Page 8 of Best Nursing Homes in Nebraska

Emerald Nursing & Rehab Cozad is a 67-bed skilled nursing facility on West 18th Street in Cozad, Nebraska, owned and operated by Cozad Operations LLC. The facility manages several financial paths, accepting Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay options. For visitors, the surrounding neighborhood is moderately walkable, meaning family members can complete some daily errands on foot when coming to the property.

Patient stays last an average of 231 days, pointing to a standard operational balance between short-term post-acute recovery and extended long-term placements. This rotation of residents keeps the building functioning at an 84 percent occupancy level. Around-the-clock staffing delivers an average of 3 hours and 32 minutes of total nursing care per resident each day, including 24 minutes from registered nurses and 2 hours and 35 minutes from nurse aides, to handle IV therapy, life-vest monitoring, and rehabilitation for stroke, cardiac, orthopedic, oncology, and pulmonary conditions.

State health department logs reveal that the facility operates within typical regulatory lines. Inspection surveys show that the building resolved past tracking gaps concerning documentation, medication setups, staff training, and infection control, resulting in zero deficiencies on its most recent reviews and maintaining an overall cumulative citations-per-inspection rate of zero.

Older adults have access to private rooms, outdoor patio spaces, personalized menus in the dining area, and on-site telehealth links to coordinate with doctors. The kitchen structures daily meals to fulfill basic nutritional requirements. The weekly routine pairs targeted physical therapy tracks with laundry services, personal care assistance, and open visiting windows for family members.

Overview of Crest View Care Center

Crest View Care Center is a 70-bed skilled nursing facility in Chadron, Nebraska, providing long-term care, memory care, rehabilitation, and respite services. It is operated by Kismet SPF LLC in Dawes County and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The facility holds a 1-star overall CMS rating, with all sub-ratings — health inspection, staffing, and quality measures — running well below Nebraska’s average. Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 48 minutes per resident per day, roughly 36% below the state benchmark. The facility’s deficiency rate across the inspection record is 10.5 citations per year, compared to the state’s average of 4.2 — 150% above it.

In January 2026, the facility received a 90-day probationary notice from the state after failing to identify which residents were at risk of falls and to implement prevention measures. A 2015 complaint investigation was substantiated for failure to protect a resident from a pressure ulcer and for misappropriation of resident funds.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 40% compared with Nebraska’s average of 70%, which means most rooms are currently available. Other services included are physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Amenities include private room options, three daily meals, social and recreational activities, and transportation coordination. The facility also received a 2024 Customer Experience Award from Pinnacle Quality Insight.

Crest View is best suited for residents in Chadron and Dawes County needing long-term skilled nursing or memory care, with rehabilitation services available for shorter post-acute stays. However, families considering the facility should ask about its low staffing levels, probation notice, and elevated deficiency history.

Overview of Life Care Center of Omaha

Life Care Center of Omaha is a 128-bed Nursing Home at 6032 Ville de Sante Drive, Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska. Administrated by Peter Stygar and owned by Stygar, Peter (privately-owned partnership), the facility is certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Certification Number 285137). Life Care Center of Omaha provides skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, focusing on inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation with 24-hour skilled nursing care. The facility also supports dialysis patients with transportation as needed.

Life Care Center of Omaha is a larger nursing home in Omaha providing a mix of rehabilitation and long-term care services. The facility is a 128-bed community with 94 occupied beds and an average of 54 residents per day. The facility supports both short-term rehab and long-term care. Medicare admissions (26%) typically stay 22 days for short-term rehab. Private pay admissions (40%) typically stay 25 days. Medicaid admissions (35%) typically stay 5-6 months for long-term daily care. Average length of stay is 72 days. Occupancy rate is 74%, similar to the Nebraska state average of 70.3%.

The CMS Overall Rating of 1/5 stars falls critically below the Nebraska average of 2.8/5 stars. The Health Inspection Rating of 1/5 stars also falls critically below the Nebraska average of 2.8/5 stars, indicating serious deficiency concerns. The Staffing Rating of 3/5 stars is at or slightly below the Nebraska average of 3.1/5 stars. The Quality Measures Rating of 4/5 stars substantially exceeds the Nebraska average of 2.7/5 stars, representing a strong quality metric.

Staffing levels are below state benchmarks. Total nursing care per resident per day reaches 3 hours 36 minutes, -17% below the Nebraska state average of 4 hours 20 minutes. This facility ranks #98 out of 117 in Nebraska for total nursing hours. Weekend nursing hours total 3 hours 10 minutes per day. Despite below-average staffing hours, the facility maintains above-average Quality Measures rating, suggesting potential efficiency in care delivery or concentrated focus on clinical outcomes.

Life Care Center of Omaha operates as a privately-owned partnership with annual revenue of $13.4 million and profit of $90.5 thousand. Payroll comprises 38% of revenue ($5.1 million), below the typical SNF range of 55–65%. The facility is urban, located in Omaha in Douglas County. The 128-bed size supports diverse specialized services including dialysis support with transportation and inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation programming.

Families should ask about the critically low health inspection rating (1/5), and the specific deficiencies cited and corrective actions implemented before placement.

Overview of Omaha Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Operating for 42 years under the ownership of Malene Davis, Omaha Nursing and Rehabilitation Center provides 70 beds at its location on South 49th Street in Omaha, Nebraska. The business office accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay to accommodate various financial situations. For visitors, the surrounding neighborhood carries a walkability score of 59 out of 100, meaning the area is moderately pedestrian-friendly with some basic errands manageable on foot, though a vehicle remains practical for most travel.

Stays average around 135 days, which shows a typical split between permanent residents and people coming in for short-term physical therapy. Daily routines are backed by 2 hours and 53 minutes of total nursing care per resident each day. This workload is shared among an around-the-clock team of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides who handle standard skilled treatments alongside specialized rehabilitation therapy and a dedicated “Stay Active” program.

State regulatory files confirm that the facility meets public health and environmental guidelines. Inspection logs from the health department show a steady compliance record over time, leaving the property with an overall cumulative citations-per-inspection rate of zero.

Prospective representatives will find a facility geared toward physical conditioning and daily recovery. The kitchen coordinates meals to meet basic nutritional needs and serves them in the main dining room. The daily schedule covers personal care assistance, regular therapy sessions, and open hours for visiting family members.

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.

The Meadows at Ashland is a privately owned, 97-bed skilled nursing facility that offers memory care and rehabilitation services. Business logs indicate extreme operational and financial strain, with occupancy collapsing to just 9%, representing only seven active residents, compared to 88% utilization in 2023. This severe reduction in resident volume drastically impacts incoming revenue and limits the home’s operational sustainability, contributing to its lower overall state and federal quality ratings.

A look at government regulatory records reveals critical, recurring compliance challenges and frequent disciplinary interventions from state authorities. The facility faced a Notice of Disciplinary Action following a May 2025 inspection that cited systemic failures to implement proper fall prevention interventions, which echoed similar mistakes that triggered multiple state probations earlier that same year. Over a 12-year tracking history, the property has accumulated 102 total deficiencies, 96% above the Nebraska baseline, including three high-severity citations and two separate government payment blocks that suspended new admissions.

Everyday direct care staffing runs 9% below the state norm at 3 hours and 56 minutes per resident daily, with registered nurse availability dropping 56% below standard state benchmarks. This thin coverage aligns with lean financial allocation, as payroll commands only 40.5% of overall revenue, while clinical charts reveal poor outcomes across both long-term and short-term metrics, specifically showing high rates of resident hospitalizations, depression, and severe post-acute fall injuries.

Prospective representatives investigating regional skilled nursing or memory care units can evaluate these public tracking files to assess the home’s recent history. Since the state paperwork documents critical underutilization, thin daily clinical oversight, and multiple rapid-succession government probations alongside elevated physical safety risks, the files show a facility experiencing severe, ongoing operational distress.

Arbor Care Centers – Ord, LLC is a 60-bed skilled nursing facility in Ord, Nebraska, serving residents requiring long-term nursing care, memory care, and post-acute rehabilitation. It is privately owned and operated by Kurt Luth and accepts both Medicare and Medicaid.

The facility carries a 2-star CMS overall rating. Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 46 minutes per resident per day, below Nebraska’s average of 4 hours and 20 minutes — placing the facility 78th of 117 Nebraska SNFs and below the state benchmark across all six staffing metrics.

Inspection history under prior ownership was significant: a 2018 annual survey found 30 deficiencies and triggered a 180-day license probation with an admission prohibition, which was lifted after a May 2018 revisit confirmed corrections. A 2012 survey similarly resulted in a 90-day probation for pressure sore and accident-prevention failures. The most recent inspections — March 2021 and March 2025 — each resulted in zero deficiencies, with the 2025 renewal confirming the facility meets all licensure requirements.

Arbor Care Centers operates an Alzheimer’s Special Care Unit with a memory care endorsement. It also provides post-acute rehabilitation services including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, wound care, IV therapy, and hospice and palliative care. A certified dietician oversees nutrition services, and the facility offers private and semi-private rooms. The facility’s occupancy rate is 57%, well below the Nebraska average of 70.3%, signaling current availability across care levels.

Arbor Care Centers – Ord is best suited for residents seeking memory care or post-acute rehabilitation in a rural Valley County setting, with Medicaid and Medicare acceptance broadening access for residents with varying payer situations.

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.

Overview of Prestige Care Center of Nebraska City

Prestige Care Center of Nebraska City is a 64-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility operated by private company Nebraska City Operations LLC at 1420 North 10th Street in Nebraska City, Nebraska, in Otoe County. The facility provides skilled nursing, memory care including a 22-bed Alzheimer’s care unit, rehabilitation, and respite services. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are welcome. Occupancy indicates current availability at 64 percent which is below Nebraska’s 70.3 percent average. 24-hour staffing exists.

CMS rates the facility 3 stars, with health inspection and quality measure sub-ratings slightly above Nebraska average. Staffing runs below average: nurse hours at 3h 41m per resident per day are 15 percent below the 4h 20m state average, ranking the facility 85th of 117 Nebraska SNFs. A September 2024 inspection resulted in a 90-day probation from the Nebraska Department of Health for failing to implement practitioner’s medications orders, lab testing, and resident weight monitoring. The facility’s most recent inspection activity through December 2025 includes multiple follow-up visits; individual deficiency counts from those inspections unavailable. The Alzheimer’s care unit serves up to 22 residents in a secured setting.

With a dementia unit and current availability across care levels, Prestige Care Center of Nebraska City suits residents seeking skilled nursing or memory care in Otoe County.

Emerald Nursing & Rehab Lakeview is a nursing home at 1405 West Highway 34, Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska, administered by Tammy Weston and privately owned. The facility provides short-term rehabilitation and long-term nursing care, serving primarily Medicaid residents (60 percent of admissions), Medicare short-term rehabilitation (32 percent), and private pay (8 percent). Average length of stay is 130 days.

Staffing is below state averages across most categories. Registered nurses provide 27 minutes per resident per day, 37 percent below the Nebraska average of 43 minutes. Licensed practical nurses deliver 40 minutes per day, 7 percent below the state average of 43 minutes. Nurse aides work 2 hours 38 minutes per day, 5 percent below the Nebraska average of 2 hours 46 minutes. Total adjusted nursing hours are 3 hours 23 minutes per day, 22 percent below the state average of 4 hours 20 minutes and ranked 114th of 129 Nebraska nursing homes. Weekend total nursing hours reach 3 hours 8 minutes per day, 13 percent below the state average of 3 hours 37 minutes. Weekend registered nurse coverage is notably constrained at 16 minutes per day, 45 percent below the state average of 29 minutes. Physical therapy is a strength at 4 minutes per resident per day, 33 percent above the state average of 3 minutes.

CMS ratings place Emerald at 3 of 5 stars overall (0.2 points above Nebraska average of 2.8). Health inspection rating is 3 of 5 stars (0.2 points above state average); staffing rating is 2 of 5 stars (1.1 points below state average); quality measures rating is 2 of 5 stars (0.7 points below state average). The facility generated $8.7 million in revenue and allocated $3.6 million to payroll (40.9 percent of revenue), ranked 50th among 132 Nebraska nursing homes by payroll. This payroll percentage falls below the 55-65 percent benchmark typical of well-operated facilities, potentially signaling constrained staffing resources.

Inspection history and occupancy data are not available.

Families should request the facility’s inspection history and ask about registered nurse availability, weekend clinical staffing, and protocols for managing care with below-average RN hours.