One in five of the nation’s 15,700 nursing homes consistently receive poor ratings for overall quality, according to recently released survey data. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services assigns nursing homes one to five stars for quality, staffing and health inspections, as well as an overall score.

The lowest-rated homes had an average of 14 deficiencies per facility, which can include quality-of-life measures and safety violations.

While there should only be excellent nursing homes, until that day, you need to carefully review nursing home evaluations if there should be a need for nursing home care. To find ratings for nursing home facilities near you, you can connect to www.Medicare.gov, and select Nursing Home Compare. You will then be asked for a zip code, and you will be quickly connected to the nursing homes ratings page for nursing homes in proximity to your selected zip code.

You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others.
. . . . Henry Drummone, Clergyman and Writer

To be civilized is to be incapable of giving unnecessary offense, it is to have some quality of consideration for all who cross our path.
. . . . Agnes Repplier, Writer and Historian

Do not overlook the significance of your smallest opportunities for civilized behavior throughout each day. The world changes for the better with every act of kindness, and for the worse with every act of cruelty.
. . . . Bo Lozoff, Co-founder of the Human Kindness Foundation

Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.
. . . . Peter Ustinov, Writer, Director and Actorn