Kensington-Evergreen Communities Recognized by U.S. News and World Report as Among the Nation’s Best for Assisted Living

The Kensington in Hastings, Nebraska, and The Evergreen Inn in Vancouver, Washington, have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as Best Assisted Living communities for 2025. The Kensington in Hastings received high-performing accolades in three categories: Management & Staff, Activities & Enrichment, and Feels Like Home. The Evergreen Inn in Vancouver earned high-performing accolades in two categories: Management & Staff and Feels Like Home. Additionally, The Kensington in Fort Madison, Iowa, earned high-performing accolades for Assisted Living – Activities & Enrichment. All Kensington-Evergreen communities are operated by Agemark Senior Living.

Now in its fourth year, the 2025 Best Senior Living ratings from U.S. News evaluated over 3,800 communities in the United States. Communities are evaluated on several criteria, including resident and family members’ satisfaction with safety, care, community management and staff, value and other services and amenities.

Marty Hug, Agemark CEO, says, “We’re incredibly proud of these three communities. The recognition from U.S. News and World Report is special because it’s based on direct feedback from residents and their family members. We’re excited that our residents and families think highly of our communities and have found a true home with us. Each of our community teams work compassionately to deliver the exceptional care and services that our seniors deserve.”

U.S. News awards the designation of “Best Senior Living” only to those communities that satisfy U.S. News’ rigorous, data-driven standard, reflecting the viewpoints from more than 450,000 consumer surveys. Only the highest-rated communities in each care level earned a “Best” rating. U.S. News also recognizes outstanding performance in several key areas with a High Performing accolade. These accolades are awarded to communities that scored in the top 25% of evaluated communities nationwide for Caregiving, Activities & Enrichment, Management & Staff, Food and “Feels Like Home,” and met certain other criteria.

“Choosing a senior living community is a big life decision for older adults and their loved ones. U.S. News’ Best Senior Living ratings offer families a data-driven search tool, providing transparent and comprehensive assessments of quality,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. “We commend the communities that have earned this distinction, reflecting their unwavering dedication to resident well-being and satisfaction.”


About Agemark Senior Living

Agemark Senior Living has been a trusted leader in senior care for nearly 40 years, creating vibrant and welcoming communities where seniors truly feel at home. With corporate offices in Orinda, California, and Omaha, Nebraska, Agemark owns and operates a growing portfolio of 28 senior living communities under 12 brands across six states. Agemark communities are built on a foundation of personalized service and hospitality-inspired experience, delivered with empathy and expertise. Their communities offer a variety of independent living, assisted living, memory care, and respite care services. The company is proud to be a certified Great Place to Work (TM), with communities consistently recognized among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Senior Living” rankings. To learn more about Agemark, visit Agemark.com.

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

The Evergreen Inn in Vancouver Honored as a Best Assisted Living by U.S. News and World Report

For the second straight year, The Evergreen Inn in Vancouver, Washington, was recognized by U.S. News & World Report for being one of the Best Assisted Living communities in the country. U.S. News and World Report is the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice.

The Best Senior Living list assists seniors and their families with researching and choosing the best senior living community for them. Now in its fourth year, U.S. News analyzed 400,000 survey responses from residents and their family members at more than 3,500 senior living communities nationwide to compile their 2024 rankings. The top-rated communities for each level of care have been rated Best Senior Living in their categories. 

The Evergreen Inn is a unique community located in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Once a hotel, the community was purchased by Agemark Senior Living and opened their doors in 1987. Today, the community serves both seniors seeking traditional assisted living as well as adults with intellectual disabilities. Led by Executive Director Kelly Higdon, along with a team of talented caregivers, the community ensures all residents enjoy homemade meals, exceptional care, life enriching activities and outings and much more. The Evergreen Inn was recently named Agemark’s Assisted Living Community of the Year.

Seventeen Agemark Senior Living communities made the list for 2024. To learn more about The Evergreen Inn or to take a tour, contact us today.

Fort Madison’s The Kensington Recognized by U.S. News and World Report

For the second straight year, The Kensington in Fort Madison was recognized by U.S. News & World Report for being one of the Best Senior Living communities in the country. The community was honored on both the Best Assisted Living and Best Memory care lists. U.S. News and World Report is the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice.

The Kensington has served seniors since its opening in 1988. Previously a Catholic Hospital, the community was purchased by Agemark Senior Living, which has owned and managed the community since that time. The community provides a safe and secure home for seniors who need a little help living life fully. Residents of the community enjoy life enriching activities, homemade meals and care provided by an expert and caring staff. In 2015, the community added a memory-care specific neighborhood, which specifically provides care for those with memory loss due to dementia.

The Best Senior Living list assists seniors and their families with researching and choosing the best senior living community for them. Now in its fourth year, U.S. News analyzed 400,000 survey responses from residents and their family members at more than 3,500 senior living communities nationwide to compile their 2024 rankings. The top-rated communities for each level of care have been rated Best Senior Living in their categories. Seventeen Agemark Senior Living communities made the list for 2024.

To learn more about The Kensington in Fort Madison or to take a tour, contact us today.

The Kensington in Hastings Named a “Best Senior Living” by U.S. News and World Report

U.S. News & World Report recently revealed it’s Best Senior Living rankings for 2024. The Kensington in Hastings was named a Best Senior Living for both Memory Care and Assisted Living by U.S. News and World Report for the second straight year.

The Kensington in Hastings provides a safe and supportive environment for seniors in Hastings and the surrounding area who need a little help living life fully. The Kensington offers assisted living and memory care in a historic building in the heart of downtown Hastings. Once the Clark Hotel, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Agemark Senior Living purchased the building in the late 1980’s and since 1987, has offered services for seniors.

The Best Senior Living list assists seniors and their families with researching and choosing the best senior living community for them. Now in its fourth year, U.S. News analyzed 400,000 survey responses from residents and their family members at more than 3,500 senior living communities nationwide to compile their 2024 rankings. The top-rated communities for each level of care have been rated Best Senior Living in their categories. Seventeen Agemark communities made the list for 2024.

To learn more about The Kensington in Hastings or to schedule a tour of the community, contact us online.

The Evergreen Inn Named Agemark Senior Living’s Community of the Year 

Agemark Senior Living recently named The Evergreen Inn in Vancouver their community of the year for 2023. The award was announced at Agemark’s corporate meeting held on March 7, 2024, in Omaha.  

The Evergreen Inn is led by Executive Director Kelly Higdon, RN. Opened in 1987, the community mainly serves adults with intellectual disabilities while also offering traditional assisted living services. The community is home to 82 residents at capacity, offering both private and companion room options, in a safe and supportive environment. The Evergreen Inn once served as a lodging and entertainment center and was originally built in 1928.  

The community was measured in five areas: occupancy, family satisfaction, employee satisfaction, income to operating expenses and budget management. After all areas were closely examined, The Evergreen Inn rose to the top of Agemark’s 15 multi-service communities.  

Agemark CEO Martin Hug says of Kelly Higdon and The Evergreen Inn, “The Evergreen Inn is such a special place, and we are so proud of Kelly and her team. The community provides an exceptional experience for residents that make the building their home. The team at The Evergreen Inn are the embodiment of what is special about Agemark – a group of compassionate and caring individuals who are changing the lives of residents in their care each day through the love they share.”  

The win was the sixth historically for The Evergreen Inn and their third year in a row. Other members of the community’s leadership team include Candice Griffith, Bill Strickland, Cindy Strickland, Kathy Wagner, and Teresa Yohe, Additionally, the community employs an exceptional team of experienced caregivers. 

The Evergreen Inn earned two other awards. First, the community was Agemark’s top performer for both staff and resident satisfaction in surveys performed in 2023. Additionally, caregiver Christina Toledo was recognized as an Agemark HERO, which is the company’s highest individual award. This award was given to just four employees out of more than 1000 employed Nationwide. Executive Director Kelly Higdon says of Christina Toledo, “Christina has demonstrated the utmost commitment to our company’s core values: professionalism, integrity, commitment, and compassion. She has an amazing work ethic and gives so much to our community and residents every day. She is a loyal and loving person and displays that to residents and her coworkers. I’m honored to have Christina on my team.” 

For more information on The Evergreen Inn, please visit kensington-evergreen.com/Vancouver.

New Veteran’s Benefits Program

Announcing New Veteran's Benefits Program, Image is of a US Veteran and female family member walking.

Honoring Our Veterans and Making Senior Living More Accessible

The Kensington communities are excited to share our new Veteran’s Benefits Program. Effective February 1st, 2024, veterans and their spouses will never pay a community fee at a Kensington community! This initiative is a heartfelt tribute to the brave veterans and their spouses who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation.

What This Means for Your Family? Our new Veteran’s Benefits Program not only honors the service of our veterans but also eases the financial journey for those seeking senior living. We aim to make senior living more affordable and less stressful for you and your loved ones.

In line with our dedication to serving veterans, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with Patriot Angels. Many veterans and their families are unaware that they may be eligible for benefits to help pay for long-term care and other services. This collaboration is designed to offer invaluable support to veterans and their spouses as they navigate the often overlooked Wartime Pension with Aid and Attendance benefit, funded by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Virtual Event:🔗 Click HERE to learn more about Patriot Angels and our Partnership. 

Join us on Zoom on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. (Central).

Meet Patriot Angels: Your Guiding Light

Founded in 2012 by CEO Suzette Graham, Patriot Angels serves as a beacon of hope for U.S. Wartime Veterans and their spouses. Their mission is to provide pension assistance swiftly and without the risk of financial exploitation. To date, Patriot Angels has helped thousands of clients secure funds for long-term care.  If you or a loved one are among the 16 million veterans or spouses potentially eligible, including 9 million from the Vietnam era, this benefit is designed to provide substantial support.

How will Patriot Angels benefit you? Patriot Angels will help streamline the process and ensure a smooth benefit application process, with clients typically approved within 90-120 days after filing. Guided by VA-accredited Attorney Victoria Collier, Patriot Angels brings unparalleled expertise to the application process. Since 2012, Patriot Angels has helped secure nearly 20,000 successful benefit approvals for veterans and their spouses. 

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about our new Veteran’s Benefits Program or want to explore how our partnership with Patriot Angels can enhance your senior living experience. Together, let’s honor our veterans and make your senior living journey enriching and accessible.