Each year, U.S. News & World Report publishes a survey of the nation’s best nursing homes. A rating of one to five stars is given to more than 15,500 long-term care facilities, and for 2011, Sentara Windermere in Virginia Beach, VA, and Nursing Center Portsmouth both received the highest score.
My nursing home attorney colleagues and I congratulate these facilities for providing the quality care that all nursing home residents deserve.
The magazine’s annual rankings are based on information from Nursing Home Compare, a website maintained by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The site provides information on every U.S. nursing home certified by Medicare and Medicaid, and it can be a helpful tool to use when making the difficult decision of where you or a loved one will live. The database can be searched by facility name or location, and up to three nursing homes can be compared at one time. Criteria for comparison include complaints, penalties, staffing, and health inspection results.
CMS recommends that you visit each of the nursing homes you are considering and discuss this very important move with family, friends, and physicians before making a final decision.
Keep in mind that even nursing homes with five-star ratings may have occasional issues, so if you feel your loved one has suffered from neglect or abuse by any nursing home staff, please contact an experienced Virginia nursing home attorney. This information may help you remain aware of nursing home abuse or neglect. We applaud all nursing homes that strive to provide consistent, quality care to their residents.
MH