Brandon Oaks, a premiere retirement community in Roanoke, Virginia, recently earned top honors for its nursing care. The federal government gave the LifeCare community its coveted five-star Medicare rating, based on the quality of its staff, accommodations and care.

“We’re thrilled about the rating,” said Joe Hoff, Nursing and Rehab Center Administrator at Brandon Oaks. “We’ve worked hard for it.” Inspectors grant the five-star rating based on comprehensive inspections and quality measures. In addition, the government takes into consideration the staff-to-resident ratio and the qualification of the nursing staff. “We know our staff is our strong suit,” Hoff remarked. “Our residents say they’re one of the best things about Brandon Oaks.”

The Five-Star Quality Rating System was created in 1987 to assist consumers looking at nursing care. According to the Medicare website, while the rating is important, it should not be a substitute for visits to the nursing community. Hoff, while proud of Brandon Oaks’ accomplishment, agrees: “We encourage people to come and visit us. Great nursing care is only one part of the equation.”