The Best Nursing Home Communities in Arlington County, VA

"I visited this assisted living facility several times to interview some of the residents for a study about seniors. I was a graduate student at the time and interviewed seniors throughout Northern Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland. Some Goodwin House residents had elected to participate in the study. Goodwin House was one of my favorite places to visit because there was a great sense of community between the residents there. Most of them lived independently, having their own apartments with the convenience of meal preparation, maid and medical services. The apartments were very nice, especially on the top floors. Many of the residents I interacted with had packed schedules since Goodwin House offers several activities. A few of the residents chose not to be so social and they had the option to spend more time in their own apartments. The facility is close to several stores and the surrounding area felt pretty safe. There was one floor that exclusively housed nursing home residents. This floor didn't feel like a typical nursing home to me because it was connected to such a large assisted living facilty and nursing home residents had access to several of the resources assisted living facilty community residents did. If I had to choose an assisted living facility for a loved one or myself I would choose Goodwin House. "

"I was the legal guardian for 2 people whom I had to place at Rock Creek Manor Nursing Home. They were very helpful and attentive with both of the residents. My brother, who was psychotic was one of the two people I had placed there. The nurses were very kind to my brother and with Miss Weber. The management team were very helpful with me as the guardian. Of course, I would visit the two people I had placed there at least every other day. The facility was also clean and as the facility was a "lock down" facility I knew that my brother and Miss Weber were both safe and would not wander off."

"I saw a lot of things here that I liked. The home is very, very nice and is I thought the patient rooms I saw were decorated nicely...like a home. More to the point, the nurses here are so nice to everyone and went out of their way to help me take my blood sugar because I became dizzy and light headed while I was here. They just took control, took my sugar, and gave me some orange juice to bring my sugar back up to normal. They all just fawned over me, and to be frank, I enjoyed the kindness. "

"Arleigh Burke Pavilion was a very nice and very nicely run place. It was more focused on assisted living rather than the skilled nursing I was looking for. The grounds and location were very nice. The rooms were an average size. There was some musical activity going on while I was there. I think it's a great place to get into for assisted living and then later on for continuous care. "

"This facility, in northwest DC, is part of Sibley Hospital, but it has its own nursing home. It's on the edge of the city, with a wooded area all around. But its location near the crowded area of Georgetown means it can be hectic to get through; that can also be a benefit, since there are a lot of accommodations nearby. While it can be a little confusing to find your way to the skilled nursing area from within the hospital, there is usually a helpful staff member to help point the way. The place has a very upscale feel: very modern and new-looking, pretty and well decorated. Outside the rooms, there are nice sitting areas, as well as a separate dining area for residents who don't want to eat in their rooms. The food served seems appealing and there are many options available daily. The rooms, some private and some shared, are also very nice and appointed with attractive furniture. The place is well staffed"”and the staff members are very interactive, assisting with meals, engaging residents in conversation. There are scheduled activities daily. Many people assume the long-term nursing care is only for people who have been in Sibley Hospital, but it's not. Because it's located on a hospital campus, there is often an easy transition from hospital to skilled care, which is a plus for many residents. "

"I just love this place because the staff gets so involved with the patient and they are really all about getting people back to life. We had a family member admitted here after a major surgery and he needed some pretty severe rehab to be able to walk again. Well, they work with them here every day and if they don't want to get out of bed and exercise...THEY MAKE YOU DO IT!!! Not in a harsh way or to be mean, but to help get you back to moving. I cannot say enough good things about this rehab team and how dedicated they are. "

"I liked Woodbine Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. It's a very nice place. Availability wasn't immediately available for my mother, so that was unfortunate. It's very well maintained. I like the activities that they had for adults. It was right in the process of being remodeled. I don't remember a pool or a salon, but what I cared most about was that they had memory care facilities. The rooms were a good size. I believe they were set up for two patients."

"My father was placed here for 20 day rehab after being in Virginia hospital center for surgery. he is VERY alert and was taken care of very well, nurse gave his pain meds twice a day and eventually it wasn't working after 5 days so the dr. Klein was able to readjust to new meds for more comfort. he is home now and still seeing the physical therapist he saw at the facility. "

"My grandmother spent the last year of her life in the Alzheimer's unit of the Washington Home. The facilities are quite pristine and well cared for and despite it's large size and high number of patients it really does feel like a close community. The nurses and staff were always available to give status updates although you really have to plan your visit if you want to meet with the doctor. They have a good amount of activities for both the patients and their families. There are also a lot of volunteer opportunities. Visiting hours are fairly standard and the staff can sometimes be somewhat abrupt when the hours are over. Safety was our only main concern while she was there. Because of the unit she was on, there would frequently be other patients walking into her room and upsetting her. Not much can really be done about that I suppose but it really upset her sometimes and made her stressed out at times. "

"Stoddard Baptist Nursing Home does not smell like old people, it does not smell like antiseptic, it does not smell like a hospital, and it does not smell like anything. The place is immaculate. It is so clean. They have a huge staff. I think they have 164 beds, and they have a staff of like 200. They have a lot of people attending to the patients. I went there at different times of the day, and every time I went, my mom was clean, happy, and healthy. They do not just leave people lying around in beds getting bedsores. I like the way they get them up and out into the day room where they can interact with other patients -- or other residents rather -- because they do not treat them like patients. They treat them like people who live there. The staff is very attentive like they are there all the time. They are very caring, and they treat the residents with respect and affection; I love that. My mother is very happy there. She’s well cared for, and I’m happy. She has dementia, so she does not do too much of the activities, but they do have games. They go on outings even. It is a very nice place. I am very comfortable leaving her there. The only thing I do not like about them is the parking situation. They have a parking lot, but it is very small. "

"I am a nursing student. I had the opportunity to visit this facility last year in 2011. For starters, the place smelled of stale urine upon entering the facility. You are greeted by security with the assumption that you owe them money. There was no warm welcome or accommodation. The residents were pretty nice and independent. Some were a little confused and eating out of the trash. I saw at least two staff members walk by one particular man and not mutter a word. The least they could have done was tell him to stop eating from the trash. Nothing. Once I got onto the floor, the Nursing Assistants were very rude towards the residents. Most of the residents on this particular floor have dememtia, so they probably won't be taken serious even if they tried to complain. I sent in an anonymous letter to the Dept of Health. Hopefully they are investigating. I would NEVER send my family member to this place. "

"This is a beautiful facility that has a variety of levels of care from independent to advanced care for those with Alzheimer's disease. I have been there for meetings and was impressed with the pleasant staff and the ambiance. The areas I have been in were immaculately clean and had a classic décor. The facility is located in a wonderful neighborhood with tons of upscale shopping and great parks. There is nothing I can say negatively about this facility. "

"This facility is immaculate. I only have terrific things to say about it. It is split up into two separate spaces: one is a nursing home and the other is an assisted living space. The facility is extremely clean and tidy. The staff working there is extremely nice. The nurses that I worked with were very patient and knowledgeable. There seemed to be a high level of interaction with the staff and the residents because all staff knew EVERYONE of the residents. It was an extremely pleasant environment that felt healthy, safe, and professional. The residents seemed to be very happy living in this facility. There were a lot of activities to keep them busy that were provided by the social work team. I thought it was a very comprehensive center focused on making sure residents are happy and healthy. The Louise Lisner Hurt Home is an excellent facility that I would recommend to family members when they are ready for this time. "

"This facility is a hospital, rehab and nursing home that is part of the Specialty Hospital Center. The location, although convenient and close to the highway, is not good; it's a high crime area, although the facility does a good job with security, with a guard and sign-in policy. It is very clean. There are a couple floors of nursing care, which is a plus, since it's small enough for residents to get individualized attention"”and visitors don't get overwhelmed or lost. The rooms"”a combination of shared and private"”are of average size. This has more of a hospital feel than many other places"”and there are pros and cons to this: There is a good staff to resident ratio, and the place is run in a very organized way, but the facility itself feels a bit cold and institutional. The staff members are friendly and professional. And the administration is very hands on"”and involved and interested in residents' care. Because Hadley is able to accommodate residents with higher medical needs, such as ventilator care, there are few activities offered. Some of the nurses I know swear by the food here"”and actually look forward to eating in the cafeteria. It's in a separate little area"”and there are specials highlighted daily. Medicaid is accepted. "