Which Newport News assisted living facilities have a secure memory care unit?
5 assisted living facilities in Newport News list a safe, secure environment (special care unit) on their VDSS license as of October 28, 2026, out of 10 licensed facilities in the city. Virginia does not issue a separate memory care license; the unit is part of the facility's assisted living license.
- Charter Senior Living of Newport News -- 655 Denbigh Boulevard, Newport News. Whole-building capacity 104; may serve residents who cannot evacuate unaided. One of its recent citations fell under the dementia-care standards (22VAC40-73-1000 and up). Most recent inspection: December 19, 2025.
- Mennowood Retirement Community -- 13030 Warwick Blvd., Newport News. Whole-building capacity 90; may serve residents who cannot evacuate unaided. None of the cited standards we pulled came from Part X, the dementia-care rules. Last inspection on file: May 22, 2026.
- Newport News Baptist Retirement Community DBA The Chesapeake -- 955 Harpersville Road, Newport News. Whole-building capacity 90; may serve residents who cannot evacuate unaided. The dementia-specific standards do not appear among its retrieved citations. Most recent inspection: July 29, 2025.
- Riverside Assisted Living at Warwick Forest -- 860 Denbigh Blvd., Newport News. Whole-building capacity 150. The dementia-specific standards do not appear among its retrieved citations. Last inspection on file: June 18, 2026.
- The Hidenwood Retirement Community -- 50 Wellesley Drive, Newport News. Whole-building capacity 125; may serve residents who cannot evacuate unaided. Part X of the rules -- the dementia-care section -- was not cited in what we retrieved. Last inspection on file: June 11, 2026.
How do the Newport News memory care facilities differ by size and record?
The Newport News facilities with secure units range from 90 licensed beds at Mennowood Retirement Community to 150 at Riverside Assisted Living at Warwick Forest, and two of the 5 had a complaint-related inspection in the last 24 months.
Capacity here is for the whole building; a large community may run a small secure wing, and a small home may be secure throughout. Complaint-related visits: Charter Senior Living of Newport News (2); Riverside Assisted Living at Warwick Forest (8).
What should Newport News families ask a memory care unit about staffing?
In Newport News, ask the unit manager how many caregivers are physically inside the secured unit on evenings and weekends; Virginia's minimum is two awake staff for up to 20 residents outside night hours.
Ask who signed the written approval for placement -- Virginia sets an order of priority starting with the resident -- and when the six-month review is due. The full rules are on our safe, secure environment guide.
| It is | It is not | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | a safe, secure environment inside a licensed assisted living facility | a separate state license or certification |
| Who approves placement | the resident if capable, otherwise a guardian, relative or independent physician in order | the facility on its own |
Source: VDSS facility search and CMS Provider Data Catalog -- data as of October 28, 2026.
