The Hidenwood Retirement Community

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

The Hidenwood Retirement Community at 50 Wellesley Drive, Newport News is an assisted living facility licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) for up to 125 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 27, 2027, with Mr. Christopher Cook named as administrator. The length of a Virginia license is itself a signal: one-year and two-year terms go to facilities in compliance, while conditional and provisional terms flag a facility that is new or has not yet shown sustained compliance.

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 The Hidenwood Retirement Community?

VDSS has posted 12 inspections for The Hidenwood Retirement Community; five fall in the 24 months before October 28, 2026. Of those recent visits, no were complaint-related and four documented at least one violation. The most recent inspection on file is dated June 11, 2026.

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

• 22VAC40-73-640-A (Medication management plan and reference materials, June 11, 2026): Based on resident record review, review of the Medication Administration Records ( MAR )s, and the medication management plan, the facility has failed to have a written plan for medication management that ensure that each resident's.
• 22VAC40-73-680-D (Administration of medications and related provisions, June 11, 2026): Based on a review of facility records, the facility failed to ensure medications shall be administered in accordance with the physician's or other pre-scriber's instructions.
• 22VAC40-73-310-H (Admission and retention of residents, May 20, 2025): Based on record reviewed and staff interviewed, the facility failed to ensure in accordance with 63.2-1805 D Code of Virginia, it did not admit or retain individuals with any prohibitive conditions without required documentation.
• 22VAC40-73-460-A (Personal care services and general supervision and care, May 20, 2025): Based on resident record review, resident interview, and a review of resident medication, the facility has failed to assume general responsibility for the health, safety, and well-being of the residents.
• 22VAC40-73-110-1 (Staff general qualifications, May 20, 2025): Based on the onsite record review the facility failed to ensure all staff shall be considerate and respectful of the rights, dignity, and sensitiveness of persons who are aged, infirm, or disabled.
• 22VAC40-73-450-D (Individualized service plans, May 13, 2025 and May 20, 2025): Based on record review and interview with staff, the facility failed to ensure individualized service plans ( ISP s) were reviewed and updated at least once every 12 months and as needed.
• 22VAC40-73-650-C (Physician's or other prescriber's order, May 13, 2025 and May 20, 2025): Based on record review and interview with staff, the facility failed to ensure the physician's or other prescriber's oral orders were reviewed and signed by a prescriber within 14 days.
• 22VAC40-73-650-E (Physician's or other prescriber's order, May 13, 2025 and May 20, 2025): Based on a review of resident records and interviews with staff, the facility failed to ensure the resident's record shall contain the physician's or other prescriber's signed written order or a dated notation of the physician's or.
• 22VAC40-73-680-M (Administration of medications and related provisions, May 13, 2025 and May 20, 2025): Based on observations made during the medication cart audit, the facility failed to ensure medications ordered for PRN administration were available to be administered.
• 22VAC40-73-720-A (Do Not Resuscitate Orders, May 13, 2025 and May 20, 2025): Based on the review of facility records, the facility failed to ensure that written Do Not Resuscitate Order is included in the individualized service plan.

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

At 125 licensed beds, The Hidenwood Retirement Community is larger than the median assisted living facility in Newport News (80 beds) and larger than the Hampton Roads median of 78. 1 facility in Newport News is licensed for more residents.

By licensed size it ranks 2 of 10 in Newport News. The closest in size are Charter Senior Living of Newport News (104 beds, with secure unit, four violation inspections in 24 months) and Riverside Assisted Living at Warwick Forest (150 beds, with secure unit, eight 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 The Hidenwood Retirement Community before moving in?

Ask the administrator what changed after the citations on medication management plan and reference materials, administration of medications and related provisions, admission and retention of residents, 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 for the written policy on residents who exhaust private funds, including any Auxiliary Grant acceptance.

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 The Hidenwood 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.