Mercy Circle’s short-term rehabilitation program again has been recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Nursing Homes issue. The senior living community is among 58 chosen from 366 short-term stay rehab programs in northern Illinois.
“We are honored and proud to receive this recognition from U.S. News & World Report,” said Mercy Circle Executive Director Frances Lachowicz.
“Our team prioritizes providing high-quality, compassionate care to our short-term rehab residents. Our mutual goals are that they make progress while feeling comfortable at Mercy Circle. Then, they are well-prepared to return to their homes, lives and loved ones as quickly as it is safe for them to do so.”
Mercy Circle earned its U.S. News Best Nursing Home status by achieving a ranking of “high performing,” the highest possible ranking, for short-term rehabilitation.
U.S. News gives the designation of Best Nursing Home only to those that satisfy its proprietary assessment of consistent performance in quality measures. For the 2026 edition, U.S. News evaluated nearly 15,000 nursing homes on patient and resident outcomes such as infection rates; staffing levels; potentially inappropriate reliance on antipsychotic drugs; health inspection results and other indicators of quality.
To calculate the Best Nursing Homes rankings, U.S. News evaluated each nursing home’s performance using a variety of quality measures obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The U.S. News methodology factors data such as resident care, safety and outcomes. Both short- and long-term rankings include data on nurse staffing, use of antipsychotic drugs and successfully preventing ER and hospital visits. The long-term care ranking also includes measures of whether a home changed ownership and how well it was staffed on weekends.
Mercy Circle is a not-for-profit senior living community with a no-entrance-fee policy. Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, it is the only faith-based retirement community in the Southwest sector of Chicago. Managed by Trinity Health Senior Communities, Mercy Circle offers spacious residences for all levels of care, along with thoughtful amenities, life enrichment activities, Mass and other religious services and programs, and social opportunities.
For more information or to schedule a private appointment, call (773) 253-3600 or visit the website at mercycircle.org.
Erin Gessert I Editor I January 14, 2026