Norfolk Health Care Ctr

Pros

• The staff seem friendly and the aunt is happy.
• The facility is very clean and well maintained.
• The staff were pleasant and welcoming.
• Care has improved tremendously, with pleasant caregivers and more enjoyable meals.
• Therapists provide the right exercises, and the team is kind and empathetic.
• Crystal is a great nurse, and the healthcare workers greet visitors with smiles.
• The reception is polite.
• Nurses and staff have gone above and beyond to make patients comfortable.
• The therapy department is top notch, and the activities department is also highly regarded.
• The facility is a nice place for family members to be placed.

Cons

• The facility is described as the worst place to have a family member stay, with rude and combative staff from top management to the cleaning crew.
• Medications were not administered on time or at all.
• A family member was left in their own waste for hours every day.
• The nursing staff were incompetent and had a negative attitude.
• The resident's condition deteriorated due to neglect, with infections and even loss of an eye.
• They frequently ran out of patient medications, taking days to restock.
• Elevators were often broken and unusable for hours.
• The food was horrible and not prepared according to dietary needs.
• The facility was dirty, with a strong urine odor and un-mopped floors.

Review

There is a wide range of experiences described by families and patients who interacted with this facility. Some visitors speak warmly of certain staff members and the overall environment, noting that the staff can be friendly, welcoming, and attentive. One person described the staff as seeming good and friendly, with an aunt who seemed happy during visits. Others echo that sentiment at times, saying they haven't met anyone there they felt negatively about after years of visits. Yet alongside these otherwise hopeful observations, a steady drumbeat of serious concerns runs through the reviews, suggesting that for many residents and their loved ones, the care experience is inconsistent and sometimes dangerously deficient.

Several reviews highlight alarming allegations of maltreatment and financial impropriety. One family member explicitly states they would "never recommend them to my dog," citing that a family member was maltreated, money was taken from an account without an itemized receipt, and what they call "horrible business practices." Another critical point is the repeated mention of broken infrastructure, particularly elevators, which were reported to be out of service for extended periods - sometimes for the entirety of a visit or even over months - creating real safety and accessibility concerns for residents and families trying to mobilize within the building.

A more dire voice describes the facility as the "worst place you could ever have your family members stay." The reviewer accuses top management and the cleaning staff of not caring, citing rude and combative attitudes, and persistent failures to provide medications on time or at all. The allegations reach into endangering basic daily needs: a family member left in their own waste for hours each day, pervasive neglect, and a long list of infections that purportedly culminated in severe consequences, including the loss of an eye. The reviewer urges immediate shutdown, painting a picture of a facility that repeatedly fails at basic caregiving duties and patient safety.

Another perspective comes from someone who spent about 20 months as a patient there. They describe a pattern of staff in nursing stations ignoring room-call lights, frequent shortages of patient medications, and the same elevators problems noted by others. They acknowledge two departments - therapy and activities - as strengths, but accuse much of the nursing staff of incompetence and a poor attitude. They recount frustration with the administration and a sense that deserving workers were not valued, even as they observed positive contributions from a few teams within the facility.

There are stories of harm and decline that hit particularly hard, such as a husband who was hospitalized after discharge and then saw a marked deterioration: dehydration, inability to urinate, dark urine when he did, and a urinary tract infection after trying to recover at home. The reviewer emphatically states they would not put an animal in there, underscoring the severity of the perceived risk. Still, within these accounts there are occasional contrasting notes, with some reviewers characterizing staff as pleasant and some days as comparatively better than others. The inconsistency itself becomes a recurring theme.

Not all feedback is uniformly negative. A different thread of reviews highlights improvement in care and a more positive trajectory. Some reviewers report that after initial concerns, the care improved markedly - caregivers being pleasant, meals getting better, cleanliness improving, and the patient staying clean with problem areas tended to. There are explicit appreciations for the therapy team, with one patient praising them for effective exercise plans and empathy, and another thanking therapists for kindness and support. There are even direct compliments to individual caregivers, noting that a particular nurse was "Crystal" and that healthcare workers generally greeted them with smiles and were a pleasure to meet.

There are also accounts that reflect a more hopeful first impression. A reviewer visiting for the first time commented on a well-maintained exterior and a clean, open, pleasant environment inside, with friendly staff. They did note one concrete deficiency - the elevator was broken - but overall they described a favorable impression of the facility and its staff at that moment. Another voice described the facility as a "great" nursing home with a clean, well-kept appearance and very nice staff, indicating that, at least for some, the overall environment can feel reassuring and comforting despite other ongoing concerns.

A number of the stories reveal highly emotional and distressing experiences that left families deeply shaken. One family member described seizures beginning within a short window after admission, with no staff assistance for hours, prompting an emergency response at the hospital. Another account described a parent who felt the facility did not have adequate kitchen facilities, yet remained open and taking in new residents. Such narratives frame the facility as a place where safety lapses and basic capacity concerns can feel tied to larger systemic issues, prompting calls for accountability and reform from those who witnessed or lived through them.

In the end, what emerges is a portrait of a facility that is highly variable in its care experiences. For some residents and their families, there are moments of genuine care, kindness, and professional competence - especially in certain departments like therapy and activities, where staff are described as dedicated and effective. For many others, the experience is marred by serious concerns: delays in medication, poor communication, neglect or inconsistent attention to basic needs, unclean conditions, persistent equipment failures, and troubling allegations about safety and dignity. The contrasting narratives suggest a facility where ongoing, visible improvements are possible, but where pervasive gaps in staffing, training, and oversight have left a portion of residents and their families feeling desperate, frightened, and ready to seek alternatives for care.

If you are considering this facility for a loved one, the compiled experiences suggest two clear takeaways. First, there is a strong urge to conduct your own, careful, on-site assessment - especially around medication handling, response times to call buttons, hygiene standards, and the reliability of essential services like elevators and meal service. Second, it may be important to speak with multiple staff members across shifts, including administration, therapy, and the nursing team, to gauge whether current conditions align with what you need for safety, dignity, and ongoing rehabilitation. The range of experiences in these accounts underscores that while some days and some teams may meet high standards, other days and other teams fall far short, with real consequences for residents and their families.

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)