Several Bergen County assisted living and memory care communities have received recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Senior Living ratings, which evaluate resident and family satisfaction with care, safety, staffing, management and everyday life.
The annual ratings evaluated more than 3,000 senior living communities nationwide. Of those, 1,614 received a Best Senior Living designation, including 51 in New Jersey.
For Bergen County families considering assisted living or specialized memory care, the findings offer another resource when researching residential care options.
Bergen County Communities Receiving Recognition
Among the local communities with confirmed 2026 U.S. News Best Senior Living designations are:
- Brighton Gardens of Saddle River: Best Assisted Living
- Monarch Paramus: Best Assisted Living and Best Memory Care
- Sunrise of Cresskill: Best Memory Care
- Sunrise of Norwood: Best Assisted Living
- Sunrise of Old Tappan: Best Assisted Living
- Sunrise of Paramus: Best Assisted Living and Best Memory Care
- Sunrise of Park Ridge: Best Assisted Living
- Sunrise of Woodcliff Lake: Best Memory Care
These are confirmed examples of Bergen County recipients, not a complete list of every local community recognized.
What Do the Ratings Measure?
Unlike hospital rankings, which incorporate clinical outcomes and other medical performance data, the U.S. News Best Senior Living ratings rely on surveys of residents and their families.
The evaluations consider satisfaction with caregiving, staff responsiveness, safety, management, dining, activities and other aspects of community life.
Separate designations recognize performance in assisted living, memory care, independent living and continuing care retirement communities. A community may qualify in one category without receiving recognition in another.
What Families Should Know Before Choosing a Community
The ratings provide useful information, but they are only one part of evaluating senior living options.
Families should also consider the level of care a prospective resident needs, staffing and supervision, available medical support, costs and the community’s ability to accommodate changing health conditions.
For those considering memory care, important questions include how staff are trained to assist people with dementia, what supervision is available overnight and how the community handles changes in a resident’s behavior or care needs.
It’s also worth requesting a detailed explanation of monthly fees, additional service charges and circumstances that might require a resident to move to another level of care.
New Jersey’s Department of Health oversees licensing and inspections of assisted living facilities. Families can request information about inspection findings and should visit prospective communities before making a decision.
The U.S. News ratings offer a starting point for comparing experiences reported by residents and families. They do not replace an individual assessment of care needs or a review of a facility’s regulatory record.
For more information, visit the U.S. News Best Senior Living announcement and the New Jersey Department of Health.
