Overall sentiment across the reviews is mixed but leans positive about the people and the physical environment, with recurring concerns centered on consistency—most notably dining quality and some aspects of personal care and communication. Many reviewers highlight that the facility is clean, well maintained, and convenient for veterans (particularly given proximity to the Salem VA Medical Center). Multiple accounts emphasize a veteran-focused culture, veteran memory-care availability (1 East Unit), and comfortable private rooms.
Staff and clinical care receive considerable praise: reviewers repeatedly call the nurses, aides, and therapists "top-notch," describe staff as caring and friendly, and note that staff often know residents by name and build personal relationships. Specific staff and leaders receive individual acclaim (assistant administrator Heather Legere, nurse Veda, and Sandra Collins are called out positively), and several families describe proactive, timely communication and strong rehabilitation/physical therapy programs. Reviewers also credit the facility with professional handling of COVID testing and outbreak management, and several highlight attentive daily housekeeping (rooms kept spotless) and overall cleanliness.
Dining and food service are a prominent area of divergence. Some reviewers say food is "hot and delicious," praising meals and first-visit experiences. However, an important and recurring negative theme is inconsistent or poor food quality: multiple reviewers complain about repetitive menus, overcooked or greasy meals, and generally poorly prepared food. One reviewer explicitly notes the food remained an issue through 2021. This conflict—some praising meals while others strongly criticizing them—points to variability in dining performance over time and between units or shifts.
A second major concern is inconsistency in care and communication. While many families report proactive updates and attentive staff, others report poor communication, lack of teamwork, infrequent staff checks of patient rooms, and neglected personal hygiene for some residents (reports of unwashed hair, dandruff, foul odors). There are accounts where families felt compelled to intervene repeatedly, and at least one reviewer reported a situation resulting in EMS transport to an outside hospital (Lewis Gale) with the assertion that an illness had been initially ignored by facility staff. These reports suggest that while individually competent staff are often present, training, staffing levels, or supervision may be uneven across shifts or units.
Activities and community life receive positive mentions: at least one event (an apple festival) is recalled fondly, and reviewers note socialization opportunities and residents making friends. The facility’s responsiveness and compassionate care are emphasized in many reviews, and some reviewers call it "the best facility"—particularly praising the cleanliness, communication, and therapy programs.
In summary, Davis & McDaniel Veterans Care Center appears to provide a clean, comfortable, veteran-centered environment with many compassionate, skilled staff and strong rehabilitation services. However, there are consistent reports of variability—especially around food quality, some personal care/hygiene practices, and communication—which result in mixed family experiences. Prospective residents and families should be encouraged by the many positive reports about staff and cleanliness and by the named staff praised for their responsiveness, but they should also ask specific questions during tours about current dining menus, staffing patterns, oversight of daily personal care, and the facility’s protocols for escalating medical concerns to reduce the risk of the negative experiences some families reported.
