Burke Health Care Ctr in Burke, VA

Pros

• The patient had an excellent experience at Burke Rehab and was able to return to an assisted living facility after six weeks.
• The staff were kind and professional throughout the stay.
• Caroline and Rosana, the physical therapists, provided outstanding care.
• The rehabilitation program, with a great gym and equipment, was fabulous and the team was outstanding.
• The facility is clean, well kept, and has a welcoming atmosphere.
• Wenny the nurse and Caroline the PT were praised for their loving, attentive care.
• Quincy the nurse tech goes above and beyond to support patients.
• Many reviewers would highly recommend Burke Rehab for its quality therapy and attentive staff.

Cons

• The social worker, nurse practitioner, and charge nurse were described as cruel and uncaring toward the elderly in their care.
• Staff were frequently understaffed and unresponsive, with requests for assistance delayed or ignored.
• Nursing staff were described as rude, impatient, and dismissive, failing to attend to patients promptly.
• The food was reported as horrible and lacking nutritional value, with some meals served cold.
• Cleanliness and infection control were concerning, with precautions not consistently followed.
• Communication and care planning were criticized as disorganized or unclear.
• Rooms and facilities were sometimes outdated, overcrowded, or uncomfortable, with poor lighting and climate control issues.
• Basic safety and care needs were reportedly neglected, including wound care and timely treatments.
• Some staff were described as lacking empathy, with threats or hostility toward patients and families.
• Showers and personal hygiene were skipped or delayed due to understaffing.
• The building was said to smell of feces and urine, and some areas were not properly cleaned.
• Reviewers warned potential patients to avoid Burke, citing abysmal and neglectful care.

Review

This community is best suited for families pursuing a short-term rehabilitation goal after a hospital stay, where the primary objective is to restore mobility and independence through strong physical and occupational therapy in a clean, pleasant environment. The rehabilitation track here has produced compelling recoveries, including cases where a resident entered unable to walk and, after six weeks of therapy, returned to an assisted living setting more capable than at intake. The therapy teams, often highlighted by praise for PTs and OTs who design rigorous progress plans, tend to deliver tangible gains. Clean facilities, approachable nurses, and the general atmosphere on the unit contribute to an experience that can be exactly right for someone whose focus is rehab outcomes rather than long-term custodial needs.

Nevertheless, alternatives deserve serious consideration for residents with higher medical acuity or those needing ongoing, intensive 24/7 nursing oversight, memory care, or highly specialized medical management. The reviews reveal a broad range of experiences, with many families reporting understaffing and slow responses, inconsistent communication, and safety concerns that become acute when medical complexity rises. For someone who requires consistent daily medical attention, regular physician oversight, complex wound care, or dementia-focused strategies, the variability in staffing levels and leadership responsiveness makes Burke Health & Rehabilitation Center a riskier long-term home than some peers.

On the upside, the strongest pro is the rehabilitation engine. The gym is well equipped, and the therapists, particularly in the PT and OT disciplines, are repeatedly described as competent, dedicated, and capable of driving meaningful progress. Instances where residents regain strength, improve walking ability, or achieve discharge criteria to independent living underscore Burke’s core value proposition: high-quality therapy that can shorten hospitalization, support safe transitions, and restore function. Several families recount compassionate, knowledgeable therapy teams and nursing staff who stay with the patient through the critical rehab window, creating momentum that is hard to match in settings that emphasize custodial care over rehabilitation.

Yet the cons slice through the experience with greater bite. Chronic understaffing and uneven nurse responsiveness surface repeatedly, turning routine requests into extended waits and forcing families to intervene. Communication gaps between therapy teams, nursing, and administration create confusion around care plans, progress notes, and discharge planning. The dining experience and overall food quality trails in some families’ expectations, and a number of reviews raise concrete concerns about cleanliness, infection control, and room configurations, especially in shared rooms, where privacy and comfort can be compromised. The building’s age and certain operational practices contribute to the sense that this is a facility in need of a refresh and stronger everyday oversight.

These strengths and weaknesses interact in real-world ways. For families whose priority is aggressive, goal-driven rehabilitation, Burke’s therapy program can offset many daily irritants if staffing on the rehab floors is adequate and consistently available. Positive patient outcomes, the kind that shorten hospital stays, improve gait, and restore independence, can outweigh episodic service gaps when the patient’s rehab trajectory stays steady. Conversely, for anyone facing ongoing medical needs, memory care, or a high risk of complications such as wounds or infections, the gaps in 24/7 nursing coverage, the reports of delayed or incomplete care, and the mixed notes about care planning and follow-through may intensify the risk of adverse events once the patient leaves rehab or transitions from intensive therapy to daily living.

With these realities in mind, Burke should be evaluated through a practical, edge-to-edge lens. The center is not universally unsuitable, but it is not universally ideal either. Families should push for concrete assurances: verify the current nurse-to-patient ratio on every shift, confirm the presence of on-site medical leadership (doctor or nurse practitioner) and how often they visit, and insist on transparent wound care and infection control practices. Demand a clear care plan with defined discharge criteria, regular updates to the family, and a scheduled family care conference well before discharge. Tour rooms to assess privacy in shared configurations, confirm that the building and rooms are clean, and evaluate food service offerings firsthand to determine whether dietary needs and preferences can be accommodated consistently.

For families comparing options, Burke’s rehab-focused strengths should be weighed against the troubling patterns some families report, including miscommunications, perceived indifference, and operational gaps that can undermine a patient’s sense of safety and dignity. If the priority is a facility that will function as a reliable rehab partner with a professional, empathetic therapy team, Burke can be a strong match, provided the assignment aligns with robust staffing and consistent leadership. If the need centers on long-term, memory-focused care or continuous medical management in a high-acuity population, it may be prudent to survey nearby centers with more stable staffing models, stronger physician coverage, and clearer care coordination, to avoid enduring risk factors that show up in the more challenging feedback. In the end, families should arrive at a decision grounded in observed staff reliability, proven therapy outcomes, and a facility culture that demonstrates daily accountability for safety, cleanliness, and compassionate care.

This part of Burke, Virginia offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities suitable for seniors looking to settle down. With several reputable physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals in close proximity, residents can easily access medical care when needed. The area also boasts a variety of restaurants and cafes for dining options, as well as parks for leisurely strolls or outdoor activities. Places of worship are nearby for those seeking spiritual fulfillment. Additionally, there are theaters and transportation options available for entertainment and ease of travel. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded community with essential services and recreational opportunities for seniors to enjoy their retirement years.

Physicians

• Burke Allergy & Asthma Center (0.8 miles)
• Otolaryngology Associates, PC (4.6 miles)
• Virginia Heart (6.8 miles)
• Mount Vernon Medical Group (7 miles)
• Williamsburg Square Family Practice (7 miles)
• Eye Specialists and Surgeons of Northern Virginia (7.6 miles)
• Fairfax Allergy (7.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Wendy's (1 miles)
• IHOP (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• McDonald's (4 miles)
• McDonald's (4.8 miles)
• McDonald's (5.1 miles)
• Mike's American (5.1 miles)

Parks

• Burke Lake Park (2.1 miles)
• Fairfax Memorial (3.1 miles)
• Lake Accotink Park (3.6 miles)
• Daniels Run Park (4.4 miles)
• Van Dyck Park (4.7 miles)
• The Play Ground (4.7 miles)
• Sandy Run Regional Park (5.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.2 miles)
• Peet's Coffee and Tea (6.4 miles)
• Mom & Pop (6.6 miles)
• Starbucks (7 miles)
• Simply Social Coffee (7.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saint Bernadette C (4.2 miles)
• Islamic Center Northern Virginia Trust (5.2 miles)
• Pohick Church (7.1 miles)
• St Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church (7.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (5.7 miles)
• Labor and Delivery - Fairfax Hospital (5.7 miles)
• Inova Fairfax Medical Campus (5.8 miles)
• Inova Vascular Diagnostic and Imaging Services - Fair Oaks (8.7 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Springfield Town Center (5.9 miles)
• Cinemark Fairfax Corner 14 and XD (6.5 miles)

Transportation

• Franconia-Springfield Metro Station (6.2 miles)
• Vienna/Fairfax - GMU Metro Station (6.3 miles)
• Van Dorn Street Metro Station (8.3 miles)