First Colonial Inn

Elizabeth

First Colonial Inn was really nice. They offered many services, entertainment, culture, fitness, and different kinds of activities. I liked that about it. It was really well maintained, and the people were extremely friendly.

LynR

On behalf of my mother I want to take this opportunity to thank you all once again for many years of good living at First Colonial Inn. Your staff was always incredibly kind and helpful. The First Colonial Inn family got to know my mother and were genuinely caring and concerned for her welfare. She was comfortable there from DAY 1. She felt safe and looked after. My mother's decline in the last year or so caused situations that required attention that you all were always ready to offer even though it was above and beyond what I could have ever expected. Your staff's communications with me regarding observations and obvious concern for her was always greatly appreciated. Dan, Norman, Carol, Tim, Dana, Christina, all the very helpful members manning the front desk...I won't be able to recall all the names, but want to say THANK YOU! My mother is now in a Memory Unit and is happy and in the right environment for her at this time. I was so lucky to have been able to keep her in her apartment for as long as I was and that is thanks to you and your wonderful caring and accommodating staff. Should anyone need to speak to a former resident's family in helping to make the decision to move to First Colonial Inn, I would be happy to give the highest recommendation.

DebRdaughterofJD

My dad moved to Virginia Beach at age 92 to be near family after living independently in Florida for 28 years. It was not an easy decision for him to give up his home and friends he loved, but to his credit he realized he was beginning to need help only his family could provide. We had carefully researched living options for him prior to his move, and First Colonial Inn seemed to be at the top of everyone’s list. After touring the facility, my dad wouldn’t even consider looking elsewhere…..and we never regretted the decision. First Colonial stands out, not only for its lovely building and beautifully-kept grounds, not only for its many and varied daily activities, and not just for the restaurant-like dining rooms and extensive menu options. That is all impressive, but what really makes First Colonial special is its amazing staff. They are kind and compassionate and truly care about every resident. Every time we walked in the door, and throughout the community we were greeted warmly by each and every person we encountered. In a short time, everyone seemed to know my dad by name, and would often stop to chat with us to let us know how he was doing. My dad was able to quickly make First Colonial his home, largely sue to the patient, caring and loving staff. It is not an easy thing for a family when an elderly parent moves into a senior living community, and of course we worried about him a great deal. But the associates at First Colonial always put our minds at ease, from Chrissy, the director, to Dan and Dana and Tim and all the other folks who looked after him. I am grateful to each and every one of them. Whenever he had the slightest problem (“how do I work this TV remote again?”) or a serious health emergency, he was taken care of right away. We knew he was in good hands when we weren’t with him, and that meant so much to us. First Colonial will always hold a very special place in out hearts.

Pat___W

At a time in my life where I was desperate because I lost my home due to a hurricane, my daughter wanted me to come closer to her so they looked around at different facilities. When they came to this one, they feel in love with the warm feel of the environment and the staff. Malinda and Dana helped my daughter, showed her around, took pictures and videos to send to me and we made a decision that this was the right place, and it has been. The food is wonderful. You get a selection of what you want. They always have some kind of entertainment for us and it’s up to you if you want to participate. Happy Hour is wonderful, it gives you a chance to meet people, go and relax and have fun. They’ve got bingo, canasta, and all kinds of games and things where if you want to participate in, they’ve got it. They have transportation to the doctor’s, the grocery stores, the drug stores, everything is just taken care of and I don’t care what it is but they’ve made arrangements to provide it for the residents here. All from transportation, to the front desk, to maintenance, all of it is just wonderful. The associates can’t do enough for the residents. Anything you ask, they’re willing to do it and they do it immediately. They don’t wait and they take care of you right away. My maintenance man can’t do enough for me. He’s always helping me. They have garbage pickup for you. They come clean your apartment twice a month. That was another prayer God answered for me. It’s just one of the most remarkable transitions that I’ve ever had and I hate to say it, but I don’t even miss Florida! I miss my husband but God gave me a peace about coming here. It’s been so wonderful, everyone here. And it’s an asset to live here in this facility and how the staff protect you like they do. Everything is so clean and nice here, I think anybody would like to come here that needs a home. I just thank God he put me here because this is just one of the most wonderful places I can be. I feel so safe and so secure. They’ve made everything so convenient for you. They go over and beyond.

Louise___B

I am a resident of First Colonial Inn for 3 plus years. Am I content and satisfied with my decision to move to FCI? Yes! Yes! Yes! The fellow residents are friendly and helpful, willing to share memories, listen to your stories. The associates go beyond their duties, will cheer you up if it is a “down” day or try to help you see the “good” side of life. It is important that all the associates know your name. The dining room servers are polite, patient, considerate, often knowing your wants before you order.

John.J.

Nice, friendly people. I have had no problems since I’ve moved in. The food is outstanding and it’s a win-win situation. The hospital is about ½ a mile away. Highest level or excellence across the board.

Beth___B

Just a short note of thanks to FCI. Bing & Bunny Bassett are close friends and I recently visited and stayed in the guest room on the 3rd floor. Everything was perfect and a place of rest close to my friends. Thank you for the wonderful care that you provide for my dear friends. Your staff is excellent. FCI is much appreciated by those who love Bing & Bunny.

Dfciva

After living for 33 years at home, I could not be any happier to have found a home at First Colonial Inn. I visited 7 communities that I’ve heard advertisements for, 2 of which friends lived at, and found that although First Colonial Inn is off the beaten path, it is the best location that’s quiet and peaceful. This is the happiest I have been since leaving home and I can go on all day talking about FCI. I’ve been here for a few months now and I honestly can’t find anything wrong. I enjoy seeing the ladies walk their dogs and can see associates coming into work and leaving for the day. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else; this place is my second family. The associates are all wonderful! All the dining staff are nice and friendly. Malinda and Dana were wonderful during my move in process and made me feel like I was one of them. The aides here are wonderful, all of them are helpful and knowledgeable. I love waking up and having an aide come in to check on me with a smile. Dr. Kellam is a joy and it’s nice to not have to go out since I am unable to drive due to an injury. This place supplies all that you need. I cannot say enough about the Inn, there aren’t enough words in my vocabulary. The kindness and patience shown to those who can’t do for themselves is incredible and heartwarming.

ColleenB23451

More than twenty years ago my husband and I chose First Colonial Inn as our retirement home. Our decision came after investigating numerous communities in Virginia and North Carolina. First Colonial Inn is nestled in a park-like setting with easy access to medical and shopping opportunities. Now that my husband is deceased the Inn is even more important to me. Affording me security, transportation, and a kind and caring staff. The apartment rental policy assures me that if health issues dictate, I can easily relocate near my family.

Lawrence S

The reality of learning that you will have to live the rest of your life in Assisted Living is not pleasant when you are a widowed, eightyish male, on your own, that needs help. Knowing all the Assisted Living facilities in your community because you were here, before they were built, doesn’t help much in making a decision. Therefore, a list was made, and I used the internet to cross reference my goals. Top of the list was a two bedroom, living area as close to a 1,000 sq feet as possible, with as many windows as possible to let in light and fresh air. Then, comes a central location near your family, doctors, hospital and major shopping center. Then, it comes down to quality of staff, dining facilities, wellness facilities, and overall feeling of the community. This is a process of elimination, a lot of phone calls made and reading reviews; therefore, the need for this review. I found most all of these requirements at First Colonial Inn but knew few people at the facility. I had driven by the entrance hundreds of times in my life, and although it was tucked away behind pine trees and landscaping, it is very pleasant to the eye. It is an apartment type of complex with two courtyards separating the buildings with a portico entrance. I decided all the positives outweighed the social contacts, and found the interviewing process to be informative and quick. I’ve moved into a four room apartment (two bedrooms, living room, and dining room), Kitchen, and 2 baths which accommodates me fine with room to spare for a full time nurse, if needed in future. Good mix of independent living/assisted living people, great staff, good food, with a wellness center and rehab therapy services to support the needs of their residents. Now I’m gaining weight (not good), rehab has cured my vertigo, and in-house physician, Dr Kellam, is a joy to be around. Every facility has its strengths and weaknesses, but management seems to pitch in where needed and does a first-class job to meet the needs of its family! All of this in four months. My family and friends that shop in Hilltop stop by to say hello. I enjoy the fresh air, watch the ducks in the morning and have become a happy camper!

CLindsey

First Colonial Inn is a place where everyone is open and friendly. I have been here for five years. Partly because I am a former pastor’s wife but also because I am curious and like to investigate, I have visited a number of other retirement homes nearby and have been impressed by some of their new features. However, I noticed people weren’t interacting there as they do here. I do feel that with pristine surroundings a certain air of formality may be present. This is not what you should look for in your home. There are more activities at FCI than at any other place that I observed. Further, the Residents are always being asked where they want to go, so the destinations vary as to interests, location and level of exertion required. Transportation here is a real plus. I go out in my car on near daily errands, but I also use the bus and think why should I park, especially in bad weather, when I can otherwise be taken to the door? I also enjoy the companionship of others like myself on bus rides as well as the activity to which we are travelling. Anyone, man or woman, contemplating moving into a retirement home should also consider its beauty salon. I have seen many different ones, good and bad, but none with the services and happy atmosphere ours has. It’s so much more than just a place. When you pass by the door, you always look in to see and hear the happy buzz. It is a pleasure to walk into the First Colonial Inn Dining Room where every server knows what I drink (and that I only drink decaf!) and suddenly it appears, perhaps while I am in the process of sitting down. One server said to me, “It’s my job to make you happy.” Sometimes people think they prefer to stay in their own homes. I have been closely involved with three, one of whom has a caregiver. I cannot help but be aware that while some aspects of their lives may be good, these are very lonely people. In my five years at FCI I have seen many very different types of people come to live here and experience happy lives. I appreciate the effort the staff makes to keep us all happy. I enjoy the activities. Eating each day with my friends is a pleasure. I hope the reason why I am writing this is obvious. I like living at First Colonial Inn

Jerry

First Colonial inn was the most inviting of all the places I went to, the accommodations were a little larger, and it was just a block and a half from where I live. Their setting is quite attractive, it's been highly renovated, and so it's very nice. They have a garden, and a large deck. They have a guitarist and he played music soothing for older people.

Jim482277

My mother has been in First Colonial Inn for two months in a $3,000, one-bedroom apartment that's just the right size. She fixes her own meals. It's six blocks from my business, so I can visit almost every day. It's a very nice three-story building, with very nice staff. It's less expensive than the other places I looked at. However, the meals were mediocre.

Karen375007

My dad moved into First Colonial Inn. It’s very nice and has recently been updated. The apartment itself is kind of drab, but the general facilities are very nice. My dad is happy there. The staff seems very friendly. We don't have any complaints with them. My dad has participated in a few activities. He has gone to chair yoga and lectures. The food is very good. They have a library, an exercise room, and physical therapy on site. They have a bus for transportation, a chauffeur for private transportation, and a garden there, too.

Happy Visitor424286

I had a very good tour of First Colonial Inn. The place was very well-kept. They invited my mom to come stay the night. There were good programs and activities. You can tell the place is old, but it looked like it was well-cared-for. The price was comparable to that of other places. It wasn't really high, and it wasn't low.

Sherry C

My visit with First Colonial Inn was very positive. It's a nice facility. They had lots of activities, and it seemed to be well-run. It's in a nice location. The staff was very friendly and very accommodating. The rooms were very nice, well-maintained, and had lots of storage space. The grounds were well-maintained and had a park-like setting with lots of woods and trees. It's conveniently located to the Hilltop Shopping Center, which was nice.

Lillian Dotolo

My sisters and I were thrilled to find this home for mom. There are so many activities and the staff are wonderful. We love to stroll out back by the duck pond or sit in the breeze way. The residents are very friendly and welcomed mom with open arms. One great thing is the onsite physical and occupational therapy offered by Genesis, as well as the beauty salon. Having these services right in the building is so convenient. The staff take the time to get to know all the residents, and the maintenance staff are very helpful. Overall, it's been such a great transition for mom.

Caring81593350

My brother-in-law lived in the independent living part of First Colonial Inn for a couple of months before he went downhill. He has dementia, and he transferred to the assisted living part. They had a new assisted living apartment. It was delightful, and I would have loved to live there myself. They take good care of the people, and they’ve got good facilities. They’ve got a bus, they take people on excursions, shopping trips, and they take them to museums and doctor’s appointments. The staff is very nice and cordial. They’ve got a nurse on staff who evaluates the people and sees what they need, but they weren’t really equipped to handle my brother-in-law.

Eisenbach

I visited this facility to find a place for my mother. The location was good, but the building itself was very old. I felt the apartments were overpriced compared to newer communities. I tried lunch there and the food was just so-so. I ended up moving my mother to another facility that I thought was much nicer and more affordable.

Travesty

The facility is a great place for both people who need little help and those that need a lot of help. The staff is very attentive to the residents needs, and are always available to help a resident find something if they've lost it, or if they just need direction to find the restroom or community rooms for an event. The executive director of the facility is a wonderful person who is in touch with not only her staff, but as many of the residents as possible, on a nearly weekly basis. If a complaint is given, she makes a point to find the reasoning behind the issue and fix it. The facility itself is really nice, with three floors of apartments, and elevators at every hallway, it's easy to navigate. The grounds of the facility are very well kept as well, with a group being brought in to take care of them on a weekly basis during the summer, and slightly less frequently during the rest of the year.