GENESEO, Illinois – Hammond-Henry Hospital’s Long Term Care Living Center here has been recognized as a “2026 Best Nursing Home” by U.S. News & World Report.
The new accolade is in addition to the 5-Star rating it has received the past 14 years from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
“This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment and dedication in ensuring that our residents are cared for with compassion, dignity, and respect every day,” Nicole Kittelson, the Hammond-Henry center manager and nursing director, said in a news release Monday, March 2. “We are grateful to our residents and families for their trust, and we remain committed to continually raising the standard of care.”
Since the annual U.S. News Best Nursing Homes debuted in 2009, its analysis has served as a critical resource, providing trusted, data-driven insights to families – in consultation with their healthcare providers – seeking the best long-term care options.
A “High-Performance” designation, the highest level of recognition by U.S. News, was awarded to Hammond-Henry Hospital Long Term Care Living Center for outstanding quality in long-term care.
U.S. News’ annual evaluation is highly selective – recognizing fewer than 19% of the evaluated U.S. nursing homes as “Best Nursing Homes” as part of the 2026 ratings.
According to U.S. News, this designation is reserved only for facilities that satisfy its rigorous, proprietary assessment criteria demonstrating a consistent and superior commitment to quality patient and resident care.
“In a field that often struggles to receive positive recognition, our Long Term Care Living Center stands as a model of compassionate, high-quality care,” Wyatt Brieser, the chief executive officer of Hammond-Henry Hospital, said in the release.
15k nursing homes evaluated
Mr. Brieser added: “We are honored to receive the U.S. News & World Report Award, made possible by an exceptional team of caregivers, respectful and engaged residents, supportive families, and a surrounding community whose partnership helps create an environment of excellence we are proud to sustain into the future.”
For the 2026 list, U.S. News evaluated nearly 15,000 nursing homes on patient and resident outcomes, such as hospital readmission rates; as well as staffing levels; health inspection results, and other indicators of quality.
“U.S. News’ annual Best Nursing Homes ratings are designed to place the needs of patients and residents at the center of the selection process, equipping families with reliable, fact-driven metrics when making crucial care decisions,” Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News, said. “We are proud to spotlight the nursing homes across the country that consistently demonstrate exceptional care quality and prioritize both the safety and long-term well-being of those they serve.”
Heather Charlet, Hammond-Henry’s chief nursing officer, said the achievement “demonstrates our staff’s dedication to exceptional care, clinical quality, and resident-centered living in our community.”
This achievement celebrates the dedication and consistent efforts to go above and beyond to ensure dignity, comfort, and quality of life for residents in our care,” she added. “We are grateful to our staff, caregivers, and families that entrust us with caring for their loved ones.”
