All states › Virginia › Roanoke › Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South
5647 Starkey Road Roanoke, VA 24018 · Roanoke County
All 11 nursing homes in Roanoke, VA (11 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 495421 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above the Virginia average of 3.1.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 4.25 hours per resident per day at Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South, above the Virginia median of 3.57 (US median: 3.72). About 0.64 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.54 hours, 17% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 45.4% of nursing staff left within a year (Virginia median 47.7%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South: Medicare and Medicaid
Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Virginia's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on April 25, 2024 and found 11 deficiencies. CMS notes that this home's most recent inspection was more than two years ago. In total, inspectors issued 19 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 19 citations at Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South across 4 inspection dates, 3 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on June 18, 2025 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were pharmacy service (8) and infection control (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs" (tag F0761, level J, June 18, 2025).
June 18, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
JEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
April 25, 2024 · 12 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DAssess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
DEducate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
October 13, 2022 · 3 citations
EEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
December 5, 2019 · 2 citations
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Questions to ask on a tour of Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on June 18, 2025 under the rule on pharmacy service. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- Weekend staffing is 17% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- The last standard inspection was more than two years ago. Can I see any recent complaint inspection results?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
1 penalty in the last three years, including $8,281 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 2025 | Fine | $8,281 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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4.2 mi
Carilion Medical Center RoanokeEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 4h 32m for patients treated and sent home
-
4.7 mi
Lewisgale Medical Center SalemEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 2m for patients treated and sent home
- 5.1 mi
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South › All nursing homes in Roanoke ›
Compare Friendship Health and Rehab Center - South with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Brandon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center · Roanoke · 5 stars · 4.2 mi
- Davis and McDaniel Veterans Care Center · Roanoke · 5 stars · 5.3 mi
- Our Lady of the Valley · Roanoke · 5 stars · 5.7 mi
- Snyder Nursing Home · Salem · 5 stars · 7.2 mi
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.