Autumn Care of Madison

Pros

• Autumn Care of Madison is a quaint skilled nursing facility with resident care and well-being as the top priority.
• The staff at Autumn Care of Madison are friendly, helpful, and welcoming.
• The dietary department at Autumn Care of Madison serves delicious, nutritious, and well-balanced meals.
• The Administrator at Autumn Care of Madison is warm, approachable, and deeply involved in resident care; the Director of Nursing leads with expertise and compassion.
• The facility is clean, well-maintained, and offers a home-like environment.
• Autumn Care of Madison goes above and beyond for residents, including short-term rehab.
• The rehab and therapy teams at Autumn Care of Madison provide outstanding, compassionate care.
• Families report that Autumn Care of Madison's staff are attentive, patient, and dedicated to residents' needs.
• The facility offers large private rooms and engaging activities that promote resident well-being.

Cons

• The care was described as terrible and the facility was severely understaffed.
• The bedding was described as the worst ever seen, with shabby blankets.
• Front desk and nursing staff were often unreachable, leaving residents without assistance.
• The food was described as awful and ants were present throughout the facility.
• Garbage and dirty conditions were left unemptied until complaints were made.
• A resident died alone after prolonged attempts to revive him despite a DNR.
• The facility was overpriced for the quality of care and conditions and warranted investigation.
• There were allegations of theft and elder abuse by staff, including neglect and medication delays.

Review

Autumn Care of Madison is best suited for families seeking solid skilled nursing and rehabilitation in a quiet, home-like rural Virginia setting where staff and therapists are often described as genuinely caring and involved. The community shines when leadership is active and visible, and the care teams demonstrate daily resident contact, personalized attention, and a robust rehab program. For families prioritizing private rooms, a calm atmosphere, and a structured daily routine with engaging activities, Autumn Care can feel like a respectful, workable solution that supports recovery and long-term needs.

On the strongest side, rehabilitation and clinical care frequently stand out. Multiple accounts praise the therapy team for consistency and outcomes, with six-day-per-week PT/OT and a patient, encouraging approach that helps residents regain function. The nursing and clinical leadership are repeatedly described as accessible, informed, and committed to transparent communication with families. Large private rooms and a clean, welcoming environment contribute to a sense of dignity and comfort that matters in recovery. The activities calendar and resident council add a tangible texture of daily engagement that supports both mood and social connection.

Yet the landscape is not uniform. A significant share of reviews flag serious downsides that cannot be ignored: chronic understaffing, delayed responses to calls, and lapses in daily housekeeping and sanitation in some periods. Individual reports of medication delays, neglected amenities, and even outright neglect or unsafe conditions appear alongside praise for care teams in other moments. The contrast is jarring enough that families must weigh the likelihood of encountering well-supported care versus episodes of inconsistent attention, especially for residents with high acuity or complex needs.

Those pros - strong rehab, capable clinical leadership, and a calm, welcoming setting - do offset the major cons when the facility operates at a high level and staffing is adequate. In practice, families with medically demanding goals or rehab targets may experience meaningful progress and feel reassured by the core clinical team and the resident-first culture. The presence of a respected administrator and a proactive director of nursing, along with a kitchen and dietary staff praised for meals in some reviews, reinforces confidence that quality care can be sustained, even if occasional staffing gaps occur.

However, there are clear signals to consider alternatives. For families with critical emphasis on consistent staffing, zero tolerance for call-light delays, or a track record of successful infection control and meticulous hygiene, the reports of understaffing and plus/minus occasional lapses suggest a risk nucleus that not every resident can endure. Stories of theft, medication mishaps, or end-of-life care concerns further complicate the calculus for those who cannot compromise on safety and reliability. In short, Autumn Care can be excellent for many, but it requires a careful, evidence-driven inspection of current staffing, governance, and care practices before committing.

To navigate a decision, approach Autumn Care of Madison with a rigorous, fact-find mindset. Schedule comprehensive tours, request to meet the administrator and Director of Nursing, and observe daytime and evening shifts to gauge staffing consistency. Speak with current residents and families about response times, meal quality, and the accuracy of medications and care plans. Review the facility's recent quality indicators, safety audits, and how complaints are handled. If choosing this community, start with a short-term or respite stay to test the environment, then reassess family goals against the ongoing realities of staffing and leadership stability.

Madison, Virginia is a picturesque and charming town with a variety of amenities to offer seniors looking for a peaceful and convenient place to live. With easy access to pharmacies such as Madison Drug Company and Good Neighbor Pharmacy, as well as healthcare facilities like Culpeper Medical and Sentara Madison Family Medicine, residents can rest assured that their medical needs will be taken care of. Additionally, the town boasts a selection of restaurants including Pizza Palace and The Bavarian Chef for dining options. For those who enjoy nature, there are plenty of parks nearby such as Rapidan Wildlife Management Area and Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive where one can take in the beauty of the outdoors. Overall, Madison provides a tranquil setting with essential services close by for seniors looking to enjoy their retirement years in comfort.

Pharmacies

• Madison Drug Company (0 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (11.2 miles)
• Greene Pharmacy (11.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (11.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (11.7 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (11.8 miles)
• Walgreens (14.3 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (0.1 miles)
• BusinessJetz International (3.6 miles)
• Coffey's Taxidermy (9.6 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (11.9 miles)
• 88VA - Belmont Farm Airport (14.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Pizza Palace (0.2 miles)
• McDonald's (0.3 miles)
• Bald Top Brewing Co. (1.1 miles)
• Early Mountain Vineyards (3.5 miles)
• The Bavarian Chef (5 miles)
• Prince Michel (7.1 miles)
• Burger King (11.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Swiftford Baptist Church (0.5 miles)
• Madison Presbyterian Church (1.1 miles)
• Holy Trinity Church (4.3 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (5.1 miles)
• Wolftown Pentecostal Chapel (5.4 miles)
• Grace Baptist Community Church (5.6 miles)
• Harvest Church Of God (6.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Culpeper Medical (0.7 miles)
• Culpeper Regional Hospital (14.2 miles)
• Culpeper Surgery Center (14.3 miles)

Physicians

• Madison Primary Care (0.7 miles)
• Sentara Madison Family Medicine (2.4 miles)
• Orange Dialysis Facility (11.3 miles)
• Orange Pediatrics (11.3 miles)
• Greene Care Clinic (11.5 miles)
• Dermatology PLC (11.8 miles)
• Greene Family Medicine (12 miles)

Parks

• Rapidan Wildlife Management Area (9.7 miles)
• Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive (11.8 miles)
• Hazel Segdwick Park (12.3 miles)
• Sprinkler Park (12.3 miles)
• The Point Overlook (12.4 miles)
• Whiteoak Canyon in Shenandoah National Park (13.3 miles)
• Shenanadoah National Park (13.6 miles)

Cafes

• The Market at Grelen (13 miles)
• Murphys Coffee & Bagel (13.4 miles)