James River Convalescent Ctr in Newport News, VA

Pros

• Idena Flipping is outstanding and a team player who helps residents stay supported.
• The rehab department is beyond amazing.
• Amber Shoebrook went above and beyond for residents.
• The staff at James River are knowledgeable, caring, and a pleasure to work with.
• The therapy department encourages residents to work hard to return home.
• The management team at Atlantic View has a passion for caring and strives for excellence.
• Great facility with caring employees providing exceptional care.
• The nurses and rehab staff are amazing and dedicated.

Cons

• The facility is described as inhumane, with a resident left sitting in fecal matter for over an hour.
• The building is old, outdated, and in need of remodeling.
• The environment feels depressing, with a strong odor and dirty floors.
• The food is served cold and often resembles dog food.
• Some staff are unprofessional and unresponsive, focusing on their phones instead of residents.
• There is a pervasive lack of empathy and proper care for the elderly.
• Roaches and other sanitation problems have been reported.
• Families are forced to intervene because staff fail to provide basic care.

Review

James River Convalescent Ctr (Atlantic View Post Acute) is best suited for families pursuing aggressive rehabilitation and a post-acute path back home, supported by a highly engaged admissions team and therapists who can drive real mobility gains. The community earns its strongest dividends from its rehab department, where therapists like Amber Shoebrook and the broader PT staff are repeatedly praised for going "beyond" to restore function. For families who want hands-on coordination from a dedicated admissions liaison - Idena Flipping is singled out as outstanding - the transition into care feels smoother, with staff who feel close to the resident's daily progress. In short, the facility works best when the primary goal is strong rehab outcomes and proactive care coordination.

Those who may want alternatives are precisely the ones prioritizing a consistently pristine daily living environment and uniform care across all shifts. Several reviews raise red flags about cleanliness, odors, and pests, along with reports of uneven care quality between day and evening staff. Families who demand unwavering attentiveness, a consistently warm dining experience, and zero tolerance for lapses in basic safety should consider other options. The recurring concerns about infection control, food quality, and systematic responsiveness suggest that a facility with steadier operations and fewer episodic variances could be a better match for some residents.

The key pros - exceptional rehabilitation, engaged staff, and strong caregiver relationships - often offset real-world cons for residents focused on recovery milestones. The rehab team's effectiveness translates into tangible gains: mobility improvements, coordinated therapy plans, and a sense among families that the resident is actively progressing. Admissions coordinators are repeatedly described as supportive, helping families navigate discharge plans and stay engaged in the care process. When the priority is to rebuild strength and return home, these strengths can be the decisive factors that outweigh fluctuations in other areas of service.

Yet the main cons cannot be dismissed. A substantial thread of reviews documents serious lapses in care on some shifts: residents left in unsanitary conditions or not attended promptly, reports of roaches and odors, and accounts of meals served cold or inadequately prepared. Allegations of inconsistent professionalism, especially among evening agency staff, punctuate the picture and undermine trust. Even for families who value rehab, these episodes erode confidence in daily life at the facility and raise legitimate concerns about ongoing safety and dignity.

The tension between strong rehab performance and fragile daily living conditions means outcomes hinge on unit-specific realities and the ability to oversee care closely. For residents whose rehab trajectory is the primary objective and who can maintain close family oversight or robust advocacy, James River can deliver meaningful progress and relief. For others - especially those whose loved ones require constant supervision, equitable care on every shift, and a consistently clean, engaging environment - the risk of abrupt quality changes may justify exploring other options.

Practically, families considering James River should verify several live details before committing. Schedule a focused tour of the rehab unit, meeting the therapy leads and observing patient-therapist interactions. Request recent PT progress notes and a current discharge plan to home, with clear timelines. Inquire about staffing levels across shifts, cleanliness and housekeeping protocols, and any recent management changes that could affect daily operations. Ask to review a current list of incident or complaint resolutions and speak with several current residents or family members about day-to-day care. If the goal is reliable daily care with top-tier rehab, this facility offers a proven engine for recovery; if not, alternatives with stronger consistency across all facets of care should be explored, particularly for long-term needs rather than episodic rehabilitation.

Located in Newport News, Virginia, this area offers convenient access to various amenities that cater to the needs of seniors. With multiple pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS nearby, residents have easy access to their medication needs. Additionally, there are reputable healthcare facilities including Riverside Regional Medical Center and various physicians' offices for medical care. Dining options range from fast-food chains like McDonald's to local seafood restaurants like Crab Shack Seafood Restaurant. For leisure activities, seniors can visit the AMC Hampton Towne Centre 24 theater or enjoy a peaceful walk in Victory Park. Transportation options are also available with Old Point Junction nearby for easy travel. Overall, this area provides a mix of essential services and recreational opportunities for seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient place to call home.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Health Mart Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• Riverside Pharmacy Services (3.5 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (4 miles)

Physicians

• Riverside Ob Gyn (0.9 miles)
• Brentwood Family Practice (0.9 miles)
• Moukalled Darine Dr Riverside Partners In Womens Health Warwick Newport News (2.5 miles)
• Cardiovascular Center of Hampton Roads (2.6 miles)
• Riverside Cardiology Specialists (2.6 miles)
• Patient First - Hampton (2.8 miles)
• Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (3 miles)

Restaurants

• Piccadilly (1.3 miles)
• Crab Shack Seafood Restaurant (1.4 miles)
• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• Tommy's Restaurant (1.8 miles)
• McDonald's (2.3 miles)
• Warwick Restaurant (2.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple (2 miles)
• Warwick United Church of Christ (3 miles)

Hospitals

• Riverside Regional Medical Center (2.5 miles)
• Riverside Regional Medical Center Employee Health (2.6 miles)
• Sentara CarePlex Hospital (3.9 miles)
• Langley AFB Hospital (6.1 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Hampton Towne Centre 24 (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (3 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.6 miles)
• Starbucks (5.9 miles)

Transportation

• Old Point Junction (3.5 miles)

Parks

• Victory Park (4.2 miles)