Page 2 of Best Nursing Homes in Lincoln, NE

Old Cheney Rehabilitation is an elegant community that focuses on personalized care that allows for efficient senior living care. They make a home for its residents when they ‘get back home’; they consist of a team of dedicated staff ready to accommodate the needs of its residents with compassionate care. Seniors can rest assured that they can find comfort and convenience all around the campus and all throughout their stay.  Old Cheney is a warm and welcoming home-like environment that boasts successful personalized care that leads to a speedy recovery.

Old Cheney is a results-driven community that provides full support and care to get one to recover as soon as possible. They provide nurses, physicians, and therapies who cultivate the wellness of its residents as efficiently as possible. 

Overview of Southlake Village Rehabilitation & Care Center

Administered by David Bergmann, Southlake Village Rehabilitation & Care Center, Inc., is a skilled nursing home that Vsl Lincoln Southlake, Llc, operates in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nestled in a somewhat walkable neighborhood, the community on Andermatt Drive welcomes Medicare and Medicaid occupants and offers short-term rehabilitation and longer-term skilled nursing care, including memory care and respite services. As a 126-bed, single-story facility with over four decades of experience, the home maintains an occupancy rate around 89 percent, indicating steady demand for its services.

Rehabilitation is the community’s clinical focus. Physical therapists supply an average of 7 minutes per resident day, substantially above state averages, which supports its emphasis on helping occupants recover mobility and regain daily skills post-surgery, stroke, or hospital stays. Daily nursing support averages 4 hours 13 minutes per resident on weekends, with registered nurses providing 36 minutes of daily care, practical nurses 54 minutes, and certified nurse aides 3 hours 10 minutes. This staffing composition mirrors a heavy focus on diligent personal care alongside skilled clinical oversight. Southlake holds an A+ accreditation rating from the Better Business Bureau, reflecting its track record of business practices and time in operation. The facility’s somewhat car-dependent location is close enough to Lincoln’s central services to be accessible for family visits and for connecting residents with specialized outside care. With a dedicated focus on post-acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing, the facility serves residents needing thorough clinical support plus structured therapy services.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ state inspections have consistently tracked issues about documentation, environmental management, and regulatory compliance across Southlake’s 10-year inspection history. The facility’s quality measures show mixed results: long-stay occupants rate above average on overall care quality, and successful discharge to home occurs at a notably higher rate than the state average, though some metrics present room for improvement on short-stay outcomes.

Overview of Sumner Place

Sumner Place is a 104-bed nursing home in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, administered by Kaitlin Clegg and operated by VSL Lincoln Sumner, LLC. Operating continuously since 1975 and holding 65 awards and achievements, the facility provides skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, respite care, and Alzheimer’s and dementia services, accepting both Medicare and Medicaid.

Staffing exhibits mixed performance relative to state benchmarks. Registered nurses deliver 39 minutes per resident per day, 9 percent below the Nebraska average of 43 minutes. Licensed practical nurses provide 40 minutes per day, 7 percent below the state average of 43 minutes. Nurse aides work 2 hours 42 minutes per day, matching the state average of 2 hours 46 minutes. Weekend total nursing hours reach 3 hours 32 minutes per day, at the state average of 3 hours 37 minutes. Weekend registered nurse coverage reaches 47 minutes per day, 62 percent above the state average of 29 minutes. Physical therapy provision is notably constrained at 1 minute per resident per day, 67 percent below the state average of 3 minutes. Occupancy runs at 91 percent with 95 residents in 104 beds, above the Nebraska state average of 70.3 percent, suggesting strong community demand.

Sumner Place’s inspection trajectory reflects documented improvement. Earlier inspections documented deficiencies centered on life safety and fire safety issues such as fire doors, sprinkler systems, and emergency lighting, alongside isolated concerns about medication administration and infection control. Complaint investigations were predominantly unsubstantiated; some citations involved delayed abuse reporting and late investigative report submission. The facility has recorded no fines or enforcement actions with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health. The inspection on March 13, 2025, found no deficiencies and confirmed licensure renewal compliance. This pattern indicates meaningful remediation over time.

Available quality measures show limited data. Long-stay residents experienced emergency department visits at 0.86 per 1,000 days, 56 percent better than Nebraska’s 1.95. However, hospitalizations occurred at 1.91 per 1,000 days, 6 percent worse than the state average of 1.80. No penalties have been assessed in the past three years. The facility’s occupancy and decades-long operational history reflect established community presence.

Families considering Sumner Place should ask administrators directly about physical therapy capacity and rehabilitation protocols given the below-average physical therapist hours per resident.