Page 10 of Best Nursing Homes in Nebraska

Overview of Nye Legacy

Situated in Fremont, Nebraska, Nye Legacy offers top-notch services, including short-term rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, skilled care, and aquatic therapy. With a dedicated team offering a personalized approach, residents experience exceptional care. The facility boasts Medicare-certified services and state-of-the-art rehabilitation, earning recognition through various awards and accolades. 

The highly qualified healthcare professionals, coupled with a cutting-edge 90° hydrotherapy pool, make Nye Legacy a haven for those with work-related injuries, providing a tailored home exercise program to aid recovery and alleviate pain. Achieving a healthy lifestyle is made possible with their around-the-clock care, ensuring residents have the support they need. Social activities abound, creating a vibrant and engaging environment where the Nye Legacy team truly makes a positive impact.

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.

Emerald Nursing & Rehab in Omaha, Nebraska, offers exceptional clinical care in a warm environment. This facility is the epitome of compassionate care, helping patients achieve their highest level of independence with dedicated support. Conveniently located just minutes from downtown Omaha, this nursing and rehab center has garnered rave nursing home reviews for its responsive and caring staff, ensuring residents receive the utmost attention and nurturing care.
It takes immense pride in serving both skilled and long-term care needs, making it a versatile and large-scale facility that meets the highest nursing home requirements. With a focus on rehabilitation and skilled nursing in a post-acute setting, residents find themselves in the hands of experts committed to their well-being and progress. Whether it’s recovering from an injury or requiring extended care, this exceptional center offers a nurturing haven where individuals can thrive and regain their strength, fully meeting all nursing home requirements.

Overview of Northfield Retirement Communities Care

Northfield Retirement Communities Care is a 66-bed nursing home operated by Northfield Retirement Communities on Circle Drive in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. The facility has provided local care for 34 years and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. For visitors, the surrounding neighborhood carries a high walkability score of 80 out of 100, which means the area is pedestrian-friendly and family members can complete most errands on foot when coming to the property.

Residents stay an average of 227 days, pointing to a standard operational mix of short-term rehabilitation patients and long-term residents. Currently, 45 of the 66 beds are occupied, placing the community at a 68 percent occupancy level. Around-the-clock staffing manages the daily clinical routine, providing nearly 5 hours of total nursing care per resident each day, which includes 36 minutes from registered nurses, 36 minutes from licensed practical nurses, and 2 hours and 53 minutes of direct assistance from nurse aides.

State records confirm that the property complies with public health and safety standards. Inspection logs from the health department show a consistent history of meeting regional care charting guidelines, resulting in a cumulative citations-per-inspection rate of zero.

Older adults have access to on-site physical rehabilitation spaces and comfortable indoor common rooms. The kitchen coordinates meals to meet basic daily nutritional requirements, which are served in a centralized community dining area.

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.

Overview of Life Care Center of Omaha

Life Care Center of Omaha Is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. The upscale nursing home aims to change the meaning of skilled nursing and rehabilitation for seniors through the exceptional level of care that is delivered by their patient-friendly staff as an approach to offer the best care possible for their residents. Life Care Center can be trusted as a safe and secure community that cares for every patient’s needs. 
Convenience and hassle-free living is the center of Life Care Center services: medication management, post-surgical care, and wound care; as well as their 24-hour skilled nursing care services provide compassionate care as it is their utmost priority. Other services include 24/7 easy admissions, fall prevention, IV therapy, discharge planning, and case management.

Overview of Omaha Nursing and Rehabilitation

Serving the Omaha area for 42 years, Omaha Nursing and Rehabilitation is a 70-bed nursing home and memory care community owned by Malene Davis and administered by Neil Hayhurst in Omaha, Nebraska. Operated by Southside Healthcare, Inc, it typically runs near full, with an 83 percent occupancy rate and residents averaging 135 days of stay. This indicates a mix of shorter rehabilitation stays and longer-term nursing care. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted to give families multiple ways to fund care costs.

Nursing staff provide an average of 2 hours 53 minutes of diligent care per resident day, combining registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, and nurse aide support. The community also offers physical, occupational, and speech therapy, supporting occupants convalescing from surgery, illness, or a hospital stay, plus those receiving ongoing skilled nursing care. The surrounding neighborhood has a Walk Score of 68, so some errands can be done on foot, while others call for a car. That gives visiting families a workable blend of walkability and easy driving access when coming to see a loved one.

Community state inspections have most often centered on care planning and documentation practices: monitoring resident weight and completing investigations on time, alongside periods when the facility was found to meet full licensure requirements. Families touring the home can ask staff how such areas are monitored every day.

Overview of Hillcrest Country Estates-Cottages

Hillcrest Country Estates-Cottages is a Nursing Home at 6082 Grand Lodge Avenue, Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska. Administrated by Shyann Walker and owned by Hight, Kaleb, the facility is certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Certification Number 285293). Hillcrest Country Estates-Cottages offers spacious, all-inclusive apartment living in Papillion, Nebraska with upscale amenities and a vibrant community. The facility states it provides a private, boutique-style living experience with additional care available on-site if needed and specializes in short-term rehabilitation stays.

Hillcrest Country Estates-Cottages is an urban nursing home in the Omaha metro area providing primarily short-term rehabilitation and transitional care. Most residents stay a few weeks or months before returning home or moving on. Average length of stay is 22 days. Medicare admissions (63%) typically stay 22 days for short-term rehab. Private pay admissions (35%) typically stay 7-8 months. Medicaid admissions (2%) typically stay 2 years for long-term daily care. Occupancy rate is 68.9%, 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, indicating deficiency concerns that warrant direct inquiry. The Staffing Rating of 4/5 stars substantially exceeds the Nebraska average of 3.1/5 stars and ranks the facility #12 out of 129 in Nebraska. The Quality Measures Rating of 3/5 stars exceeds the Nebraska average of 2.7/5 stars.

Staffing levels are substantially above state benchmarks. Total nursing care per resident per day reaches 5 hours 35 minutes, +29% above the Nebraska state average of 4 hours 20 minutes. This facility ranks #12 out of 129 in Nebraska for total nursing hours. Weekend nursing hours total 4 hours 43 minutes per day. The strong staffing profile contrasts with the below-average health inspection rating, suggesting potential operational or care delivery issues beyond staffing quantity.

Hillcrest Country Estates-Cottages operates as a privately-owned, for-profit facility with annual revenue of $18.1 million and profit of $222.3 thousand. Payroll comprises 34.7% of revenue ($6.3 million), which is substantially below the typical SNF range of 55–65%. The facility is urban, located in Papillion in Sarpy County and part of the greater Omaha metropolitan area. The stated boutique-style apartment living model with upscale amenities ostensibly distinguishes it as a specialized short-term rehab community.

Families considering placement should ask about the health inspection deficiencies, specific corrective actions implemented, and current oversight metrics before placement.

Overview of Mt Carmel Home – Keens Memorial

Mt. Carmel Home – Keens Memorial is a 75-bed nursing home at 412 West 18th Street, Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska, administered by Emily Birdsley and owned by Corpus Christi Carmelites, Inc., a voluntary non-profit community. The facility provides skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, memory care, and daycare services, accepting Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Approximately 76 percent of new admissions are Medicare-covered short-term rehabilitation stays, 16 percent private pay, and 8 percent Medicaid.

Staffing is exceptionally robust. Adjusted total nursing hours per resident per day reach 6 hours 31 minutes, ranking third among 117 Nebraska nursing homes and 50 percent above the state average of 4 hours 20 minutes. Nurse aides provide 4 hours 30 minutes per day, 63 percent above the state average of 2 hours 46 minutes. Licensed practical nurses deliver 1 hour 7 minutes per day, 56 percent above the state average of 43 minutes. Registered nurses provide 33 minutes per day, 23 percent below the state average of 43 minutes. Weekend total nursing hours reach 5 hours 14 minutes per day, 45 percent above the state average of 3 hours 37 minutes. Physical therapy hours are constrained at 2 minutes per resident per day, 33 percent below the state average. Occupancy runs at 91 percent with 68 residents in 75 beds, ranking 22nd among Nebraska nursing homes and exceeding the state average of 70.3 percent.

Mt. Carmel’s inspection record demonstrates sustained compliance with Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health standards. The inspection on November 16, 2023, found the facility in compliance with licensure renewal without noted deficiencies. Earlier inspections documented citations primarily related to delayed call light responses, care plan revisions following resident altercations, medication administration, fire safety code violations, and housekeeping deficiencies. Complaint investigations were predominantly unsubstantiated. The facility records no fines or license suspensions and has incurred no federal penalties in the past three years.

CMS ratings place Mt. Carmel significantly above state benchmarks. Overall rating is 5 of 5 stars (2.2 points above Nebraska average of 2.8), health inspection rating is 5 of 5 stars (2.2 points above average), staffing rating is 4 of 5 stars (0.9 points above average), and quality measures rating is 3 of 5 stars (0.3 points above average). Long-stay residents experienced hospitalizations at 1.29 per 1,000 days (28 percent better than state average of 1.80) and emergency department visits at 1.38 per 1,000 days (29 percent better than the state average of 1.95). Short-stay residents showed rehospitalization at 16.9 percent (19 percent better than state average of 20.9 percent) and zero percent falls with major injury (100 percent better than state average of 0.8 percent). Successful return to home or community reached 43.1 percent (15 percent worse than state average of 50.6 percent).

Families considering Mt. Carmel should discuss physical therapy protocols and verify their specific care needs align with the facility’s emphasis on short-stay Medicare admissions.