Iliff Nursing & Rehab Ctr in Dunn Loring, VA

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Pros

• The staff at Iliff are friendly and kind, making residents feel safe and cared for.
• Iliff is a clean, well-maintained facility with bright, comfortable rooms.
• Families report that the nursing staff, therapists, and support team provide wonderful care during recovery.
• The rehab team is effective and motivates residents to participate in therapy.
• JR and the activities team are a positive, uplifting force that brings joy and belonging to residents.
• The facility’s environment is calm and welcoming, with good food and pleasant outdoor areas.
• Admissions and social services staff are helpful, informative, and responsive to questions.
• The overall management and leadership are described as professional and dedicated to patient welfare.

Cons

• The staff are overwhelmed with too many patients, and there is a persistent lack of communication with patients and families.
• A reviewer alleges that a patient contracted Covid and pneumonia at Iliff and that nurses failed to test promptly for flu and Covid.
• One description notes a back-hall room that was tiny, with two beds and a shared unheated bathroom, left the patient feeling they had no dignity and led to an AMA departure.
• The facility is described as old, shabby, dirty, and with a strong urine odor in places.
• Front desk staff are said to be unhelpful, often on their phones, and not responsive to basic needs.
• A review claims the place is not safe, recounting an incident where a dementia patient intruded into a room and staff did not adequately protect the resident.
• Some reviews call the food inedible and describe the overall care as uncaring and unprofessional.

Review

Iliff Nursing & Rehab Center in Dunn Loring, Virginia is best suited for families seeking a warm, person-centered rehab and long-term care environment where the staff is consistently described as kind, patient, and dedicated. The facility earns trust where recovery and daily living matter most: a structured rehab program delivered by engaged therapists, combined with attentive nursing and supportive social services. For families prioritizing a clean, well-maintained campus, recent renovations, pleasant common areas, and a visible emphasis on comfort, Iliff often checks the right boxes. The evidence is strongest for short-term rehabilitation after surgery or acute illness, where gentle encouragement, clear routines, and a stable caregiving staff support meaningful progress. Those who value a strong community feel, friendly front-desk personnel, approachable aides, and an activities program that keeps residents engaged, will find Iliff particularly compelling.

That said, there are clear signals to consider alternatives, especially for families with heightened concerns about consistency and responsiveness. A subset of reviewers recounts communication gaps between staff and families, delayed nursing responses, and difficulties in coordinating admissions or care plans. Several accounts describe rooms that felt crowded or undersized, or issues with room assignments and noise, which can worsen for residents needing quiet, privacy, or predictable routines. Multiple comments highlight challenges with the front desk or social work follow-through, and a few families report disquieting experiences around discharge planning or bedside care. When a loved one depends on rapid, reliable updates or highly proactive oversight, these reports merit serious weight and suggest that a facility with a demonstrably consistent communication protocol may be a better fit.

The strongest positives at Iliff cluster around the human side of care and the rehab engine driving recovery. Staff members are repeatedly praised for kindness, warmth, and a genuine concern for residents’ well-being. The therapy teams are described as capable, engaged, and effective at advancing mobility and function, with anecdotes of patients regaining activity and participating in therapy in ways that felt meaningful after serious injuries or surgeries. Cleanliness and a well-kept campus emerge in many reviews, complemented by renovated rooms, pleasant surroundings, and appealing dining experiences in several favorable reports. The activities leadership, particularly the department around JR and the broader programming, gets heartfelt applause for fostering joy, inclusion, and a sense of belonging. For families that want a facility with a culture of care and visible staff investment, these elements can outweigh other concerns.

However, the cons in the mix cannot be ignored when sizing up Iliff as a decision point. The most consequential recurring concerns revolve around staffing pressures and variable responsiveness, especially for more fragile residents who require frequent assistance. Reports of delayed calls, rooms that feel less than ideal, and inconsistent attention to routine needs raise questions about reliability during off-peak hours or busy shifts. A handful of reviews recount odor or cleanliness inconsistencies, worries about infection control, and experiences where residents or families felt overlooked or under-supported during critical moments. Safety is another thread in the negative feedback, with anecdotes about supervision and room changes and questions about how well certain incidents were resolved. Taken together, these cautions point to a facility that can deliver excellent, compassionate care, and also a place where gaps in process and communication can have real consequences if not actively managed.

When weighing pros against cons, Iliff can deliver disproportionate benefits for families who actively partner with the staff and maintain a clear, specific care plan. The strong rehab orientation, the presence of a devoted therapy team, and a culture of kindness create measurable value for residents whose goals center on regained independence, confidence, and daytime engagement. The renovated environment and appealing common spaces amplify comfort for long-term stays, and the comprehensive support, from admissions through social services to activity programming, helps families feel present and informed. For these residents, the offset from occasional communication hiccups or room-level frustrations can be substantial, translating into steady progress, better mood, and a sense of security in daily routines.

The practical path for families considering Iliff is to enter with precise expectations and a plan for ongoing oversight. Schedule a tour focused on care coordination: ask to meet the nurse manager and the therapy leadership, request current staffing ratios and per-shift coverage, and review the daily care schedule to understand how nights and weekends are staffed. Insist on a clear, written care plan with milestones for rehab goals, and ask how communications are handled when questions arise, who will provide daily updates, and how quickly can family messages be addressed. During a stay, request regular family conferences and insist on timely responses from admissions, social services, and nursing leads. In the end, Iliff stands out as a viable, even strong choice for families who prioritize warmth, rehab intensity, and a well-tended environment, while recognizing that a vigilant, proactive approach is essential to mitigating the risks some families have experienced.

This part of Dunn Loring, Virginia, offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With a variety of restaurants, cafes, and pharmacies within close proximity, residents can easily access essential resources for their daily needs. The presence of reputable physicians and hospitals nearby provides reassurance for seniors in terms of healthcare accessibility. Additionally, the abundance of parks and theaters offers opportunities for leisure activities and entertainment. The convenient access to public transportation hubs like the Tysons Corner Metro Station further enhances the convenience of living in this area. Overall, Dunn Loring presents a vibrant and well-equipped community for seniors looking to settle down in a welcoming and accessible neighborhood.

Restaurants

• Phoenicia Resto & Lounge (0.7 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)
• Patsy's American (1.5 miles)
• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)
• Shake Shack (2 miles)
• Eddie V's Prime Seafood (2.1 miles)

Physicians

• Virginia Heart (1.1 miles)
• Otolaryngology Associates, PC (5.2 miles)
• Burke Allergy & Asthma Center (7.1 miles)

Cafes

• Simply Social Coffee (1.2 miles)
• Mom & Pop (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (1.7 miles)
• Shotted Specialty Coffee (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.3 miles)
• Paris Baguette (2.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)

Parks

• Tysons Pimmit Park (1.5 miles)
• Foxstone Park (2.7 miles)
• Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (3.8 miles)
• Daniels Run Park (4.3 miles)
• Van Dyck Park (4.8 miles)
• Fairfax Memorial (5.3 miles)
• Bluemont Junction Trail (5.5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Tysons Corner 16 (2 miles)
• ShowPlace ICON at The Boro (2.4 miles)

Transportation

• Tysons Corner Metro Station (2.1 miles)
• Vienna/Fairfax - GMU Metro Station (2.8 miles)
• East Falls Church Metro Station (3.5 miles)
• Ballston-MU Metro Station (6 miles)

Hospitals

• Inova Fairfax Medical Campus (2.2 miles)
• Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (2.2 miles)
• Labor and Delivery - Fairfax Hospital (2.3 miles)
• Sibley Memorial Hospital (6.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• McLean Islamic Center (3.5 miles)
• Islamic Center Northern Virginia Trust (7.1 miles)