Mennowood Retirement Community

What is Mennowood Retirement Community licensed to provide in Newport News, VA?

Mennowood Retirement Community at 13030 Warwick Blvd., Newport News is an assisted living facility licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) for up to 90 residents. Its license covers both levels Virginia licenses -- residential living care and assisted living care, and it operates a safe, secure environment (special care unit) for residents with dementia.

VDSS lists the license as One Year, expiring June 16, 2027, with Thelma Shaffer named as administrator. Families sometimes skip past the license term, but in Virginia it carries information -- a facility on a conditional or provisional license is either new or being watched more closely than one on a one- or two-year license.

The record also lists a non-ambulatory qualification, meaning the building may serve residents who cannot evacuate without help from another person.

What did Virginia inspectors find at Mennowood Retirement Community?

VDSS has posted 6 inspections for Mennowood Retirement Community; two fall in the 24 months before October 28, 2026. Of those recent visits, no were complaint-related and two documented at least one violation. The most recent inspection on file is dated May 22, 2026.

Violations VDSS cited in the past two years, in the inspector's own words (first sentence of each):

• 22VAC40-73-325-B (Fall risk rating, May 20, 2026 and May 22, 2026): Based on a review of resident records, the facility failed to ensure that a fall risk rating shall be reviewed and updated after a fall.
• 22VAC40-73-440-A (Uniform assessment instrument (UAI), May 20, 2026 and May 22, 2026): Based on a review of resident records, the facility failed to ensure that the Uniform Assessment Instrument ( UAI ) shall be completed prior to admission, at least annually, and whenever there is a significant change in the resident's.
• 22VAC40-73-450-E (Individualized service plans, May 20, 2026 and May 22, 2026): Based on resident record review, the facility failed to have the Individualized Service Plan ( ISP ) signed and dated by the resident or his legal representative.
• 22VAC40-73-450-F (Individualized service plans, May 20, 2026 and May 22, 2026): Based on a review or resident records and interviews with staff, the facility failed to ensure that individualized service plans shall be reviewed and updated at least once every 12 months and as needed for a significant change of a.
• 22VAC40-73-460-D (Personal care services and general supervision and care, May 20, 2026 and May 22, 2026): Based on resident record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure supervision of specialized needs such as wandering.
• 22VAC40-73-860-F (General requirements, May 20, 2026 and May 22, 2026): Based on observation and staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to supply ample hot and cold water from an approved source available to the residents at all times.
• 22VAC40-73-860-G (General requirements, May 20, 2026 and May 22, 2026): Based on observation and staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to ensure the hot water taps available to residents shall be maintained within a range of 105 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to 120 degrees F.
• 22VAC40-73-380-B (Resident personal and social information, March 24, 2025 and March 25, 2025): Based on record reviewed and staff interviewed, the facility failed to ensure the resident's personal and social data information was kept updated.
• 22VAC40-73-450-C (Individualized service plans, March 24, 2025 and March 25, 2025): Based on record reviewed and staff interviewed, the resident's individualized service plan ( ISP ) did not include all the resident's assessed needs.
• 22VAC40-73-450-E (Individualized service plans, March 24, 2025 and March 25, 2025): Based on record reviewed and staff interviewed, the facility failed to ensure the resident's individualized service plan ( ISP ) was signed and dated following the update by the resident, and/or legal representative.
• 22VAC40-73-650-A (Physician's or other prescriber's order, March 24, 2025 and March 25, 2025): Based on observation and staff interviewed, the facility failed to ensure no medication, dietary supplement, diet, medical procedure, or treatment was started, changed, or discontinued by the facility without a valid order from a.
• 22VAC40-73-660-B (Storage of medications, March 24, 2025 and March 25, 2025): Based on policy reviewed and staff and resident interviewed, the facility failed to ensure a resident permitted to keep medication in an -out of sight place in resident's room was in compliance with the regulations and the facility's.

How does Mennowood Retirement Community compare with other Newport News assisted living?

At 90 licensed beds, Mennowood Retirement Community is larger than the median assisted living facility in Newport News (80 beds) and larger than the Hampton Roads median of 78. 3 facilities in Newport News are licensed for more residents.

By licensed size it ranks 4 of 10 in Newport News. The closest in size are Newport News Baptist Retirement Community DBA The Chesapeake (90 beds, with secure unit, one violation inspection in 24 months) and Charter Senior Living of Newport News (104 beds, with secure unit, four violation inspections in 24 months). Bed count is a practical filter -- smaller homes often mean the same few caregivers every day, larger ones more amenities and more shift changes.

What should families ask Mennowood Retirement Community before moving in?

Ask the administrator what changed after the citations on fall risk rating, uniform assessment instrument (uai), individualized service plans, and ask to see the plan of correction VDSS received.

Ask how many residents live in the special care unit now, how many direct care staff are awake there overnight, and who coordinates the unit's weekly activity hours.

Ask how many current residents pay with the Auxiliary Grant; a facility can decline it entirely.

Ask what the plan is if flooding or a long power outage hits Newport News -- which rooms keep power, and where residents would be taken.

Who can help a family considering Mennowood Retirement Community in Newport News?

The free, independent help for this facility is the Bay Aging Long-Term Care Ombudsman Regional Office (Williamsburg office) (757-808-5275) for resident concerns and Peninsula Agency on Aging (PAA) (757-873-0541) for planning. Licensing complaints go to VDSS at 1-800-543-7545.

Source: Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Licensing Programs, facility search -- data as of October 28, 2026.