NJ Veterans Home, Preferred Care Among Best Nursing Homes
New Jersey Veterans Home-Vineland was recently named the 12th best of the largest nursing homes in the state by Newsweek’s America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026 ranking. Preferred Care of Cumberland in Bridgeton came in at number 32.
In partnership with data firm Statista, the publication recognized 1,200 facilities—out of 14,752 evaluated—across 33 states for their outstanding commitment to quality, safety and resident well-being. The facilities were ranked by state and in three tiers: 50-99 beds; 100-149 beds; and more than 150 beds. Both local homes were ranked in the largest group, Veterans Home with 300 beds and Preferred Care with 196.
In New Jersey, 15 nursing homes were named among the best in the 100-149 group, and 50 were ranked in the largest division. Actors Fund Home, Englewood, was New Jersey’s top-ranked in 100-149 beds and Jewish Home at Rockleigh topped the 150 and up class.
According to the Rutgers University New Jersey State Policy Lab, citing Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services statistics, 346 Medicare-certified nursing homes serve more than 42,600 New Jerseyans, or about 0.5 percent of the state’s population, as of August 2024.
“Finding the right nursing home can profoundly impact health outcomes and quality of life,” Alexis Kayser, Newsweek health care editor, said in a recent announcement included with the rankings. “The facilities on this list have demonstrated excellence in clinical quality, patient satisfaction, and overall resident care.”
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, there are more than 15,000 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes in the United States, serving roughly 1.2 million residents.
Experts from all over the U.S. could participate in the survey of the America’s Best Nursing Homes by state on newsweek.com. Email verification was required, and self-recommendation was not possible. The survey data was collected from June to August 2025. As an additional element, accreditations from the Joint Commission International and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities have been included in the scoring model (where available).
The information provided in the rankings should be considered in conjunction with other available information about nursing homes or, if possible, accompanied by a visit to the facility. The quality of nursing homes that are not included in the rankings is not disputed.
