WANT TO KNOW THE BEST AND WORST NURSING HOMES WITHIN 50 MILES OF RADFORD, VIRGINIA?

The information might be important if you are trying to decide where to place a loved one who can no longer care for himself/herself at home. But how can you determine which nursing home is the best? If this issue is important to you, you job just got a lot easier.

The answer is provided by a new "5-Star Quality Rating System" provided by Medicare. The Five-Star System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions.

The nursing homes receiving the best ratings include:

Highland Ridge Rehab Center - Dublin, VA

Kroontje Health Care Center - Blacksburg, VA

Pulaski Community Hospital - Pulaski, VA

Skyline Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - Floyd, VA

Trinity Mission Health and Rehab - Hillsville, VA

Heritage Hall of Laurel Meadows - Laurel Fork, VA

Snyder Nursing Home - Salem, VA

Brandon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - Roanoke, VA

South Roanoke Nursing Home - Roanoke, VA

Waddell Nursing and Rehab Center - Galax, VA


The nursing home which received the worst ratings include:

Heritage Hall/Blacksburg - Blacksburg, VA

Riverview Nursing Home - Rich Creek, VA

Salem Health and Rehabilitation Center - Salem, VA

Carrington Place at Wytheville/Birdmont Center - Wytheville, VA

Virginia Veterans Care Center - Salem, VA

Pheasant Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center - Roanoke, VA

Raleigh Court Health Care Center - Roanoke, VA

Edgemont Center - Wytheville, VA

Avante at Roanoke - Roanoke, VA

Golden Livingcenter of Blue Ridge - Galax, VA

Friendship Health and Rehab Center - Roanoke, VA

Franklin Health and Rehabilitation Center - Rocky Mount, VA

Berkshire Health and Rehabilitation Center - Vinton, VA


My Take: Be an informed consumer of health care and do your loved one a favor....check out the nursing home BEFORE you decide what is best for a family member.