Norfolk Health Care Ctr in Norfolk, VA

Pros

• The staff are friendly and pleasant.
• The facility is clean and well maintained inside and out.
• The therapists are dedicated and provide effective care.
• The activities and recreational therapy programs are superb.
• The CNAs truly care about the patients.
• Overnight registered nurses deliver professional and respectful care.
• The staff love their jobs and show they care for the patients.
• It is a great place for loved ones to recover, with hospitable and hardworking staff.
• The staff went above and beyond to make the patient comfortable.
• The facility is an asset to the community with great ambience and great staff.

Cons

• A family member complained of maltreatment in this facility.
• It was described as the worst place for a family member to stay.
• The nursing staff were described as incompetent and unprofessional.
• They would never recommend the facility to anyone.
• A patient was left in waste for hours, with no proper care or attention.
• Medication was not given on time, or at all, by the staff.
• Elevators were frequently inoperable for extended periods.
• The kitchen and food service were negligent; the meals were often cold and not properly prepared.
• The facility took money from a resident's account without providing an itemized receipt.
• The place should be shut down immediately due to neglect and abuse.
• The facility was described as dirty and foul, with strong odors and roaches.
• The staff were not responsive; calls to the front desk or nursing station were often ignored.

Review

Norfolk Health Care Center in Norfolk, VA is best suited for families that want strong rehabilitative support and an active social environment for a loved one who benefits from steady therapy and structured programming. The facility's core strengths show up in rehabilitation and recreation, where therapy teams and activity staff frequently earn praise for engagement and progress. When a resident responds well to therapy - regaining mobility, increasing participation, re-engaging with peers - families gain confidence that the care team can deliver meaningful improvements during recovery or stabilization. This is a place with a clear rhythm: a full schedule of therapy sessions and a lively activities calendar that can sustain motivation and morale.

However, this center demands vigilant oversight and a willingness to push for consistently high standards of care. Across multiple reviews, there are persistent, troubling accounts of neglect, delays in administering medications, dehydration, and infections that culminate in ER visits or transfers. Several families report rude or unresponsive staff, and leadership that some describe as disengaged or ill-equipped to address problems promptly. Elevator reliability is a recurring nuisance, odors and cleanliness concerns reappear, and a sense that some residents are not being watched closely enough surfaces repeatedly. Those who require unwavering medical management, precise medication delivery, and stringent infection control will want to compare alternatives carefully before deciding.

The strongest offsets to these concerns lie in the facility's therapy and activities strengths. The therapy departments are repeatedly praised for competence and patient-centered care, and the recreational program is highlighted as superb, with events that actively involve families and stimulate residents' cognitive and physical abilities. When therapy and activities run smoothly, residents can experience tangible gains and a more pleasant daily routine, which in turn bolsters family confidence. Cleanliness is not uniformly flagged as a problem by all visitors, and several firsthand accounts describe caring, respectful nurses and aides who take pride in their work. Yet the contrast between excellent therapy/activities and inconsistent day-to-day care remains stark, underscoring that program quality alone cannot fix systemic care gaps.

Staff dynamics matter deeply here and drive outcomes. Some caregivers are singled out for going above and beyond, and administrators praised for responsiveness in certain reviews. Other accounts describe inconsistent attitudes, rude interactions, and uneven follow-through - especially when it comes to medication administration and bedside care. The center's leadership and this variability mean families must expect to engage with the administration regularly, insist on transparent communication, and monitor shifts closely. Prospective residents should request direct conversations with nursing administration, seek clarity on staffing levels by shift, and insist on documented discharge planning and ongoing med management to minimize ambiguity and risk.

Environment and safety present a mixed picture. Several observers describe a clean, welcoming campus with friendly staff and a positive visit experience, while others report persistent odors, dirty rooms, and maintenance gaps that undermine comfort and confidence. The two-elevator setup compounds access issues when one unit is out of service, contributing to delays and occasional safety concerns. Security and front-door accessibility are flagged by some reviewers as incomplete, which can heighten anxiety for families and visitors. Given these factors, families should insist on a current, objective tour, request up-to-date inspection results, and observe daily operations during an initial transition period to verify that conditions align with care goals.

In the end, the decision hinges on what matters most to the family and how much proactive oversight can be sustained. For families that can commit to frequent visits, clear lines of communication with the administration, and a rigorous push for consistent medication rounds and monitoring, Norfolk Health Care Center can deliver meaningful rehabilitation and a robust activity program that enhances quality of life. For those who cannot maintain that level of hands-on advocacy - or who require consistently high-level clinical rigor with minimal risk of neglect or environmental concerns - alternative facilities with stronger nurse staffing, tighter oversight, and proven outcomes in medical management should be prioritized. This community rewards engaged, detail-oriented families who steer care, but it remains a high-stakes choice for those seeking predictable, uniformly excellent clinical performance and daily safety.

This part of Norfolk, Virginia, offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking for a vibrant community. With numerous restaurants offering diverse cuisines within close proximity, residents have plenty of options for dining out. Additionally, the proximity to several hospitals and medical facilities ensures easy access to healthcare services when needed. In terms of transportation, the area is well-connected with access to The Tide light rail system and nearby airports for travel convenience. Residents can also enjoy leisurely walks in the nearby parks or visit places of worship for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this neighborhood provides a mix of convenience, healthcare accessibility, and recreational opportunities for seniors looking to settle in Norfolk.

Restaurants

• Chen Garden Chinese Restaurant (0.3 miles)
• Sanctuary (0.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (0.8 miles)
• Brick Anchor Brew House (1 miles)
• Grace O'Malley's Irish Pub & Restaurant (1.1 miles)
• Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint (1.2 miles)
• Waterside District (1.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Chkd (0.9 miles)
• Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (1.9 miles)
• Portsmouth General Hospital (2.1 miles)
• Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center (4.3 miles)
• Maryview Medical Ambulatory Surgery Recovery (4.3 miles)

Physicians

• Willis, Erica Pediatric Associates (0.9 miles)
• Tidewater Pediatric Consultants PC (1 miles)
• Galan-Dejesus Mariam Np (1.2 miles)
• Ivor Barry Kaplan (1.2 miles)
• Dr Robert F. Castle, MD (1.6 miles)
• Collins Jay N MD-Eastern VA Medical School Department (1.6 miles)
• Duncan Yoder M.D. (1.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Mac Arthur Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)
• Grifols (3.5 miles)

Transportation

• The Tide MacArthur Square Station (1.1 miles)
• The Tide-Newtown Road Station (3.6 miles)
• Norfolk Airport USO (4.8 miles)
• American Airlines Ticket Counter (4.8 miles)
• Norfolk International Airport (ORF) (4.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.1 miles)
• Coalescence Coffee (1.2 miles)
• Starbucks (1.3 miles)
• Cafe Stella (1.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.7 miles)

Parks

• The Pagoda & Oriental Garden (1.2 miles)
• Portsmouth City Park (6.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Twine Memorial Holy Temple (2.8 miles)
• Tabernacle Church Of Norfolk (3.3 miles)
• Third Presbyterian Church (4.8 miles)
• Westhaven Baptist Church (4.8 miles)