligns with expectations, a short-term stay or trial period can confirm fit before a longer commitment is made.
1-bedroom apartments
Assisted Living
Independent Living
Memory Care
Skilled Nursing Facility
Activities on-site
Devotional services off-site
Dining room
Full kitchen
Garden
Indoor common areas
Party space
Security gate
Charlottesville-Albermarle (5 miles away)
Ambulatory care
Diabetic care
Meal preparation and service
Medication management
Physical therapy
English
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