The Independence House at Mandarin
Assisted Living & Memory Care · Lincoln, NE

The Independence House at Mandarin

Assisted Living & Memory Care · Lincoln, NE

Overview of The Independence House at Mandarin

The Independence House at Mandarin provides assisted living and memory care services in Lincoln, Nebraska. Residents in assisted living receive daily help with bathing, dressing, and managing medication while maintaining private living spaces. Secured memory care accommodations provide constant supervision for individuals prone to wandering, allowing residents to shift into higher levels of care as their health needs evolve.

Administrator Brandy Higgins manages the 32-bed, pet-friendly facility. On-site amenities include a chef-staffed dining hall, a stocked library, a general store for basic shopping, and a full-service beauty salon. Outside the building, a walk score rating of 54 out of 100 indicates a somewhat walkable neighborhood where residents can run a few basic errands nearby on foot.

Prospective individuals exploring care environments in Lincoln can contact The Independence House at Mandarin to request information on current availability, discuss care plans, or schedule an in-person visit.

By The Numbers

Community insights.

Bed count Info A smaller, more intimate setting that may offer a quieter environment and closer staff-resident interactions. 32 Rank #126 / 137Bed count — State benchmarkedThis assisted living community is ranked 126th out of 137 assisted living communities we track in Nebraska for bed count. Shows this facility's certified or reported bed count compared to other Nebraska facilities. Larger communities may offer more amenities, programs, and on-site services for residents and families.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in Nebraska that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.

Smaller home · May offer a more intimate, personalized care environment.

Walk Score Info Somewhat walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities. Rank #60 / 170Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis assisted living community is ranked 60th out of 170 assisted living communities we track in Nebraska for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average walk score across Nebraska facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in Nebraska that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
54 / 100
Occupancy rate Info Occupancy lower than 85% suggests more openings may be available. Rank #98 / 104Occupancy rate — State benchmarkedThis assisted living community is ranked 98th out of 104 assisted living communities we track in Nebraska for occupancy. Shows this facility's occupancy rate versus the Nebraska average, with its Statewide rank out of 104. Higher occupancy signals strong local demand and financial stability.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in Nebraska that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
43.8% This home usually has availability
Lower than the Nebraska average: 73.7%

About this community

License Details

Facility TypeAssisted Living Facilities
StatusActive
CountyLancaster
License NumberALF251

Ownership & Operating Entity

The Independence House at Mandarin is administered by Administrator Brandy Higgins.

Safety & Compliance

Secured Perimeter
Safety FeaturesLocked entrances and exits.

Staffing & Medical

3 services
Doctor on Staff
Nursing Services
24-Hour Staffing

Contact Information

Fax(402) 474-2391

Additional Policies & Features

Pets Allowed

Amenities & Lifestyle

Library
Salon
General Store

Contact The Independence House at Mandarin

Inspection History

In Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health conducts regular inspections to ensure nursing and assisted living facilities meet state and federal standards.

Since 2014 · 12 years of data These figures come from state-published data and the state inspection reports we hold on file. The period covered can vary depending on document availability.
Includes all inspection records for this property, which could include management/ownership changes.
1 deficiency 8 inspections

Inspection Scorecard Info This scorecard compares key inspection, deficiency, and complaint metrics at this facility against the Nebraska state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.

Since 2014 vs. Nebraska state average
Overall vs. NE average 0 Worse No metrics in this bucket. 2 Better Metrics better than Nebraska average:
• Total deficiencies (98% below)
• Deficiencies per inspection (96% below)

Deficiencies Info Deficiencies are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.

This FacilityNE Averagevs. NE Avg
Total deficiencies Info Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types. 152.0 This facility has 98% fewer total deficiencies than a typical Nebraska assisted living residence (1 vs. NE avg 52).↓ 98% better
Deficiencies per inspection Info Average deficiencies per inspection. 0.12.7 This facility has 96% fewer deficiencies per inspection than a typical Nebraska assisted living residence (0.1 vs. NE avg 2.7).↓ 96% better

Inspections Info State inspections evaluate whether the facility meets health and safety standards.

This FacilityNE Averagevs. NE Avg
Total inspections Info Combined count of all inspections conducted at this facility. 813.0 This facility has had 38% fewer total inspections than the Nebraska average (8 vs. NE avg 13). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 38% fewer

Places of interest near The Independence House at Mandarin

Address 5.7 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Lincoln's city center to The Independence House at Mandarin's address, calculated via Google Maps.

Calculate Travel Distance to The Independence House at Mandarin

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Address

Compare Assisted Living around Lincoln

Info below is compiled from the NE Dept. of Health & Human Services (DHHS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. PC (Palliative Care): Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
Description of bed or unit types offered (e.g. assisted living, memory care), as reported in state or facility disclosures.
Number of years the company has been in operation.
Reported or derived occupancy for the facility—typically how fully licensed capacity is utilized. Compare across peers in the same market.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
A named contact for the facility. Hover the name to see their role — Administrator (state administrator of record or facility-provided administrator), Nursing Director, Medical Director, or Staff. The most authoritative available is shown.
Name of the licensed owner, operator, or managing entity as filed with the state. Useful for grouping facilities under the same organization.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Inspection events categorized as complaint-related by the state regulator.
How many inspections had one or more deficiencies recorded. Compare to total inspections to see how often problems were found on visit.
Total count of deficiencies (cited regulatory issues) recorded in the selected reporting period. Read alongside inspection counts for context.
The average number of deficiencies this facility receives each time it's inspected, calculated as total deficiencies ÷ total inspections. A lower number suggests more consistent compliance with safety and care standards.
The Residence at Gramercy
AL
IL
RC
Lincoln
130
Facility 130
NE AVG 74
Rank #15 / 137
Yes
53
Facility 53
NE AVG 45
Rank #66 / 170
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-
79.2%
Facility 79.2%
NE AVG 73.7%
Rank #51 / 104
-Sylvia SlattenCima Lincoln Gramercy Oppo LLC6
3
Facility 3
NE AVG 7
Rank #51 / 127
2
Facility 2
NE AVG 15
Rank #47 / 127
3
Facility 3
NE AVG 52
Rank #45 / 127
0.5
Facility 0.5
NE AVG 4.0
Rank #49 / 127
AVIVA Woodlands
AL
MC
RC
Lincoln
107
Facility 107
NE AVG 74
Rank #27 / 137
No
12
Facility 12
NE AVG 45
Rank #156 / 170
--
79.4%
Facility 79.4%
NE AVG 73.7%
Rank #49 / 104
-Candyce HaydenLincoln 9421 Opco, LLC8
2
Facility 2
NE AVG 7
Rank #40 / 127
0
Facility 0
NE AVG 15
Rank #1 / 127
0
Facility 0
NE AVG 52
Rank #1 / 127
0.0
Facility 0.0
NE AVG 4.0
Rank #1 / 127
The Lexington Assisted Living
AL
Lincoln
104
Facility 104
NE AVG 74
Rank #30 / 137
No
57
Facility 57
NE AVG 45
Rank #46 / 170
-
26
Facility 26
NE AVG 25
Rank #18 / 37
88.5%
Facility 88.5%
NE AVG 73.7%
Rank #20 / 104
A+Stacey GreenfieldThe Lincoln Alf, Ltd7
2
Facility 2
NE AVG 7
Rank #40 / 127
1
Facility 1
NE AVG 15
Rank #27 / 127
1
Facility 1
NE AVG 52
Rank #27 / 127
0.1
Facility 0.1
NE AVG 4.0
Rank #27 / 127
Gateway Vista
AL
IL
NH
PC
RC
SNF
Lincoln (Culler)
80
Facility 80
NE AVG 74
Rank #43 / 137
No
71
Facility 71
NE AVG 45
Rank #20 / 170
Medicaid and Medicare (80)
18
Facility 18
NE AVG 25
Rank #27 / 37
90.0%
Facility 90.0%
NE AVG 73.7%
Rank #17 / 104
-Tonya NoackGateway Properties, Inc16
8
Facility 8
NE AVG 7
Rank #99 / 127
8
Facility 8
NE AVG 15
Rank #81 / 127
85
Facility 85
NE AVG 52
Rank #104 / 127
5.3
Facility 5.3
NE AVG 4.0
Rank #116 / 127
The Independence House at Mandarin
AL
MC
Lincoln
32
Facility 32
NE AVG 74
Rank #126 / 137
Yes
54
Facility 54
NE AVG 45
Rank #60 / 170
--
43.8%
Facility 43.8%
NE AVG 73.7%
Rank #98 / 104
-Administrator Brandy Higgins-8
1
Facility 1
NE AVG 7
Rank #27 / 127
1
Facility 1
NE AVG 15
Rank #27 / 127
1
Facility 1
NE AVG 52
Rank #27 / 127
0.1
Facility 0.1
NE AVG 4.0
Rank #27 / 127

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each assisted living community is ranked against every other NE assisted living community we track that reports that metric, not just the 5 on this page. See how we rank facilities

Financial Assistance for
Assisted Living in Nebraska

The Independence House at Mandarin is located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Nebraska.

Get Financial aid guidance

Aged and Disabled Waiver

Nebraska Medicaid A&D Waiver

Age 65+ or disabled
General Nebraska resident, Medicaid- eligible, nursing home-level care need.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual
Asset Limits $4,000 individual, higher than most states
NE

Higher asset limit; rural access focus.

Benefits
Personal care (5-7 hours/day) Respite (240 hours/year) Adult day care (~$60/day) Home aides

Nebraska Respite Network

NE Respite Network

Age Caregiver of someone 60+
General Nebraska resident.
Income Limits No strict limit; prioritizes low-income.
Asset Limits Not applicable.
NE

Lifespan respite focus; limited funding.

Benefits
In-home respite (4-6 hours/day) Adult day care (~$60/day) Short-term facility care (up to 5 days)

Personal Assistance Services (PAS)

Nebraska Personal Assistance Services

Age 19+ (65+ for seniors focus)
General Nebraska resident, Medicaid-eligible, needs help with 1+ ADL (e.g., bathing, dressing).
Income Limits (2025) ~$1,255/month (100% FPL, individual); spenddown allowed.
Asset Limits $4,000 (individual), $6,000 (couple) (excludes home up to $688,000, car).
NE

Family can be paid caregivers; statewide via DHHS.

Benefits
Personal care (4-6 hours/day) Limited homemaker services Respite (~200 hours/year)

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

Nebraska PACE (Immanuel Pathways)

Age 55+
General Nebraska resident (specific counties), NFLOC, safe with PACE support.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month (Medicaid-eligible); private pay option available.
Asset Limits $4,000 (individual), $6,000 (couple).
NE

Only in Douglas, Sarpy, parts of Cass/Pottawattamie/Washington Counties.

Benefits
Personal care (5-7 hours/day) Medical care Meals Transportation Respite Therapies

Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

Nebraska Medicare Savings Program

Age 65+ or disabled
General Nebraska resident, Medicare Part A/B.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,510/month (QMB), ~$3,380/month (SLMB), ~$3,598/month (QI)—individual.
Asset Limits $9,430 (individual), $14,130 (couple).
NE

Three tiers; no waitlist; includes Extra Help for Part D.

Benefits
Covers Part B premiums ($174.70/month) Deductibles ($240/year) Copays (~20%)

VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Benefits

Nebraska VA Aid and Attendance/Housebound

Age 65+ or disabled veteran/spouse
General Nebraska resident, wartime service, need for ADL help (A&A) or homebound.
Income Limits (2025) Net income < ~$1,984/month (veteran with dependent, A&A); pension offsets income.
Asset Limits ~$155,356 net worth limit
NE

High veteran demand in rural areas.

Benefits
Cash (~$1,433-$2,642/month veteran, ~$951-$1,318 spouse) for care costs (e.g., in-home, assisted living)

Frequently Asked Questions about The Independence House at Mandarin

Is The Independence House at Mandarin in a walkable area?

The Independence House at Mandarin has a walk score of 54. Somewhat walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.

What is the license number of The Independence House at Mandarin?

According to NE state health department records, The Independence House at Mandarin's license number is ALF251.

What is the occupancy rate at The Independence House at Mandarin?

The Independence House at Mandarin's occupancy is 43.8%.

Are pets allowed at The Independence House at Mandarin?

Yes, The Independence House at Mandarin allows residents to bring their pets.

What is the best email address for The Independence House at Mandarin?

The team at The Independence House at Mandarin can be reached at tour@theindependencehouses.com.

Who is the administrator of The Independence House at Mandarin?

Administrator Brandy Higgins is the administrator of The Independence House at Mandarin.

How many beds does The Independence House at Mandarin have?

The Independence House at Mandarin has 32 beds.

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