New collaboration allows for more opportunity to enhance existing offerings and broaden community reach

Friendship and Richfield Living, two premier full-service retirement communities with a combined 160 years of experience in serving southwestern Virginia, officially merged yesterday under the Friendship family.

With a shared vision of helping individuals navigate life to the fullest, this partnership enhances Richfield Living’s offerings while allowing Friendship to expand its mission of “supporting friends by providing peace of mind” to more of the community. The merging of the two teams allows both organizations to elevate their ability to provide exceptional care now and in the future by combining talent and resources, thus creating more opportunities to strengthen existing offerings while promoting staff development and broadening community outreach.

“Friendship is proud to have strong leadership and financial positioning to allow us this opportunity,” said Joseph Hoff, President and Chief Executive Officer at Friendship. “Combining the strengths of our teams amplifies our abilities to best support the rapidly changing needs of the aging community. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Richfield Living to our team."

Richfield Living’s campus in Salem offers a full continuum of senior living services located on 52 beautifully landscaped acres and includes a brand-new Town Center, Independent Living, and a Rehab Center, along with two Assisted Living locations with a dedicated Memory Care Unit. This campus will continue to maintain its rich heritage, beloved name and not-profit status under the Friendship umbrella.

The newly combined team will serve over 1,500 residents and employ over 1,000 team members. Vice President of Operations, Ben Higgins, who has 17 years of experience in senior living will oversee Richfield Living. Higgins joined Friendship in 2017 as the Director of Healthcare Operations where he oversaw two campuses that offer skilled nursing and rehabilitation, the community’s assisted living residence as well as the community-based services, which include an Adult Day Care center and Home Care division. “I’m excited to merge these two organizations that have such long-standing histories in the Roanoke Valley.” Friendship now has four campuses serving southwestern Virginia—Richfield Living, Salem Terrace, Friendship North Campus, and Friendship South Campus.

About Friendship: Friendship offers diverse senior living accommodations, award-winning care, new and innovative services, as well as specialized rehab and therapy. With four campuses, the earliest dating back to 1919, Friendship has grown to offer the full continuum of healthcare, including an adult day care center and home care services. The needs of seniors are met within a caring community that inspires purpose in life. Visit friendship.us for more information.

Media contact:
Kim Bratić
Director of Marketing | Friendship
kbratic@friendship.us