Best Nursing Homes in Nebraska

Overview of Heritage of Bel Air

Heritage of Bel Air is a 108-bed nursing home at 1203 North 13th Street, Norfolk, Madison County, Nebraska, administered by Tracy Zamora. The facility provides skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and supportive care services, accepting both Medicare and Medicaid.

Staffing reflects measured performance relative to state benchmarks. Registered nurses deliver 38 minutes per resident per day, 12 percent below the Nebraska average of 43 minutes. Licensed practical nurses provide 44 minutes per day, matching the state average. Nurse aides deliver 2 hours 45 minutes per day, consistent with the Nebraska average of 2 hours 46 minutes. Weekend total nursing hours reach 3 hours 23 minutes per day, 6 percent below the state average of 3 hours 37 minutes. Weekend registered nurse presence drops to 23 minutes per day, 21 percent below the state average of 29 minutes. Physical therapists provide 3 minutes per resident daily, matching the state average. Occupancy runs at 83 percent with 90 residents in 108 beds, above the Nebraska state average of 70.3 percent. The facility’s occupancy and strong acute care metrics reflect community confidence.

The facility’s inspection trajectory with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health shows substantial improvement. Early inspections documented deficiencies centered on life safety code issues such as fire sprinkler maintenance, emergency egress, and fire safety equipment, along with concerns about nutrition, medication storage, fall prevention, and infection control. Complaint investigations were predominantly unsubstantiated, though a few substantiated cases involved failure to implement fall prevention interventions and incomplete incident reporting. The facility has recorded no fines, immediate jeopardy findings, or license suspensions. The inspection on March 13, 2025, found no deficiencies and confirmed licensure renewal. This pattern indicates meaningful remediation across prior years.

Quality measures demonstrate exceptional performance in safety and acute care outcomes. Long-stay residents experienced hospitalizations at 0.49 per 1,000 days, 73 percent better than Nebraska’s 1.80, and emergency department visits at 0.50 per 1,000 days, 74 percent better than the state average of 1.95. Short-stay rehabilitation residents showed rehospitalizations at 9.3 percent (56 percent better than Nebraska’s 20.9 percent), emergency department visits at 6.7 percent (42 percent better than the 11.6 percent state average), and falls with major injury at zero percent; substantially better than the Nebraska average of 0.8 percent. However, successful discharge to home or community occurred in 38.9 percent of cases (23 percent worse than the state average of 50.6 percent), and ability to care for self at discharge was 28.3 percent (47 percent worse than the state average of 53.7 percent). No penalties have been assessed in the past three years.

Families considering Heritage of Bel Air should ask administrators directly about discharge planning and functional recovery support during the admission assessment.

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 Wayne Countryview Care and Rehabilitation

Wayne Countryview Care and Rehabilitation is a 60-bed Nursing Home in Wayne, Wayne County, Nebraska. Administrated by Martin Brown and owned by Lindahl Healthcare, Inc., the facility accepts Medicare and Medicaid. It provides skilled nursing, rehabilitation services, and short-term rehab with in-house therapy and daily meals.

Wayne Countryview serves a mix of short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Occupancy is 57 percent, significantly below the Nebraska state average of 70.3 percent, with 34 of 60 beds occupied.

CMS quality ratings for Overall, Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures are not publicly available for this facility. This lack of information prevents comparison to Nebraska benchmarks and federal quality standards. Families cannot assess care quality using standard federal metrics.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health conducted 14 documented inspection visits. The most recent documented inspection occurred February 26, 2019, over six years ago. That inspection documented 92 deficiencies versus the Nebraska average of 52, indicating significant compliance issues at that time. No current inspection data is available. The six-year gap since the last documented inspection raises serious concerns about regulatory status and current compliance.

Specific staffing hours per resident per day are not publicly disclosed. The facility provides 24-hour staffing and in-house therapy. Detailed Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, and Certified Nursing Aide hours, weekend coverage, and staffing ratios are unavailable publicly.

Financial data including revenue, operating results, and payroll are not disclosed.

Families should request current CMS certification status and recent inspection reports from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services before placement.

Overview of Brookefield Park

Brookefield Park is a 70-bed Nursing Home at 1405 Heritage Drive, St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska. Administrated by Sawyer Boddy and owned by VSL St Paul, LLC, the facility is Medicare-certified. Brookefield Park provides skilled nursing, long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, and specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care with home-cooked meals and nutritional services.

Brookefield Park serves a mix of short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Occupancy is 87 percent, above the Nebraska state average of 70.3 percent, with 61 of 70 beds occupied. Strong occupancy indicates solid market demand.

CMS quality rating data is not fully displayed in the public profile. Overall, Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures ratings are not prominently presented, preventing standard benchmarking against Nebraska averages.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health conducted 19 documented inspection visits. The most recent inspection on March 13, 2025 was a renewal inspection that found no deficiencies, confirming Brookefield Park meets statutory requirements. Prior inspection documented 39 deficiencies versus the Nebraska average of 52, suggesting earlier compliance challenges. No current deficiency count breakdown or citation severity details are fully disclosed.

Staffing shows mixed performance. Registered Nurse hours total 43 minutes per day, at the state average. Licensed Practical Nurse hours total 40 minutes per day, 7 percent below the state average of 43 minutes. Certified Nursing Aide hours total 2 hours 57 minutes per day, 7 percent above the state average of 2 hours 46 minutes. Weekend nursing totals 3 hours 28 minutes per day, 4 percent below the state average of 3 hours 37 minutes. Weekend Registered Nurse hours total 30 minutes per day, 3 percent above the state average of 29 minutes. Physical Therapist hours total 1 minute per day, 67 percent below the state average of 3 minutes, representing significantly low rehabilitation support.

Brookefield Park operates as a for-profit community. Revenue, profitability, and payroll details are not disclosed publicly. The 70-bed size enables mid-scale operation.

Families considering Brookefield Park should request detailed CMS inspection reports, and justification for critically low Physical Therapist hours (1 minute/day, 67% below average) before placement.

Overview of Ridgewood Rehabilitation & Care Center

Ridgewood Rehabilitation & Care Center is an 82-bed Nursing Home at 624 Pinewood Avenue, Seward, Seward County, Nebraska. Administrated by Jeanne Schoen and owned by VSL Seward, LLC, the facility is Medicare-certified. Ridgewood provides skilled nursing, rehabilitation services, respite care, short-term rehab, and specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care with adult day care.

Ridgewood serves a mix of short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Occupancy is 89 percent, above the Nebraska state average of 70.3 percent, with 73 of 82 beds occupied. Strong occupancy indicates solid market demand.

CMS quality rating data is not clearly displayed in the public profile. Overall, Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures ratings are not prominently presented, preventing standard benchmarking against Nebraska averages.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health conducted 17 documented inspection visits. The most recent documented inspection occurred June 6, 2019, over six years ago. This complaint investigation documented 71 deficiencies versus the Nebraska average of 52. The report noted compliance with regulations at that time, but the extreme age of the last documented inspection raises serious questions about current regulatory status and whether inspections have occurred since 2019.

Staffing is below average with critical gaps. Registered Nurse hours total 25 minutes per day, 42 percent below the state average of 43 minutes, representing critically low RN coverage. Licensed Practical Nurse hours total 43 minutes per day, at the state average. Certified Nursing Aide hours total 2 hours 31 minutes per day, 9 percent below the state average of 2 hours 46 minutes. Weekend nursing totals 3 hours 13 minutes per day, 11 percent below the state average of 3 hours 37 minutes. Weekend Registered Nurse hours total 22 minutes per day, 24 percent below the state average of 29 minutes, representing critically low weekend RN coverage. Physical Therapist hours total 1 minute per day, 67 percent below the state average of 3 minutes, representing critically low rehabilitation support.

Ridgewood operates as a for-profit community. Revenue, profitability, and payroll details are not disclosed. The 82-bed size represents a mid-to-large facility.

Families should request current inspection reports from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, and CMS certification status before placement.

Emerald Nursing & Rehab Legacy Pointe LLC is a 108-bed Nursing Home at 3110 Scott Circle, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. Administrated by Stephen Osborne and owned by Emerald Nursing & Rehab Legacy Pointe LLC, the facility is newly licensed. Emerald Nursing & Rehab Legacy Pointe is committed to developing the physical and emotional potential of residents with spacious private rooms, gourmet dining with personalized menus, beautiful patio areas, and telehealth services. Programs include physical, occupational, and speech therapy with specialization in post-surgical and orthopedic rehabilitation and cardiac care.

Emerald serves short-term rehabilitation and post-acute care. Occupancy is 56 percent, significantly below the Nebraska state average of 70.3 percent, with 60 of 108 beds occupied. Low occupancy is expected for newly licensed facilities but indicates slower ramp-up.

CMS quality rating data is not prominently displayed. Overall, Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures ratings are not clearly presented. This is a newly licensed facility without established rating history.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health conducted original licensing inspection on June 16, 2025. This is a brand-new facility with no prior compliance history. The original licensing inspection documented 119 deficiencies versus the Nebraska average of 52, significantly above average for a new facility. The inspection resulted in issuance of a new license. The high deficiency count at initial licensing indicates substantial compliance gaps and operational issues at startup.

Staffing is below average across most categories. Registered Nurse hours total 32 minutes per day, 26 percent below the state average of 43 minutes. Licensed Practical Nurse hours total 34 minutes per day, 21 percent below the state average of 43 minutes. Certified Nursing Aide hours total 2 hours 23 minutes per day, 14 percent below the state average of 2 hours 46 minutes. Weekend nursing totals 3 hours 1 minute per day, 17 percent below the state average of 3 hours 37 minutes. Weekend Registered Nurse hours total 24 minutes per day, 17 percent below the state average of 29 minutes. Physical Therapist hours total 3 minutes per day, at the state average. Staffing shows consistent below-average coverage across RN, LPN, and CNA categories.

Emerald Nursing & Rehab Legacy Pointe LLC operates as a for-profit community. Revenue, profitability, and payroll details are not disclosed. The 108-bed size represents a large facility.

Families considering Emerald Nursing & Rehab Legacy Pointe LLC should request detailed information about the 119 deficiencies identified at original licensing before placement.

Overview of Ambassador Health of Omaha

Ambassador Health of Omaha is a 146-bed Nursing Home at 1540 North 72nd Street, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. Administrated by Jake Bleach and owned by SNF/NF Distinct, the facility is Medicare-certified. Ambassador Health of Omaha is a healthcare facility focused on post-hospital rehabilitation and skilled nursing with extended care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, and specialized wound care.

Ambassador serves post-acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing populations. Occupancy is 58 percent, significantly below the Nebraska state average of 70.3 percent, with 85 of 146 beds occupied. Low occupancy suggests market or reputation challenges for a large facility.

CMS quality rating data is not prominently displayed in the public profile. Overall, Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures ratings are not clearly presented, preventing standard benchmarking against Nebraska averages.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health conducted 22 documented inspection visits. The most recent inspection on November 18, 2024 was a renewal inspection. The facility received 95 deficiencies versus the Nebraska average of 52, significantly above average. The inspection report notes the facility met statutory requirements for license renewal. The above-average citation count warrants careful review of compliance status and corrective actions.

Staffing is exceptional in clinical categories but unbalanced. Registered Nurse hours total 2 hours 8 minutes per day, 198 percent above the state average of 43 minutes, representing exceptionally high RN coverage. Licensed Practical Nurse hours total 2 hours 50 minutes per day, 295 percent above the state average of 43 minutes, representing exceptionally high LPN coverage. Certified Nursing Aide hours total 1 hour 47 minutes per day, 36 percent below the state average of 2 hours 46 minutes, below average. Weekend nursing totals 6 hours 8 minutes per day, 70 percent above the state average of 3 hours 37 minutes, exceptionally high. Weekend Registered Nurse hours total 1 hour 48 minutes per day, 272 percent above the state average of 29 minutes, a standout metric with exceptional weekend RN coverage. Physical Therapist hours total 6 minutes per day, 100 percent above the state average of 3 minutes, above average. Staffing profile shows exceptional clinical oversight with outstanding RN and LPN presence, particularly on weekends, offset by below-average CNA support.

Ambassador Health of Omaha operates as a for-profit community. Revenue, profitability, and payroll details are not disclosed. The 146-bed size represents a large facility.

Families should request information on the 95 deficiencies identified at the November 2024 renewal inspection, and the significantly low occupancy rate before placement.

Overview of Blue Valley Lutheran Nursing Home

Blue Valley Lutheran Nursing Home is a 64-bed nursing home at 220 Park Avenue, Hebron, Thayer County, Nebraska, administered by Donnavan Jacobitz and owned by Blue Valley Lutheran Homes, a faith-based organization. The facility provides nursing care, long-term care, respite care, and rehabilitation services, emphasizing spiritual services and a home-like atmosphere.

Staffing shows mixed performance against state standards. Registered nurses provide 40 minutes per resident per day, 7 percent below the Nebraska average of 43 minutes. Licensed practical nurses deliver 1 hour 1 minute per day, 42 percent above the state average of 43 minutes. Nurse aides work 2 hours 18 minutes per day, 17 percent below the Nebraska average of 2 hours 46 minutes. Weekend total nursing hours reach 3 hours 2 minutes per day, 16 percent below the state average of 3 hours 37 minutes. Occupancy runs at 48 percent with 31 residents in 64 beds, substantially below the Nebraska state average of 70.3 percent and indicating significant available capacity.

Blue Valley Lutheran’s inspection record reflects substantial improvement. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, conducted 20 inspections over the facility’s history. The inspection on March 25, 2025, found the facility met all statutory requirements for licensure renewal with no deficiencies noted. Earlier inspections documented deficiencies centered on environmental safety, fall prevention, care plan updates, resident dignity, and life safety code compliance. Complaint investigations were predominantly unsubstantiated, though some substantiated findings involved failure to update care plans, pressure ulcer prevention, and medication security. The facility was placed on 90-day probation in March 2019 due to safety and fall prevention violations. No fines or license suspensions appear in available records. The facility has incurred no federal penalties in the past three years.

The recent clean renewal inspection marks documented improvement following the earlier probationary period. However, the low occupancy rate warrants discussion about the facility’s current operational status and staffing stability.

Families considering Blue Valley Lutheran for long-term care should ask administrators directly about fall prevention protocols and care plan procedures given the earlier deficiency pattern.