The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Norfolk, VA

Located in west Norfolk, Commonwealth Senior Living at Leigh Hall resides near several hospitals, should residents require medical treatment. Staff receive extensive training in the care of seniors with cognitive impairment, including Certified Dementia Practitioner training. We include the community on our list for the thoughtful life stations positioned throughout its memory care neighborhood. These areas re-create comfortable, familiar scenes that evoke memories, such as a kitchen station with bowls and recipe books and an office desk with a telephone. The award-winning Sweet Memories program helps residents reminisce and encourages interaction through activities, such as music therapy and art. Specially tailored life kits contain items related to each resident's personal history and interests, helping initiate conversation and alleviate stress.

Located near Elizabeth River, Harbor's Edge Retirement Community provides a full continuum of services, including memory care, skilled nursing and assisted and independent living. These comprehensive services enable seniors to receive higher levels of support if their needs change. The community's memory care center offers private residences and individualized support. Dementia care residents benefit from access to iN2L technology — a touch-screen-based system that enables them to experience virtual entertainment. Harbor's Edge also hosts monthly wellness walks, group exercise classes and regular social events. Seniors receive three family-style meals daily and can get haircuts and manicures on-site.

Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine offers memory care, assisted living and short-term care. Its memory care program, Sweet Memories, focuses on engagement, and seniors can access many supportive programs and amenities to enhance their lifestyles. For example, the Expressions Art program enables residents to communicate through creativity if verbal skills deteriorate. Meanwhile, the Sensory Room provides a quiet retreat where seniors listen to gentle music to help them stay calm. Memory care residents also get Life Kits, which include sets of items relating to their past work or personal life, designed to alleviate stress.

Situated just a short drive from Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, Karolwood Gardens earns a spot on this list because of its in-house health services. In addition to receiving standard memory care, residents gain access to on-site physicians, podiatrists and psychiatrists to take care of their overall health. The memory care unit provides tailored assistance to residents, with 24-hour support from an on-call team of registered nurses. Caregivers receive professional training in dementia needs. Additionally, a licensed dietitian prepares all meals, ensuring they meet residents' nutritional needs. During daily life, seniors can enjoy amenities such as the games room or theater, and the community also provides social activities and exercise classes.

Situated between Norfolk and Virginia Beach, The Waterford at Virginia Beach offers memory care, as well as assisted and independent living. Its Individual-focused memory care enhances residents' well-being by providing a comforting, homelike environment, tailored to their specific needs, fostering independence and emotional stability. The community's well-lit indoor environment features calming decor and soft background music. Magnolia Trails memory program provides regular assistance through a dementia care-certified team that meets daily to coordinate care. The staff plans engaging activities that provide brain stimulation, creative outlets and chances to exercise. Residents also receive a shadow box outside their rooms to aid navigation.

Commonwealth Senior Living at Georgian Manor resides just 15 minutes from Norfolk. Through its Sweet Memories program, residents participate in activities that enhance cognitive and physical well-being. While the Expressions Art program encourages residents with limited verbal skills to share thoughts via illustrations and visual creativity, various life stations initiate reminiscing and let seniors reconnect with familiar hobbies and routines. Promoting engagement and communication, caregiving staff utilizes state-of-the-art technologies, including Eversound wireless headphones, MyndVR virtual reality headsets, and SMILE messaging tools, solidifying its standing as a top-ranking facility. Before move-in, Sweet Beginnings orientations form relationships between loved ones and team members, who use seniors' life stories to tailor plans around new residents' needs and interests.

Located 10 miles south of Norfolk, Harmony at Oakbrooke sits near Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. Its Harmony Square neighborhood features secure indoor and outdoor areas where seniors with Alzheimer's and dementia live safely and receive help with daily tasks. The community provides the proven Reflections program. This approach to memory care engages residents and stimulates positive memories through art and music therapy. It also supports the overall well-being of seniors by incorporating physical and mental exercises into everyday routines. Walking club, balloon badminton, ball-toss games and group fitness ensure residents remain physically active, while creative pursuits, such as flower arranging, painting and pottery, support cognitive health. Interaction among residents is encouraged through ice cream socials, discussion prompts, games and family nights.

Harmony at Independence provides its signature memory care program Reflections. While nurturing a family-like setting, the Reflections program centers on art and music therapy to boost well-being and cognitive functioning through visual and tactile stimulation. The Harmony Square memory care neighborhood offers a high caregiver-to-resident ratio and 24-hour monitoring to ensure that help is always available. The caregiving team includes licensed nurses who attend to minor health concerns and assist with medication management. This community offers a diverse range of dining venues, including a full-service restaurant, pub and bistro.

Harmony at Harbour View sits approximately 20 miles from Norfolk, near local medical providers, including Sentara BelleHarbour. Its signature memory care program, Reflections, focuses on families and utilizes art and music therapy to assist residents in processing current experiences while reflecting on positive memories. Seniors reside in the Harmony Square neighborhood, which features studio apartments with easy-to-navigate bathrooms and safety measures such as grab bars and emergency call systems. Here, the Dining with Dignity program serves chef-prepared meals with modifications and assistance for those with dietary or mobility limitations. In addition, a licensed nurse monitors each resident's ongoing health needs, while a high caregiver-to-resident ratio enables 24-hour specialized support.

Commonwealth Senior Living at King's Grant House, located in Virginia Beach and roughly 20 minutes east of Norfolk, boasts an award-winning dementia care program, Sweet Memories. Offered in a distinct neighborhood setting, the program's secure spaces support independence and engagement, including life stations that recreate familiar scenes and the Serenity Room, a sensory environment with gentle music, soothing videos and pleasing scents. Its signature programs include an Expressions Art Program, which uses creativity as a way to communicate, and a Sweet Melodies Program, which leverages the benefits of music therapy in coping with memory loss. In addition to support groups, the community features a Family Resource Center, offering free informational materials on dementia for residents' loved ones.