Best Nursing Homes in Lincoln, NE

At 9401 Andermatt Drive in Lincoln, Southlake Village Rehabilitation & Care Center runs as a 126-bed nursing home and skilled nursing community, operated by Vsl Lincoln Southlake, LLC with David Bergmann as administrator. The surrounding Lancaster County neighborhood is car-dependent. A Walk Score of 15 means most errands call for driving rather than a walk down the block.

Inside, three services define the community: short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and memory care. That range shows up in the staffing, too. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse aides combine for roughly five hours and ten minutes of nursing care per resident every day, a level of coverage suited to residents who need more than occasional check-ins. The facility runs nearly full, at 98% occupancy, and the typical stay lasts about 78 days, long enough to suggest most residents are working through a rehabilitation stay or a longer stretch of skilled nursing care rather than a brief visit.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted, so families have more than one way to structure payment. State inspectors with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services have tended to focus their reviews here on staff credentials, care documentation, and dietary and food service, areas of oversight rather than direct hands-on care.

Between the nursing hours, the near-full occupancy, and the mix of rehab and skilled nursing services, Southlake Village reads as a community built for residents who need real clinical support, whether they’re passing through after a hospital stay or settling in for longer-term care.

Overview of Tabitha Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Tucked away in the neighborhood of Lincoln, NE, Tabitha Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a respected senior care provider, offering excellent skilled nursing, rehabilitation care, and long-term care. Residents here are provided with a reliable nursing team that offers assistance with daily living activities or rehabilitation experts to support those in the process of healing or recovery. The community carefully curates personalized care plans tailored to residents’ unique needs and preferences, ensuring they are met with the appropriate care and services.

Constantly receiving high ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, along with excellent client satisfaction scores, the community proves its excellence in delivering excellent care and services. Here, residents also enjoy a wide array of engaging activities designed to make their lives more active and enjoyable. With excellent care services, a kind and caring team, and a nurturing environment, the community guarantees residents quickly get back on their feet as soon as possible.

Overview of Gateway Vista

Gateway Vista is one of the premier senior living communities in Lincoln. Management and staff are dedicated to promoting the standard of living for seniors who need assistance with daily living but still live an independent lifestyle. Gateway Vista is a continuum-of-care community that uniquely approaches senior care where residents are sure to feel like they belong. 

Gateway offers a range of services for its specialties: independent living, assisted living, memory care, outpatient therapy, short-term rehab, traditional skilled care, home health care, and respite care.

Overview of Ambassador Health of Lincoln

Sean Barry owns and operates Ambassador Health of Lincoln, a 122-bed nursing home located on Normal Boulevard in Lincoln, Nebraska. The business office processes multiple payment formats to cover resident care, accepting Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. For visitors, the surrounding neighborhood carries a minimal walkability footprint of 18 out of 100, meaning family members will rely on a vehicle to reach the property or manage errands.

A standard length of stay reaches about 129 days, signaling a varied routine that blends long-term care placements with short-term post-hospital rehabilitation. This mixed caseload utilizes about 70 beds, leaving the property at a 57 percent occupancy level. Around-the-clock staffing logs show an average of 4 hours and 43 minutes of total nursing care per resident daily, drawing on a combined team of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides who handle specialized wound care, adult pulmonary needs, pediatric specialty lines, and on-site hemodialysis.

State safety files present a long-term look at the facility’s regulatory oversight history. Health department reports indicate that the management updated its building routines to clear previous inspection notes regarding infection control, medication setups, and life safety guidelines, keeping the current record clear of active enforcement penalties. Looking at the property’s broader regulatory data profile, the center maintains a cumulative citations-per-inspection rate of zero.

Prospective residents receive meals tailored to daily nutritional goals in a shared community dining space. The interior layout balances dedicated physical therapy spaces with quiet indoor common rooms and personal care support.

Old Cheney Rehabilitation is a 47-bed Nursing Home at 5431 South 16th Street, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. Administrated by Kylee Johnston and owned by Ammon Walkers Limited Partnership, the facility is certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Certification Number 285299). Old Cheney Rehabilitation is a premier rehabilitation center in Lincoln, Nebraska, focused on helping patients recover from surgery, injury, or illness. The facility offers personalized treatment plans with physical, occupational, and speech therapy, comfortable private suites, and nutritious meals prepared by an in-house chef.

Old Cheney Rehabilitation is a moderately sized nursing home in Lincoln providing primarily short-term rehabilitation stays. Most residents typically stay a few weeks or months before returning home or moving on. Medicare admissions (63%) typically stay 25 days for short-term rehab. Private pay admissions (30%) typically stay 1-2 months. Medicaid admissions (7%) typically stay 3-4 months. Average length of stay is 35 days. Occupancy rate is 67.9%, below the Nebraska state average of 70.3%.

The CMS Overall Rating of 2/5 stars falls below the Nebraska average of 2.8/5 stars. The Health Inspection Rating of 2/5 stars also falls below the Nebraska average of 2.8/5 stars. The Staffing Rating of 3/5 stars is slightly below the Nebraska average of 3.1/5 stars. The Quality Measures Rating of 2/5 stars falls below the Nebraska average of 2.7/5 stars.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health conducted 5 total health inspections (vs Nebraska average 4.3). The facility received 22 total citations (vs Nebraska average 18.2), averaging 4.4 citations per inspection compared to the state average of 4.19. No critical citations were issued (100% better than Nebraska average of 0.2). No serious citations were issued (100% better than Nebraska average of 0.5). All 22 citations were moderate in severity and have been corrected. The most recent inspection occurred in May 2025. Top deficiency categories include Resident Rights (5 deficiencies, 23%), Quality of Life and Care (4 deficiencies, 18%), Infection Control (2 deficiencies, 9%), and Pharmacy Services (2 deficiencies, 9%).

Old Cheney Rehabilitation provides above-average staffing depth and balance. Total nursing hours reach 4 hours 26 minutes per day, 2% above the Nebraska average of 4 hours 20 minutes, ranked #55 out of 129 in Nebraska. The facility employs 8 Registered Nurses (average shift 8.9 hours), 11 Licensed Practical Nurses (average shift 9.6 hours), and 41 Certified Nursing Assistants (average shift 8.2 hours). The facility also employs 5 Speech Language Pathologists, 3 Physical Therapy Assistants, 3 Nurse Practitioners, and 6 Respiratory Therapy Technicians, reflecting comprehensive rehabilitation programming. Contractor staffing comprises 6.7% of total hours.

Old Cheney Rehabilitation operates as a privately-owned community with annual revenue of $6.7 million but reports an operating loss of $566.3 thousand, suggesting financial pressure. Payroll comprises 50.7% of revenue ($3.4 million).

Families considering Old Cheney Rehabilitation should ask about the above-average citation count (22 vs state average 18.2), and what corrective actions were implemented before placement.

Holmes Lake Rehabilitation & Care Center has been a fixture at 6101 Normal Blvd in Lincoln, Nebraska, for 53 years. It’s a 97-bed facility that covers a lot of ground, offering nursing home, assisted living, independent living, and memory care services. Just a heads-up if you’re planning visits: the walkability score is a 21, so you’ll definitely need a car to get around here.

Right now, about 63% of the beds are filled. Residents stay for an average of 171 days, or about five and a half months, which suggests the center serves both short-term rehab needs and longer-term residents.

When you look at the staffing numbers, they provide 3 hours and 31 minutes of nursing care per resident each day. That includes about 25 minutes from an RN, 33 minutes from an LPN or LVN, and the rest from nurse aides. If you’re curious about inspections, the state tends to focus on practical safety issues like infection prevention, preventing falls, keeping things tidy, and fire safety, rather than just the clinical side.

They accept Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Honestly, because they’ve been around for over five decades and have flexible payment options, Holmes Lake is a very pragmatic choice for local families, especially if you’re navigating the healthcare system for a post-hospital recovery or need to rely on Medicaid.

Overview of Emerald Nursing & Rehab Lancaster

Emerald Nursing & Rehab Lancaster LLC is a skilled nursing home in Lincoln, Nebraska, with 293 beds. Lancaster Opco Holdings LLC owns and operates it. The facility is located on South Street in a very walkable neighborhood, so most errands can be accomplished on foot.

The home has been operating for 56 years and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. It specializes in rehabilitation and short-term post-acute care. Most residents stay an average of 109 days, reflecting a population focused on recovery rather than long-term residence.

The home’s clinical strength is in its rehabilitation programs. It offers post-surgical, orthopedic, and cardiac rehabilitation. There is also specialized care in areas such as pain management, diabetes, nutritional support, and palliative and hospice services. IV medication management, lymphedema services, and a secure memory unit are available for residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia. There is also an outdoor terrace for activities and fresh air.

Daily nurse staffing averages roughly 3 hours and 41 minutes per resident. It is distributed across registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses. The home staff includes licensed mental health practitioners. It also has on-site medical specialists, including a physician, a registered dietitian, an optometrist, an audiologist, a podiatrist, and a dentist. This range of in-house services reduces the need for outside appointments during recovery or ongoing care. Notably, the home holds a Veterans Administration contract as it serves veterans in the region.

State inspection records have documented recent improvements and earlier challenges. The facility received a new license. It had no deficiencies following a recent ownership transition. However, prior inspections identified concerns regarding resident safety and care-planning protocols. Families touring the facility can ask how it supports residents with secure exit protocols and how care plans are developed and monitored.

Emerald Nursing & Rehab’s long history, focus on rehabilitation, depth of on-site services, and walkable location make it best suited for residents and families seeking active recovery support in a well-resourced setting.

Overview of Emerald Nursing & Rehab Brookside

Owned by Brian Gopin, Emerald Nursing & Rehab Brookside LLC is a skilled nursing community in South Lincoln. It is located on 54th Street in a moderately walkable neighborhood. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, which gives families multiple ways to cover short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care. The 173-bed community has an occupancy rate of 76%, with residents staying an average of 131 days.

The home focuses on rehabilitation and specialty care. Its core offerings are post-surgical, orthopedic, and cardiac rehab. These are paired with specialized programs in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, pain management, diabetes care, and palliative and hospice care.

Residents with complex medical needs have on-site services, including physician care, registered dietitians, and mental health support. There are also specialized consultants in optometry, audiology, podiatry, and dental care. The range of services and programs means many medical and therapeutic needs can be addressed without leaving the facility.

Nursing support is substantial. Total nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 11 minutes per resident each day. Registered nurses spend 25 minutes, and nurse aides contribute 2 hours and 41 minutes of hands-on care daily. These support the facility’s rehabilitation focus and the daily monitoring and personal assistance that skilled nursing residents require.

Daily life at the facility revolves around comfort and personalization. Residents have private rooms to keep their personal belongings and space. Dining features gourmet meals with personalized menus to suit individual tastes and health needs. There are outdoor patio areas for residents who want to spend time outdoors. Telehealth services are also available to expand access to care without leaving the community.

Inspection data over the past 15 years includes reviews of injury prevention and operational maintenance, with corrective action taken as they arose. The facility has always been committed to resident safety and quality oversight through ongoing regulatory engagement.

Old Cheney Rehabilitation, which is found in Lincoln at 5431 South 16th Street, is a place where people go to get better after being in the hospital. Under the care of Kylee Johnston, this center has forty-seven beds, but only twenty-four people stay there at once because the main goal is helping everyone get home fast.

To make sure patients do not have to travel, the team offers speech, moving, and work-related help right on-site. Nurses who are always there watch over the people for twenty-four hours every day, and they spend a full hour with each person, while the kitchen crew makes healthy food so that bodies can mend quickly.

Even though the people who stay there have their own private rooms and can visit a hair salon, they often meet in the big dining room to make friends. Because feeling lonely can make it harder to get better, the workers set up movie nights and fun games, knowing that laughing with others is just as needed as medicine for building back strength. Since families can pay with Medicare, Medicaid, or their own money, the move from surgery to this safe spot is easy.

Old Cheney Rehabilitation is a trusted Lincoln home where a kind team helps folks heal, so they can get back to their normal lives as soon as possible.