Finding the best care for seniors is a decision that weighs heavily on families, often filled with uncertainty and emotional stress. But what if there was a definitive guide to help you navigate this critical choice? Newsweek has stepped up to the plate, releasing its America’s Best Nursing Homes of 2026 list, and New Jersey has made a remarkable showing with 65 facilities earning a spot among the top 1,200 in the nation. But here’s where it gets controversial: How much weight should we really place on rankings when it comes to something as personal as elder care? Let’s dive in.
This year’s rankings weren’t just about performance data—though that carried significant weight. They also factored in peer recommendations, accreditations, resident satisfaction, and, for the first time, vaccination rates. This addition has sparked debate: Is prioritizing vaccination rates a fair measure of quality care, or does it overshadow other critical aspects? We’ll let you decide.
The list spans 33 states and categorizes facilities by size: 50-99 beds, 100-149 beds, and 150 beds or more. For New Jersey families, this means a clearer path to making informed decisions. Below are the top-ranked nursing homes in the Garden State, broken down by category.
100-149 Bed Category
1. Actors Fund Home, Englewood
2. Inglemoor Rehabilitation and Care Center, Livingston
3. Parker at Somerset, Somerset
4. Preferred Care at Old Bridge, Old Bridge
5. Lions Gate, Voorhees
6. Arbor Ridge Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Wayne
7. Cedar Crest - Mountainview Gardens, Pompton Plains
8. Alaris Health at Kearny, Kearny
9. Peace Care St. Ann’s, Jersey City
10. Coral Harbor Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Neptune City
11. JFK Hartwyck at Oak Tree, Edison
12. CareOne at Holmdel, Holmdel
13. CareOne at Livingston, Livingston
14. Reformed Church Home, Old Bridge
15. Elizabeth Nursing and Rehab Center, Elizabeth
150 Beds or More Category
1. Jewish Home at Rockleigh, Rockleigh
2. Christian Health, Wyckoff
3. Emerson Health and Rehabilitation Center, Emerson
4. Roosevelt Care Center at Edison, Edison
5. The Meadows at Lawrence, Lawrenceville
6. Excelcare at The Pines, Atlantic City
7. White House Healthcare Center, Orange
8. Bridgeway Care and Rehab Center at Bridgewater, Bridgewater
9. Maple Glen Center, Fair Lawn
10. Roosevelt Care Center at Old Bridge, Old Bridge
11. Leisure Chateau Care and Rehabilitation Center, Lakewood
12. New Jersey Veterans Memorial at Vineland, Vineland
13. CareOne at Madison Avenue, Morristown
14. Oakland Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Oakland
15. Complete Care at West Caldwell, West Caldwell
16. Alaris Health at Hamilton Park, Jersey City
17. Avalon Rehabilitation and Care Center - Wayne, Wayne
18. Complete Care at Cedar Grove, Cedar Grove
19. Hampton Ridge Healthcare and Rehabilitation, Toms River
20. Complete Care at Marcella, Burlington
21. Alaris Health at The Chateau, Rochelle Park
22. Willow Springs Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Brick
23. The Jewish Home for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Freehold
24. Complete Care at Madison, Matawan
25. Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, Paramus
26. Bartley Healthcare Nursing and Rehabilitation, Jackson
27. Complete Care at Green Acres, Toms River
28. Optima Care Harborview, Jersey City
29. Hunterdon Care Center, Flemington
30. Complete Care at Barn Hill, Newton
31. Complete Care at Regent, Hackensack
32. Preferred Care at Cumberland, Bridgeton
33. Atlantic Coast Rehab and Healthcare Center, Lakewood
34. Regency Jewish Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Somerset
35. Complete Care at Green Knoll, Bridgewater
36. Jersey Shore Center, Eatontown
37. Anchor Care and Rehabilitation Center, Hazlet
38. Royal Suites Health Care and Rehabilitation, Galloway Township
39. Runnells Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, Berkeley Heights
40. Alaris Health at Cedar Grove, Cedar Grove
41. New Jersey Veterans Home at Paramus, Paramus
42. Carnegie Post Acute Care at Princeton, Princeton
43. AristaCare at Manchester, Manchester
44. Lincoln Park Care Center, Lincoln Park
45. Trenton Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Trenton
46. Preferred Care at Absecon, Absecon
47. Lakeland Nursing and Rehabilitation, Haskell
48. Meadowview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Northfield
49. Autumn Lake Healthcare at Memorial Bridge, Penns Grove
50. Tallwoods Care Center, Bayville
While these rankings are a valuable resource, they’re not the whole story. What matters most to you in a nursing home? Is it the numbers, the personal touch, or something else entirely? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Disclaimer: If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy, which detail how your data is collected and used.
