U.S. News has posted a collection of the best performing nursing homes in the country.  The report lists 39 nursing homes from across the country that received four straight quarters of perfect 5-star ratings from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in three specific areas: health inspections, nurse staffing and quality of care. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services evaluates all nursing homes and assisted living facilities on these three criteria four times a year.

Although this list will aid you in selecting a good home for you or your loved one, there is no guarantee that any home doesn’t have its share of shortcomings. In addition to the list of top homes is the advice on what to ask about and what to look for when choosing a facility.  In many cases, the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is sudden.  In other cases, people simply do not know what questions to ask.  This article gives some great suggestions.