Page 17 of Best Assisted Living in Nebraska

Overview of The Mulberry at Waverly

The Mulberry at Waverly is a privately run, 54-bed nursing home that has provided skilled nursing, memory support, and rehabilitation services for 37 years. The facility serves a population primarily composed of Medicaid recipients (79%), alongside those utilizing Medicare and private pay, with an average length of stay of 146 days. Business records indicate a small-community care model that currently maintains a Better Business Bureau rating of A+, though state-imposed restrictions affect new incoming admissions.

State records show a history of severe compliance challenges and critical enforcement penalties. Following a standard June 2024 inspection, regulators placed the home on a 180-day probation and issued an admission freeze on new residents after identifying incomplete assessments linked to the deaths of two residents. Over a 16-year tracking window, the property compiled 91 total citations, exceeding the Nebraska average by 73%. Enforcement records also note $26,000 in total federal financial fines and temporary government payment denials in recent years, which follow a historical 90-day probation in 2013 for medication errors.

Routine checkups show persistent, multi-year difficulties regarding infection control, care plan execution, dietary staffing volumes, and fire safety systems. Daily staffing hours average 4 hours and 7 minutes per resident, running slightly under the state benchmark, while clinical charts show resident hospitalizations at nearly double the state average alongside below-average scores for preserving physical mobility.

Interested individuals investigating regional long-term skilled nursing options can evaluate these public health archives to analyze the facility’s current status. Since the official tracking profiles document an active admission freeze, substantial financial fines, and notable long-term clinical deficiencies alongside an established history in the area, the paperwork underscores a care environment facing significant oversight and operational strain.

Overview of The Pines at Blue Hill

The Pines at Blue Hill is a 62-bed facility in rural Blue Hill, Nebraska, providing skilled nursing, memory care, and rehabilitation. Opened in May 2023 under private operation, the home accommodates a mix of residents funded by Medicaid (49%), private pay (33%), and Medicare (18%), with an average stay of 159 days. Financial records indicate ongoing operational challenges, highlighted by a low 50% occupancy rate and an overall operating loss.

State health department archives point to a notable shift toward regulatory compliance, though everyday staffing levels and short-term recovery metrics remain weak. The home’s February 2025 license renewal survey came back with zero deficiencies, mirroring recent progress under the current operational structure. This stands in contrast to a heavy historical record from 16 years of prior operations on the property, which accumulated 101 citations, 91% above the state average, along with $23,000 in federal fines in 2024 and older license probations in 2013 and 2017 tied to resident falls.

Daily care lines show total nursing hours average 3 hours and 32 minutes per resident, running 19% below the Nebraska baseline, while registered nurse hours sit 49% below the state average. This leaner clinical coverage matches weaker post-acute outcomes, where short-stay charts show re-hospitalization rates 38% above the state mean and emergency room visits tracking 98% higher than average.

Prospective residents looking into area skilled care or short-term rehab can use these public monitoring files to assess the provider’s current performance. Since the official tracking documentation records low building utilization, thin daily nurse coverage, and high post-acute hospital return rates alongside a completely clean recent inspection and a history of past safety probations, the paperwork shows a facility trying to correct long-standing operational issues.

In Blair, Nebraska, Good Shepherd Lutheran Home combines three levels of care under one roof: nursing home, assisted living, and independent living. The 84-bed community sits at 2242 Wright Street, in a very walkable stretch of town (Walk Score 78) where most daily errands don’t require a car. Blair NF Operations, LLC owns the property, with Serena Smith administering day-to-day operations.

Of the 84 beds, 71 are filled, putting the community at 84% capacity. Nursing coverage totals close to four hours per resident per day, split across registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides.

Short-term rehab and broader rehabilitation services are available on-site, so residents working back from surgery or a hospital stay don’t need to leave the building for therapy. Respite care gives families a temporary option when they need coverage without a long-term commitment. Good Shepherd also participates in HUD Housing, which can open placement to residents working within a housing subsidy. Pets are welcome, and daily life includes private bathrooms, a shared kitchen area, a social gathering room, and an on-site beauty shop.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted, so the path to covering care doesn’t hinge on any single payment source. From the nursing, assisted living, and independent living options, the community is clearly built to hold residents across a wide range of needs, from short post-hospital rehab stays to longer-term skilled nursing to a more self-directed daily routine.

Emerald Nursing & Rehab Lakeview sits on the west side of Grand Island, Nebraska, at 1405 West Hwy 34. It’s a car-dependent spot (Walk Score 0). Plan to drive when you visit.

This is a skilled nursing and rehab facility with 95 beds. Right now a little over half are filled, 55 of them, which puts occupancy at 58%. So there’s room. That matters whether you’re looking at a short stay to recover from surgery or a longer arrangement for a parent who needs daily care.

Short-term rehab helps people get back on their feet after an operation, an illness, or an injury. Long-term nursing care covers residents who need steady, ongoing support. A doctor is on staff. Staffing runs around the clock, and therapy happens in-house, so a rehab resident isn’t shuttled out for appointments.

Each resident gets about 3 hours and 23 minutes of total nursing care a day. Nurse aides account for roughly 2 hours and 33 minutes of that, with RN and LPN time added on top. On the day-to-day side, rooms are private, there’s a dining program, and residents have patio space to sit outside.

The facility takes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so most families will find a path that works. State inspections have looked at infection prevention, emergency preparedness, and how care is planned and documented.

Owned by Beverly Schnell, Kimball County Manor is a skilled nursing facility in Kimball, Nebraska. The 49-bed community is on East 7th Street with a Walk Score of 58. Some errands can be accomplished on foot in the surrounding neighborhood. The facility accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay, providing multiple coverage options for residents.

It has an occupancy rate of 96%. Most residents stay an average of 522 days; the home serves both short-term rehabilitation residents and those seeking long-term nursing care.

The home offers a full range of skilled nursing services, including rehabilitation, respite care, and short-term rehab programs, with 24-hour staffing. Total nurse staffing averages roughly 4 hours and 9 minutes per resident each day. Residents receive daily support from registered nurses for approximately 26 minutes per day, nurse aides for 2 hours and 50 minutes per day, and licensed practical nurses for 29 minutes per day. The community also operates an adult day care program and provides restorative therapy services for residents working toward functional goals.

Dining is served three times daily, with alternative entrees available for various preferences. There’s also a snack cart that’s available all day and night. Other amenities include a beauty and barber shop for routine grooming services.

Inspections by the state regulatory agency have identified findings involving resident care practices, safety protocols, medication management, and food service standards. Families evaluating the home should ask how these areas are managed and monitored daily.

Overview of Good Samaritan Society – Atkinson

Good Samaritan Society – Atkinson is a nursing home in Atkinson, Nebraska, in rural Holt County. It is operated by Good Samaritan Society – Atkinson, with administrator Dale Gould overseeing day to day operations and Mark Ptacek listed as the facility’s owner. The home has 61 beds and is currently at full occupancy, with all 61 beds in use.

Total nursing care runs about 4 hours and 1 minute per resident each day, a figure made up of registered nurse time, nurse aide time, and licensed practical nurse time throughout the day. Starting price is approximately $3,761 per month, and the facility accepts Medicaid, which gives many families a path to afford long-term placement. Services include rehabilitation therapy and respite care, offering short-term recovery support alongside longer-term stays.

The home also participates in home-based services and caregiver support programs, which can extend its reach to families managing care outside the facility itself. On site, residents have access to a salon, dining, religious services, and scheduled transportation, along with routine maintenance support.

State inspections over the years have covered a range of areas at the home, including infection control, medication handling, care-plan follow-through, and staffing adequacy, alongside periods where the facility was found to meet its licensure requirements in full. Families touring the home may want to ask staff how these areas are currently managed. Located in a rural stretch of Holt County, the surrounding area is somewhat walkable, with some errands reachable on foot but most trips requiring a car.

Overview of Haven Home

Quality of care metrics reveal significant performance gaps in short-stay rehabilitation outcomes at Haven Home, a nursing home and assisted living facility at 100 W Elm St in Kenesaw, Nebraska.

Ability to care for self at discharge reached only 28.6 percent of residents, substantially below Nebraska’s state average of 53.7 percent; a 47 percent performance deficit. Successful return to home or community registered 37.0 percent, 27 percent worse than the state average of 50.6 percent. These figures indicate that rehabilitation residents often discharge with reduced functional independence.

The facility earns below-average CMS quality ratings in both short-stay and long-stay categories. Positive outcomes appear limited to falls prevention: zero residents experienced major injury from falls during short-stay episodes, compared to Nebraska’s average of 0.8%.

Hospitalizations per 1,000 resident days measured 1.49, 17% better than average. Outpatient emergency department visits registered 1.62 per 1,000 days, also 17% better than Nebraska’s benchmark.

Registered nurse hours total 19 minutes per resident per day, the lowest among the three nursing levels and 56% below Nebraska’s state average of 43 minutes. Licensed practical nurse staffing reaches 41 minutes daily, 5% below state average. Certified nursing aide hours measure 1 hour 52 minutes per day, 33% below the state average of 2 hours 46 minutes. Physical therapist coverage is minimal at 1 minute per day, 67% below Nebraska’s average of 3 minutes.

Weekend total nursing drops to 2 hours 34 minutes per resident per day, 29% below the state average of 3 hours 37 minutes. Weekend registered nurse hours fall to 12 minutes per day, representing a 59% reduction from state averages.

Haven Home provides skilled nursing short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing long-term care, and assisted living across private, semi-private, and various bedroom configurations. The single-story facility maintains 24-hour staffing, permits pets, and offers respite care and rehabilitation services. Amenities include emergency call systems, transportation, lounges, sunrooms, beauty and barber services, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and organized clubs and events.

The facility is not CMS-certified for Medicare or Medicaid.

Walk score of 1 indicates extreme car-dependence; the location sits 32.4 miles from the city center and 14.12 miles from Hastings Medical Park.

Haven Home demonstrates chronic and severe staffing deficits correlating with markedly impaired rehabilitation discharge outcomes, despite modest successes in injury and infection prevention.

Good Samaritan Society – Wood River is a distinguished assisted living community in the heart of Wood River, Nebraska, specializing in Nursing Home services. Amidst this well-connected environment, Good Samaritan Society stands as a beacon of compassionate care and dedicated service for the senior residents of Wood River and its surrounding communities.

This community conveniently connects to various local amenities, including churches, retail establishments, and healthcare facilities. With a remarkable twelve churches within a four-mile radius and ten pharmacies within one mile, residents have access to essential resources. Moreover, the esteemed St. Francis Medical Center is a mere 13.79 miles away, ensuring prompt medical assistance.

Overview of Chimney Rock Villa

Chimney Rock Villa is a 49-bed nursing home owned by the City of Bayard in rural Bayard, Nebraska. The facility operates under a payment framework that accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay options. For visitors, the surrounding rural neighborhood is mostly car-dependent with a walkability score of 29 out of 100, meaning family members will generally need a personal vehicle to travel to the property or manage errands.

Stays average around 406 days, demonstrating a workload that shifts primarily toward permanent, extended nursing placements rather than rapid short-term therapy loops. This baseline caseload utilizes 65 percent of the building’s overall capacity. To manage daily care, around-the-clock staffing delivers an average of 4 hours and 18 minutes of total nursing care per resident each day, with a combined team of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides handling post-hospital recovery and standard physical conditioning.

State records present a long-term look at the property’s compliance tracking history. Health department inspection logs confirm that the facility adjusted its operational protocols to address past tracking notes regarding wound care and infection prevention, leaving the building free of recent citations and maintaining an overall cumulative citations-per-inspection rate of zero.

Older adults will find a quiet, small-scale layout configured for essential medical oversight and physical therapy tracks. Daily meals are planned by the kitchen to meet standard nutritional guidelines and are served in a centralized community dining room. The routine pairs personal care assistance and laundry services with comfortable common lounges, structured exercise blocks, and flexible hours for family visits.