Overall sentiment in these reviews is strongly polarized: many reviewers describe The Virginian as a beautifully renovated, resort-like community with outstanding staff and exceptional dining and therapy services, while a significant minority report serious lapses in care, hygiene, and communication that raise safety and quality concerns. The pattern that emerges is one of a campus in transition — substantial investments and visible high-end renovations coexist with pockets of older, poorly maintained spaces and inconsistent operational performance. Prospective residents and families repeatedly praise the modernized independent living units, striking lobby, new dining venues, and several named staff members who provided warm, knowledgeable, and effective support. Yet these positives are tempered by troubling reports from other families, particularly about skilled nursing, memory care, and the basement rehabilitation areas.
Facilities and renovation: Multiple reviews emphasize that recently renovated upper floors and public spaces are pristine and luxurious — ‘‘stunning lobby,’’ new bistro and wine cellar, modern floor plans, and attractive outdoor areas appear frequently. These renovated sections are often described as hotel-like and give many visitors a strong first impression. However, reviewers consistently note a split between renovated independent/assisted living areas and older skilled nursing/rehab spaces. The skilled nursing and basement rehab areas are repeatedly described as outdated, run-down, or deplorable. Renovations are also a source of disruption: closed halls, limited elevator access, and construction activity have affected resident experience. ADA compliance and patio accessibility issues were called out for some renovated units, indicating planning or execution gaps in upgrades.
Staffing, care quality, and safety: Staff-related comments are among the most numerous and most mixed. Many reviewers praise caregivers, CNAs, therapists, and particular employees (several names recur) for being compassionate, professional, and supportive. Admissions and move-in assistance, onboarding, and social staff receive positive mentions. Conversely, there are numerous and alarming reports of staffing shortages, high turnover, short-staffed nursing shifts, delayed nurse responses, and caregivers who seem overworked and frustrated. These conditions are correlated in the reviews with concrete safety and dignity lapses: delayed call bell responses (examples include 10-minute waits and longer), patients left in soiled bedding, missed wound care or medication, improper handling during transport, lack of daily physical therapy despite claims, and in at least one account a patient left on the floor for an extended time. Several reviews mention missing or inappropriate equipment (no correctly sized wheelchair, missing CPAP table, no leg elevation aid) and lack of monitoring cameras or sufficient security, which amplify safety concerns. There are also reports of COVID diagnoses and related handling perceived as inadequate.
Cleanliness, pests, and hygiene: While renovated areas are often described as immaculate, multiple reviews cite serious cleanliness and pest problems in other parts of the facility: rodents and roaches in apartments, apartments smelling strongly (described as like a portable toilet), ants on supplies, garbage cans perpetually full, used bedding on the floor, and expired food items. These issues are not isolated anecdotal complaints — they appear across multiple reviews and are frequently tied to staffing or housekeeping lapses. Families who experienced or observed these conditions expressed alarm and cited them as deal-breakers.
Dining, food quality, and therapy: Dining receives both high praise and criticism. Many reviewers extol the culinary leadership and enjoy excellent meals, with mentions of an executive chef from top-tier hotels and new dining venues adding to the resort feel. Several families report that meals are exceptional and that food delivery and menu options are strengths. At the same time, other reviewers report food shortages, variable quality under a new chef, expired items, and meals that are inedible. Therapy and rehabilitation are similarly mixed: some families report outstanding, even exceptional, OT/PT and rehab outcomes that exceeded expectations, while others describe the rehab basement as subpar and recount poor therapy follow-through or pressure related to Medicare discharge.
Activities, community life, and amenities: Activity programming and social opportunities are frequently mentioned as strengths. Many residents and families appreciate an active schedule, trips, and a pleasant social environment that eased transitions from home. However, some reviews note cancellations, lack of resident interest, or a desire for expanded activities. Amenities such as gardens, fitness centers, libraries, shuttle service, and concierge-like offerings are cited positively and contribute to an overall sense of a full-service retirement community.
Management, communication, and administrative concerns: Communication and accountability are recurring concerns. Multiple reviewers report poor responsiveness from management, unhelpful or unreachable staff at times, and administration that “blew off” concerns. Conversely, some families experienced excellent communication and advocacy from specific team members or departments (admissions, move-in coordination, discharge support). Financial concerns are common: the community is often characterized as expensive, with ongoing fees, annual rate increases, and questions about value — though several reviewers say the pricing is acceptable given the amenities and care. Package handling and shipping procedures (UPS/FedEx) were called out as disorganized. The split in experiences suggests inconsistent management performance across shifts and units.
Notable patterns and overall impression: The most significant pattern is inconsistency. Positive and negative reports are not evenly distributed but tend to align with specific areas and services: renovated independent/assisted living wings, particular staff members, and certain therapy teams receive strong praise; older skilled nursing and rehab wings, some night shifts, and housekeeping in non-renovated zones attract the most serious criticism. Staffing shortages and communication failures are the common thread behind many negative reports. Where staffing levels, training, and leadership are strong, the community appears to deliver an elevated retirement experience; where they are weak, lapses in care and safety are reported.
Implications for prospective residents and families: These reviews suggest that careful, targeted due diligence is essential. Specific recommendations based on the patterns found in reviews: (1) Tour multiple parts of the campus (independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and the rehab basement) at different times of day and ask about which areas are renovated. (2) Ask direct questions about staffing ratios, turnover, how night shifts are staffed, and procedures for call bell response, medication delivery, and infection control. (3) Verify equipment availability (wheelchairs of appropriate sizes, CPAP stands, leg elevation aids) and housekeeping/pest-control protocols. (4) Inquire about recent COVID or outbreak history and how it was handled. (5) Clarify contract terms, fee increases, what is included in the rental or care package, and discharge/Medicare practices. (6) Request references from current residents or families, and follow up on named staff who received consistent praise.
In summary, The Virginian presents as a high-amenity, recently modernized community that can offer excellent dining, activities, and compassionate staff in many cases, but it also exhibits troubling variability in clinical care, cleanliness, and management responsiveness — particularly in non-renovated skilled nursing and rehab areas. Prospective residents should weigh the strong positives against the documented negatives, perform targeted visits and questions, and confirm the specific unit, staffing model, and recent quality metrics most relevant to their needs.
