The Gardens of Virginia Beach is a senior living community with several levels of care, including Assisted Living, Memory Care, Respite Care, and Short-Term Stays, and they've got independent living and home care services too, so some folks have aides helping them right in their own homes and others have options if they're able to live on their own without regular help, and they've set up this community in a garden-style layout with a courtyard, community gardens, a lake, and even a pond, and there's a gazebo and walking paths, which give it a peaceful feel and a safe space for people and their pets-they're pet-friendly, with pet therapy and a dog park-and you'll find residents out for walks or tending flowers. Meals come three times a day in restaurant-style dining rooms, or sometimes in private dining rooms for family gatherings or parties, and they've got this MyChoice Dining Program thing, where diners can pick meal plans with one, two, or three meals included, and a chef runs the Five Star Culinary program, so the meals are supposed to be nutritious, balanced, and made from quality ingredients, and they offer options for folks who need special diets, immunity-boosting foods, or extra help at meals.
They've got all sorts of activities, with a big activity center for group events, clubs, fitness classes, creative and learning programs, and social hours like movie nights or game nights or happy hours, and they run outings to restaurants, shopping, movies, and local attractions, so there's always something going on if you want to join in, while inside there's a card room, library, chapel, resident lounge, and a small movie theater for entertainment, and folks can use community computer workstations too. Their Body-Mind-Spirit approach carries over into things like exercise classes, rehab, and fitness programs run through Outpatient Rehabilitation and the FOX Rehabilitation program, offering physical, occupational, and speech therapies, and residents in Memory Care get extra support through programs like Bridge to Rediscovery and the Dementia Care Program, both run by trained staff on hand all the time, and there's on-site nursing supervision, so folks with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia are looked after in a secure space that's meant to be easy to navigate and calm, with activities that keep them busy and stimulated while reducing confusion and wandering.
For people needing daily help, caregivers assist with personal care like bathing, dressing, and medication, and services cover housekeeping, laundry, linens, scheduled transportation for appointments or outings, and even a beauty salon/barbershop right on-site for haircuts or grooming. All rooms have access to basic cable and high-speed internet, and some independent apartments or cottages have full kitchens or kitchenettes for those who like to cook, and they've got covered parking, community security with a gated entrance, and the campus is accessible for wheelchairs or walkers.
There's spiritual support too, with scheduled religious services right in the chapel and chances to volunteer, so the social side is busy, but plenty of ways to keep to yourself when you want quiet. Staff get recognized for being both skilled and compassionate, treating residents with respect, and the care plans are personalized for each person's health, mobility, and preferences, with their Five Star Care & Services program making sure needs are met regularly and thoroughly. The place is licensed and checked twice a year for state compliance, and they've earned awards like Best of Senior Living and All-Star, which means others have noticed their efforts. People talk about the friendly, home-like atmosphere, where staff and residents seem to know each other well, and the programs and services are set up to try to keep everyone independent, healthy, and safe as long as possible-whether they're busy with friends, resting in the activity studio, swimming in the indoor heated or outdoor pool, using the fitness center, or just relaxing in a sunny spot by the pond.
