VMRC - Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community sits right in Harrisonburg, Virginia, surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Massanutten mountains, and offers seniors a calm place to live with a wide range of services to match whatever level of care they might need, whether they're looking for independent living, assisted living over at Crestwood, memory care, nursing care at Woodland Park, or respite care if they only need support for a little while. Folks can age in place, which means if their care needs change, they can stay put and get more help as needed instead of having to move somewhere new, and the campus is built so people can get around easily, even in bad weather, since a lot of main areas are climate-controlled and connected.
The community pays special attention to wellness, both in body and mind, with a central Wellness Center offering things like exercise classes, relaxation spaces, wellness programs, and a fitness center, and you can also find support for mental health and special programming for residents with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, especially over at their dedicated memory care community, where trained staff are available round the clock and memory-enhancing activities fill the day. People who need help with daily things like bathing, dressing, transferring, or taking medicines get help from the care staff, nursing support is available much of the day along with a 24-hour call system, and there are special services for wound care, occupational therapy, personal assistants, and even podiatry.
VMRC focuses a lot on relationships, so they have activities run both by the community and by the residents themselves, and there's always something going on with games, arts, crafts, educational programs, group outings, social gatherings, clubs, trips, gardening, and guest talks. They built things like the Park Gables Art Gallery, a theater, a lyceum for lifelong learning, a chapel for faith gatherings, and plenty of spaces for arts and entertainment. A beauty salon, barber shop, computer room, gaming room, small library, billiards area, TV room, swimming pool, fitness area, and hobby workshop are right there for everyone to enjoy, and the outdoor gardens are nice for a walk or just to relax.
VMRC built Woodland Park households to have 10-11 housemates living together, which makes the place feel more like a home and less like a big institution, and they work hard to keep things personal and warm between residents and staff. The apartments offer full kitchens, balconies or patios, kitchenettes, private bathrooms, air conditioning, cable, laundry, wheelchair-friendly access, and maintenance-free living, with different floor plans depending on what you want. Housekeeping, linen, and laundry services are standard, and people get help arranging their move-in so it goes as smoothly as possible. Other extras include parking, overnight guest rooms, guest meals, a Main Street store, and easy transportation both for medical appointments and local outings.
Meals are served restaurant-style, with foods for most diets like low-salt, low-fat, low-sugar, vegetarian options, and staff can help with getting and serving meals if someone needs that. The campus has a system for easy movement, and features like sprinklers, handrails, guest parking, and wifi are in place, plus washer/dryers are available. Residents and families can take tours to check everything out before deciding.
VMRC has a faith-based history, with compassion, integrity, and respect playing a big part in daily life, and there are volunteer programs, planned giving options with tax benefits, and a Foundation which supports various funds and annual events like their golf benefit. They provide resources and events for caregivers, help with things like employment, insurance, estate planning, financial guidance, and advice on long-term care and family caregiving, with expert guidance for those who need it. The community stays connected with national and local service directories, has partnerships with sites like VirginiaNavigator and SeniorNavigator, and their staff helps answer questions about moving in, costs, services, and community life, with someone like Joe Hackman handling inquiries about their programs and foundation.
Residents say nice things, and the place has a review score of 4.4 out of 5 from about 110 reviews. The focus at VMRC is on helping seniors stay active, stay connected with others, and have choices as they age, with a steady hand guiding care and services as life changes.
