320 Hershberger Road, Roanoke, VA 24012
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Friendship Assisted Living
Pros
The staff are genuinely there to help others and make everyone's visit more enjoyable.- There is much less drama.
- The facility is cosy, comfortable, and happy.
- The staff are great and residents are smiling.
- The kitchen is the best.
Cons
Nurses do not ensure all patients take showers; the food is too tough and salty.- The administration and the staff are incompetent and mean.
- The neglect of the mother over the past year has been well documented and continues despite assurances of improvement.
- A relative reported numerous dirty clothes throughout, clothes not cleaned in a while, a patient wearing a dirty shirt and pajama bottoms, being soaked, and no chux in the chair.
- A second chair has been ruined this year.
Review
This community is best suited for families seeking a warm, homey setting where daily life feels calm and social, and where meals and friendly staff create a comforting backdrop for residents with moderate care needs. In Roanoke, VA, Friendship Assisted Living offers a cozy atmosphere, a stable sense of camaraderie, and a dining experience that many residents and their visitors describe as among the better aspects of the place. It is a viable option for seniors who value a low-drama environment, friendly interactions, and accessible staff who genuinely aim to help during visits and activities. Those who prioritize a strong, reliable medical oversight or whom daily living requires consistent, rigorous caregiving should view this as a facility to scrutinize rather than settle into.
Better-aligned candidates are those who are self-sufficient enough to rely on staff for assistance with occasional tasks, but do not require intensive medical monitoring or highly structured routines. The positives, a lively, approachable staff culture, residents who appear comfortable and smiling, and a kitchen that stands out, can produce a daily life that feels pleasant and reassuring for residents who want sociable moments and dependable companionship. Yet this strength in social ambiance can be overshadowed for anyone who needs prompt, consistent care, careful medication management, and scrupulous attention to hygiene and safety. Families should be aware that a focus on warmth and meals does not automatically guarantee the level of care some individuals require.
The most troubling themes in the feedback center on daily care performance and administration. Reports of neglect over an extended period, documented by relatives and continuing despite assurances of improvement, raise red flags about accountability and oversight. Specific concerns include persistent laundry failures, cluttered or dirty clothes, and a resident left in damp clothing, with inadequate chairs or supports to prevent exposure. The characterization of administration and staff as incompetent and unkind compounds these issues, suggesting a pattern rather than isolated incidents. When care plans and routine tasks, such as laundry, dressing, and basic comfort, are not reliably executed, safety and dignity are placed at risk.
These significant drawbacks do not disappear in light of the facility’s strengths. The pros, genuine kindness from staff, a comfortable setting, visible resident happiness, and a kitchen that earns praise, offer real value for social engagement, enjoyment, and day-to-day morale. For families who can tolerate the likelihood of inconsistent care, those elements provide a genuine home-like atmosphere that can support quality of life in the short term. However, the gravity of the care omissions and the impact on dignity and safety means the positives cannot fully offset the risk for residents with higher care needs or for families seeking predictable, rigorously supervised daily living.
For families weighing options, use a deliberate, evidence-based approach. Schedule multiple, lengthy visits at different times, including evenings and weekends, to observe staff responsiveness and the workflow on the front lines. Request a detailed look at care plans, medication administration processes, housekeeping routines, and laundry handling, and verify that there is a clear system for reporting and addressing concerns. Speak with front-line caregivers as well as administration to gauge consistency and accountability. If the goal is consistent clinical oversight, stronger staffing ratios, and a facility that prioritizes both dignity and safety, consider alternatives with proven track records in reliable daily care or, for higher medical needs, certified nursing facilities.
Bottom line: Friendship Assisted Living can deliver a warm, socially engaging atmosphere and tasty meals that make daily life pleasant for residents who do not demand intense medical oversight. But serious concerns about neglect, inconsistent staffing, and weak administrative accountability tilt the balance away from this community for anyone with notable care needs or a desire for unwavering reliability. Families should compare this option against higher-staffed assisted living facilities and nursing facilities in Roanoke, focusing on care fidelity, housekeeping standards, and real-time responsiveness before making a commitment.
120 resident community capacity
Assisted Living
Air-conditioning
Beauty salon
Cable or satellite TV
Computer center
Dining room
Fitness room
Fully furnished
Gaming room
Garden
Housekeeping services
Kitchenette
Move-in coordination
Outdoor space
Private bathrooms
Restaurant-style dining
Small library
Telephone
Wellness center
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Roanoke Regional Woodrum (2 miles away)
Community operated transportation
12-16 hour nursing
24-hour call system
Activities of daily living assistance
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Medication management
Mental wellness program
Special dietary restrictions
Concierge services
Planned day trips
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