Westminster Canterbury, Lynchburg has received a high ranking of five stars overall in U.S. News & World Report's annual Best Nursing Homes, released today. U.S. News's Best Nursing Homes recognizes top-rated homes in all 50 states and offers important guidance to families and healthcare providers caring for people in need of a nursing home.

"More than 3 million Americans will spend part of 2012 in a nursing home, and trying to decide under pressure which one is best isn't easy," says Avery Comarow, Health Rankings Editor. "Top-rated nursing homes are worth considering and deserve special recognition."

U.S. News's evaluation of nursing homes is based on data from Nursing Home Compare, a consumer website run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The government agency sets and enforces standards for nursing homes (defined as facilities or portions of facilities enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid that provide 24-hour nursing care and other medical services). Homes earn an overall rating of one to five stars, as well as up to five stars in each of three underlying categories: health inspections, nurse staffing, and quality of care. U.S. News updates each nursing home's ratings data quarterly.

Of more than 15,500 homes rated and profiled on the U.S. News website, Westminster Canterbury, Lynchburg was among the fewer than 1 in 8 that received a five-star overall rating in all four quarters of 2011.

"We think this reflects the hard work of our healthcare professionals to provide the best care possible on a consistent basis," said Sean Huyett, President and CEO of Westminster Canterbury, Lynchburg, "and we are very proud of their accomplishment".

Using the search tools available at http://health.usnews.com/senior-housing, consumers can identify homes in their state, city or ZIP code, tailor their search to see only non-profit homes or those that accept Medicaid insurance, or in other ways find the best fit.