Over 1,600 Communities Receive ‘best Senior Living’ Designation From U.s. News & World Report

Over 1,600 senior living communities received the “Best Senior Living” designation from the 2026 Best of Senior Living Ratings summary by U.S. News and World Report.

In total, 1,614 communities received the “best” designation, assessing 3,097 communities spanning independent living, assisted living and memory care, along with continuing care retirement communities. The report rates senior living communities based on things like amenities and food to staffing and perceived value from existing residents.

As in the past, the report includes some of the largest providers in the industry, including Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD), Discovery Senior Living and LCS.

The report notes that some communities offer more than one service, meaning a single community can appear in multiple service categories.

Some of the largest providers making the list include:

• Brookdale: 309 of 565 communities 

• Sunrise: 147 of 231 communities 

• LCS: 53 of 84 communities

• Americare Senior Living: 65 of 87 communities 

• Brightview Senior Living: 44 of 48 communities 

• Benchmark Senior Living: 40 of 67 communities 

• Gardant Management Solutions: 39 of 88 communities 

• Tutera Senior Living: 33 of 58 communities

• Kisco Senior Living: 28 of 31 communities 

• Leisure Care: 28 of 29 communities 

Users may search the U.S. News website to access “best” rated communities closest to them.

The report also tracked the top metropolitan areas with the highest number of recognized “best” communities, including:

• New York: 65 communities 

• Chicago: 61 communities 

• Boston: 57 communities 

• Washington, D.C.: 50 communities 

• Los Angeles: 41 communities 

• Dallas-Fort Worth: 39 communities 

• Minneapolis–St. Paul: 33 communities 

• Philadelphia: 30 communities 

• Miami–Fort Lauderdale: 29 communities 

• St. Louis: 28 communities

The designation is one that “reflects the passion and dedication” of Brookdale Senior LIving staff, CEO Nick Stengle said in an emailed statement to SHN.

“Their commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care and creating meaningful experiences for our residents is what makes this achievement possible,” Stengle said. “It’s an honor to see their efforts recognized, and we are grateful for the difference they make in the lives of our residents and their families.”

LCS CEO Chris Bird said the company’s recognition is a “powerful reflection” of the “everyday experiences of the residents and families we serve.”

“The vote of confidence from a record number of our communities, many of whom were recognized across multiple categories, speaks to the compassion and excellence our teams bring to our communities every day,” Bird said in an emailed statement.

In a statement provided to SHN, Sunrise Senior Living COO Pascal Duchauffour said the recognition “reflect the experiences” of the thousands of senior living residents and staff across Sunrise Senior Living communities.

“At Sunrise, we are redefining senior living as we seek to create the preferred lifestyle for living longer, healthier, happier lives,” Duchauffour said via email. “This recognition is a testament to the vibrant community life we cultivate, where personalized experiences, engaging programming, and exceptional hospitality and service come together to support each resident’s well-being and sense of belonging.”

Ninety-four percent of Brightview Senior Living communities were given the “best” designation. In a statement, Brightview CEO Doug Dollenberg said the company’s high rankings “speaks to the strength and consistency” of the experiences Brightview corporate and community-level staff deliver across the company’s portfolio.

“In this industry, trust is everything, and this recognition, driven by resident and family feedback, reinforces that our focus on hospitality, personalized care, and meaningful engagement is resonating. It also underscores a fundamental belief at Brightview: investing in our associates and fostering a strong workplace culture directly translates into better outcomes for residents,” Dollenberg said. “Our recent Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For recognition further validates that connection between workforce excellence and resident satisfaction.”

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