Best Nursing Homes in Nebraska

Westfield Quality Care of Aurora is a 64-bed skilled nursing facility in Aurora, Nebraska, providing long-term care, memory care, skilled nursing, respite care, hospice care, and short-term rehabilitation to residents in Hamilton County. The facility is privately owned by Kauffman Investments LLC.

CMS assigns the facility a 1-star overall rating, with all four sub-ratings below Nebraska averages. The Health Inspection score is 63.8% below the state average — the primary driver of the overall rating. Total nursing staffing averages 4 hours and 22 minutes per resident per day, nearly matching Nebraska’s average of 4 hours and 20 minutes, though staffing and quality measure scores each rank in the bottom third statewide.

The inspection record spans over a decade of recurring deficiencies. Over the 12-year reporting window, the facility averaged 10.3 deficiencies per year — 145% above Nebraska’s average of 4.2. Major annual surveys in 2016, 2018, and 2019 each produced 16 to 24 citations involving pressure ulcer prevention, infection control, care planning, medication administration, and fire safety. Enforcement actions include a 90-day probation in 2019 for failure to prevent pressure sores and a 180-day probation issued in April 2024 — accompanied by a prohibition on new admissions — after inspectors found glucometers were not being calibrated before use.

On-site services include a secured memory care unit, physical and speech therapy, and in-house physician visits. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, and its current occupancy rate is 89% — roughly 19 points above the Nebraska average.

Westfield Quality Care of Aurora is best suited for long-term and memory care residents in Aurora and Hamilton County, with secured dementia programming and a residential care model that has remained continuously licensed. Families should carefully review the facility’s long-term inspection history and prior enforcement actions before making a placement decision.

Monument Rehabilitation and Care Center is a privately owned skilled nursing facility in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, operated by Scottsbluff Operations LLC. The 160-bed community provides subacute and post-acute rehabilitation, long-term care, dementia care, and hospice services to residents in Scotts Bluff County.

CMS gives the facility a 1-star overall rating, about 63.9% below the Nebraska average. The rating is primarily due to its Health Inspection record. During the past 15 years, the facility has averaged 15.5 deficiencies per year, compared to Nebraska’s average of 4.2, a rate 269% worse than its peers.

Enforcement actions were substantial. In August 2024, the facility got a license probation for 180 days after not following advance directives for three residents. A second probation period lasting 90 days began in May 2025 after findings related to the over-medication of a resident.

Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 44 minutes per resident per day. Its occupancy rate is 54%, well below Nebraska’s average of 70.3%, indicating current availability across care settings.

The facility holds a licensed Alzheimer’s special care unit with a capacity for up to 32 residents, alongside rehabilitation services and physical therapy.

Monument Rehabilitation and Care Center is best suited for residents requiring short-term post-acute rehabilitation or long-term dementia and skilled nursing care in Scottsbluff. However, families evaluating placement should carefully review the facility’s long-term compliance history and recent enforcement actions alongside its available care programs and services.

Overview of Elwood Care Center

Located at 607 Smith Avenue, Elwood Care Center is a 47-bed skilled nursing home in rural Elwood, Nebraska. It offers nursing care alongside eight assisted living units. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, providing families with multiple coverage options. Residents stay an average of 631 days, which includes shorter post-acute rehabilitation stays and longer-term nursing care placements.

The home provides rehabilitation services, and total nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 40 minutes per resident each day. Elwood’s setting is somewhat walkable, with a Walk Score of 40. Some nearby services are within walking distance; most trips require transportation. Currently, the facility has 31 residents, with two-thirds occupancy.

State inspection history over the past 15 years shows varied results. The most recent licensure renewal was certified with no deficiencies. Earlier surveys identified concerns in care planning, infection control, and food safety practices. Families should ask about these areas during a tour.

The home’s rehabilitation focus makes it a great option for residents recovering from hospitalization or injury, and the staffing levels provide hands-on nursing support throughout the day.

Overview of Brookestone Meadows Rehabilitation And

Owned by Timothy Malloy, Brookestone Meadows Rehabilitation And Care Center is a 140-bed nursing home in Elkhorn, Nebraska. The facility offers skilled nursing with a strong rehabilitation focus, serving both residents on longer-term care plans and those recovering from acute events in its short-term subacute program. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, offering multiple ways for families to manage immediate post-hospital recovery and ongoing nursing care needs. The home has an occupancy rate of 91%, with an average resident stay of 90 days.

The facility’s daily staffing is hands-on. Total nursing staffing averages 4 hours and 59 minutes per resident each day. Registered nurses provide 53 minutes, nursing aides provide 3 hours and 13 minutes, and licensed practical nurses provide 51 minutes. This consistency supports the complex medical needs typical of post-acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing populations.

The community is located in a car-dependent area near Elkhorn. Most errands require transportation, but the facility offers transportation services for residents and families. There are spacious private and companion rooms, wireless access throughout the building, formal dining areas, and all-season sunrooms where residents can gather. Dining focuses on meal quality and openness; meals and snacks are served throughout the day, allowing residents to decide when they eat.

Beyond the main care spaces, the community has a main chapel and a meditation chapel, two coffee cafés with soft-serve ice cream, and beauty and barber shop services. There are also activities supported by the facility’s structured rehabilitation and nursing focus. The setting balances medical sophistication with resident comfort. It’s a practical option for families seeking skilled rehabilitation or long-term nursing care in a facility designed around those core functions.

State inspection history includes deficiencies in clinical protocols and operational practices involving food safety, resident care, and other facility practices. Families touring the home should ask how the facility strengthens these areas and ensures protocols are followed consistently.

Overview of Wilber Care Center

Wilber Care Center is a skilled nursing home with 68 beds. It currently serves 48 residents at a 71% occupancy rate. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, offering families several ways to cover short-term rehabilitation and longer-term care stays. Residents stay an average of 715 days, as the home supports residents with ongoing nursing needs as well as those in recovery.

The facility’s staffing is consistent. Total nurse staffing averages over 5 hours per resident each day. The team includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing aides on site around the clock. They ensure daily hands-on assistance with activities of daily living and medical oversight.

The home focuses on rehabilitation. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are available on an outpatient basis alongside its in-house skilled care services.

Residents have access to the Meals on Wheels program. They can spend time in the facility’s multisensory room, which can calm residents with sensory sensitivities or cognitive changes. Daily activities and engagement are part of the residents’ routine. Meals are home-cooked rather than mass-produced and feature familiar, nourishing food.

The neighborhood has a Walkability Score of 57. Some errands can be handled on foot, but most visits and outings require a car. Inspections confirmed that the facility meets all licensure requirements. It has paid attention to life-safety and infection-control practices over the years.

Overview of Heritage Crossings

Owned by Jason Bespalec, Heritage Crossings is a skilled nursing home in Geneva, Nebraska. The home accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay, giving families multiple ways to cover short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care. With 30 licensed beds and full occupancy, the community is running at full capacity. Residents stay for an average of 197 days, including post-acute rehab residents and those who need ongoing skilled nursing support.

The home’s rehabilitation focus is showcased in its specialized programs. It offers short-term rehab, occupational and physical therapy, and speech therapy alongside general nursing care. Residents with shifting needs can access hospice services and adult day care. This gives families options as their needs change.

Daily nurse staffing averages roughly 4 hours and 28 minutes per resident. Nurse aide support provides another 2 hours and 52 minutes, so hands-on assistance is part of the daily rhythm.

Residents’ daily lives are built around both structure and personal choice. Activities are scheduled seven days a week, which extend into the evenings, giving residents and families flexible times to engage.

Mealtimes are not fixed and limited. The home has other dining times besides the regularly scheduled meals and snacks. Rooms range from spacious private and companion options to deluxe private rooms, so families can choose what fits their needs. The community also has an all-faith chapel for pastoral services. Other amenities include a beauty and barber shop, outdoor walking paths, and wireless technology in common areas to stay connected.

State inspections have reviewed the home’s safety and operational standards for 16 years. Earlier inspections identified life-safety code concerns related to fire-safety procedures and building requirements. The most recent inspection confirmed the home’s licensure and found no deficiencies, showing improvements in these areas.

The surrounding neighborhood in Geneva has a Walk Score of 45. Some essential services are within walking distance, but most errands and appointments require a short drive. Regularly scheduled physician visits are available on-site, so residents can receive care without leaving the facility.

Located in the rural community of Wauneta, Nebraska, Wauneta Care and Therapy Center is a skilled nursing facility owned and operated by the Village of Wauneta. The 36-bed home serves residents recovering from hospitalization or surgery, as well as those needing ongoing skilled care and rehabilitation. The facility has an occupancy rate of 78%. Residents stay for an average of nearly two years, reflecting a stable population of longer-term residents.

The facility focuses on rehabilitation and therapy. It offers both inpatient and outpatient services to support recovery from acute events. Daily nurse staffing averages about 4 hours per resident. There is a registered nurse on duty for 36 minutes per day, and nursing aides provide 3 hours and 6 minutes of direct care. With these combined, staff can provide hands-on assistance residents need with activities of daily living and medical oversight.

The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, ensuring multiple ways for families to cover care. When it comes to dining, residents are served three meals daily, including a choice of entrée, and snacks are available throughout the day. The home has a certified dietitian on-site to oversee nutritional care.

Residents have a full activity schedule run by a full-time certified director, alongside religious services, family and resident councils, and a patient education program. Private and semiprivate rooms have private bathrooms, bedside call lights, and access to wireless internet and telephone service. A beauty salon and barber shop are also available on site. Residents who need space can go to the landscaped grounds and courtyards.

Located in a rural setting with a Walk Score of 18, the neighborhood is car-dependent, which is common in small towns in Nebraska.

In recent years, state inspections have examined infection control practices, care planning documentation, staffing credentials, and environmental safety standards. The facility’s residential setting and longer resident stays mean many people live here for extended periods rather than coming only for short-term rehabilitation.

Overview of Highland Park Care Center

Highland Park Care Center is a skilled nursing facility in Alliance, Nebraska, with 60 beds. The facility is owned by Terri Myers and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. It currently has an occupancy rate of 88%, with most residents staying an average of 144 days. Daily nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 28 minutes per resident.

The home offers short-term rehabilitation and sub-acute care alongside longer-term skilled nursing. Residents can access services including occupational, physical, and speech therapy; outpatient therapy; respite care; adult day care; and hospice. Memory care is available for residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Spiritual support is provided through pastoral services and chapel programs.

Recent licensing inspections confirmed renewal with no deficiencies or complaints. Earlier inspections identified findings related to fall prevention, care planning, infection control, food service sanitation, and oxygen safety. Complaint investigations did not substantiate allegations regarding injury prevention and antibiotic practices.

The facility also has private and companion rooms with deluxe options. Physician visits are scheduled regularly, and transportation is available. Amenities include wireless technology, a beauty and barber shop, meals with flexible dining times, and activities that support daily life. The neighborhood has a Walk Score of 52, so some errands are within walking distance.

Overview of Wakefield Health Care Center

Located on Ash Street in the rural Nebraska community of Wakefield, Wakefield Health Care Center is a skilled nursing facility with 40 beds. It serves residents who require nursing care, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical support. Its current occupancy is 55%. Owned by Wakefield Care Center, it accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay, providing families several ways to cover both short-term rehabilitation and longer-term skilled care.

The facility provides daily nurse staffing averaging 5 hours and 25 minutes per resident. It includes registered nursing care, nurse aide care, and licensed practical nursing. This nursing support is an important part of the care provided at the facility.

The home also offers rehabilitation services and partners with PMC Outpatient Therapy. This allows residents to receive therapeutic care either on-site or through outpatient appointments. Those transitioning toward greater independence will benefit from the facility’s Independent Ash Street Apartments on the same campus.

Residents stay an average of 372 days, suggesting that many remain for ongoing care rather than short-term recovery. Wakefield is located in a moderately walkable community with a Walk Score of 50. Visiting family members can run some errands on foot, but most trips require a short drive.

Overview of South Haven Living Center

South Haven Living Center is a nursing home in Wahoo, Nebraska, owned by Sara Casey. The 85-bed facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, providing families multiple ways to cover short-term rehabilitation and longer-term skilled nursing care. The center is located in a very walkable neighborhood with a Walk Score of 80. Families can easily navigate the area on foot.

The community has an occupancy rate of 98%. Most residents stay for an average of 258 days, including post-acute rehabilitation residents and those requiring ongoing skilled care. Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 54 minutes per resident, supported by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides. This nursing support is important in the facility’s focus on rehabilitation and skilled nursing services.

The home specializes in short-term rehabilitation and sub-acute care. It has dedicated programs in occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Memory care services and hospice support are also available for residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Residents also have access to short-term in-house therapy and both inpatient and outpatient therapy options as they work toward recovery without leaving the facility for appointments.

Amenities include spacious private and companion rooms. There are also deluxe private options and a beauty and barber shop. There are regularly scheduled physician visits for residents. They also have access to wireless technology in common areas and transportation services.

Residents receive spiritual support through an on-site chapel, pastoral services, and Bible studies. There are also individual and group activities designed for their emotional well-being. For dining, they enjoy quality meals, and snacks are prepared on-site.