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5/5
CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
5/5
CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that rates nursing home quality. Its Overall Rating runs from 1 to 5 stars, combining health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most heavily.
The Heritage at Meridian Gardens in Columbus is a splendid destination offering top-tier assisted living and memory care services, ensuring unparalleled reliability. Within this nurturing community, residents experience a warm and loving atmosphere facilitated by a team of licensed and highly trained care staff. The well-lit apartments contribute to a pet-friendly environment, fostering a sense of comfort and companionship.
Elevating the overall experience, The Heritage at Meridian Gardens provides dining options that go beyond the ordinary. The community’s vibrant personality shines through in its array of events and intimate gatherings, creating a lively atmosphere for senior living. With thoughtfully designed floor plans radiating comfort, and amenities like a game room, movie theater, and a salon, making friends and unwinding becomes second nature in this delightful community.
The Overall CMS Rating combines results from health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.
Based on the results of the facility's three most recent standard inspections and any complaint investigations. CMS reviews the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies, with more recent findings weighted more heavily.
Measures average nursing staff hours per resident per day, including Registered Nurses (RNs) and total nursing staff. Ratings are adjusted based on the level of care residents require and are compared to state and national benchmarks.
Based on clinical and physical health indicators reported to CMS, such as hospital readmissions, falls, pressure ulcers, and improvements in mobility. These measures reflect how well residents' health needs are being managed.
Daily nursing hours per resident by staff type, reported to CMS. Higher is generally better — compare this facility to state and national averages to see where staffing stands.
This home is ranked 19th out of 117 homes in Nebraska for nurse hours. Total adjusted nursing hours per resident per day, combining RN, LPN, and aide time. CMS adjusts this for case-mix so facilities can be fairly compared.
| Staff type | Hours / Day / Resident | vs state avg |
|---|---|---|
|
Registered Nurse (RN)
RNs hold the highest nursing license and can assess residents, interpret test results, and direct care plans. More RN hours per day often signals stronger clinical oversight and faster response to health changes.
| 36m per day | ▼ 14% State avg: 42m per day · National avg: 41m per day |
|
LPN / LVN
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) deliver routine hands-on care — medication administration, wound dressing, and monitoring vital signs. They work under RN supervision and make up a large share of daily bedside care.
| 44m per day | ▲ 6% State avg: 41m per day · National avg: 52m per day |
|
Nurse Aide
Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) provide the most direct day-to-day assistance: bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility. Nurse aide hours are typically the largest staffing category and directly affect residents' quality of life.
| 3h 17m per day | ▲ 22% State avg: 2h 42m per day · National avg: 2h 20m per day |
|
Weekend Total Nursing
Combined nursing hours (RN + LPN + Nurse Aide) per resident per day on weekends. Staffing often drops on weekends — this figure reveals whether the facility maintains adequate coverage outside of weekday hours.
| 3h 49m per day | ▲ 6% State avg: 3h 37m per day · National avg: 3h 27m per day |
|
Physical Therapist
Hours per resident per day provided by licensed Physical Therapists (PTs) or PT Assistants. PT services help residents recover mobility after injury or illness and are especially important for post-acute (short-stay) rehabilitation.
| 5m per day | ▲ 56% State avg: 3m per day · National avg: 4m per day |
|
Weekend RN
Registered nurse hours specifically on weekends. Facilities sometimes reduce RN presence on Saturdays and Sundays — a low weekend RN figure compared to weekday hours can indicate reduced clinical oversight when most administrative staff are absent.
| 13m per day | ▼ 57% State avg: 29m per day · National avg: 29m per day |
Higher than the Nebraska average: 70.3%The Heritage at Meridian Gardens is administrated by Joshua Stoddard.
In Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health conducts regular inspections to ensure nursing and assisted living facilities meet state and federal standards.
State average 4.3
Last Health inspection on Sep 2025
State average 18.2
State average 4.19
Health citations are formal notices following inspections when they fail to comply with safety and care standards.
13 of 14 citations resulted from standard inspections; and 1 of 14 came from combined inspections (standard and complaint).
100% better than State averageState average: 0.2
100% better than State averageState average: 0.5
Corrected
Corrected
Corrected
Corrected
Reporting period: October 1 – December 31, 2025 (Q4 2025). Source: CMS Payroll-Based Journal report.
18% fewer staff per resident than Nebraska average
0% compared with Nebraska average
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Manages medical care and health needs.
All 8 RN Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role.
8
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
9.9 hoursAssists with medical care and medications.
All 12 LPN Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role.
12
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
9.1 hoursHelps with daily care and mobility.
All 58 CNA Staff are full-time employees. No contractors work on this role.
58
Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day.
7.1 hours
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Total hours from contractors
2,366 contractor hours this quarter
This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
| Certified Nursing Assistant | 58 | 0 | 58 | 16,129 | 92 | 100% | 7.1 |
| Medication Aide/Technician | 17 | 0 | 17 | 6,149 | 92 | 100% | 7.9 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | 12 | 0 | 12 | 4,951 | 92 | 100% | 9.1 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1,874 | 67 | 73% | 7.8 |
| Registered Nurse | 8 | 0 | 8 | 1,697 | 88 | 96% | 9.9 |
| Other Dietary Services Staff | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1,430 | 89 | 97% | 6.6 |
| Dental Services Staff | 3 | 0 | 3 | 967 | 66 | 72% | 7.9 |
| Speech Language Pathologist | 0 | 3 | 3 | 791 | 66 | 72% | 6.7 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician | 0 | 4 | 4 | 586 | 69 | 75% | 5.3 |
| Administrator | 1 | 0 | 1 | 528 | 66 | 72% | 8 |
| Nurse Practitioner | 1 | 0 | 1 | 528 | 66 | 72% | 8 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 0 | 4 | 4 | 479 | 65 | 71% | 7.2 |
| Physical Therapy Aide | 0 | 1 | 1 | 354 | 62 | 67% | 5.7 |
| Qualified Social Worker | 0 | 1 | 1 | 144 | 37 | 40% | 3.9 |
| Medical Director | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 26 | 28% | 0.5 |
Federal penalties imposed by CMS for regulatory violations, including civil money penalties (fines) and denials of payment for new Medicare/Medicaid admissions.
Source: CMS Penalties Database
No penalties in the past 3 years
No civil money penalties or payment denials were reported in the last 3 years.
These measures show how residents usually do over time at this home, based on health outcomes and preventive care.
A composite score based on pressure ulcers, falls with injury, weight loss, walking ability decline, and activities of daily living decline.
13.5
20% worse than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 11.3
A composite score based on activities of daily living decline, walking ability decline, and incontinence.
25.8
11% worse than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 23.3
Percent of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased
21.7%
In line with Nebraska averageNebraska average: 20.8%
Percent of long-stay residents whose ability to move independently worsened
25.7%
16% worse than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 22.1%
Percent of low risk long-stay residents who lose control of their bowels or bladder
30.0%
11% worse than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 26.9%
Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury
3.8%
17% better than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 4.5%
Percent of long-stay high risk residents with pressure ulcers
9.3%
117% worse than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 4.3%
Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection
0.9%
72% better than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 3.1%
Percent of long-stay residents who lose too much weight
7.3%
35% worse than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 5.4%
Percent of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms
0.5%
89% better than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 4.4%
Percent of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication
12.7%
36% better than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 19.8%
Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine
100.0%
7% better than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 93.2%
Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine
100.0%
In line with Nebraska averageNebraska average: 96.1%
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine
95.1%
18% better than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 80.7%
Percent of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication
0.9%
62% better than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 2.4%
Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine
94.9%
25% better than Nebraska averageNebraska average: 75.9%
Quality measures are calculated from Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. For most measures, lower percentages indicate better care quality.
56% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.
36% of new residents, often for short stays.
8% of new residents, often for long-term daily care.
Source: CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Data as of Jan 2026)
Total residents
74Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities
Organized group of residents that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, quality of life, and activities.
Data sourced from CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics quarterly report. Payer mix reflects the current resident census by primary payment source.
Historical financial and operational data for The Heritage at Meridian Gardens from 2015–2024, based on CMS SNF Cost Reports.
Based on the 2024 CMS SNF Cost Report.
The portion of the home's budget spent on staff, including nurses, caregivers, and other employees who support care and operations.
Rank #19 / 120Payroll — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 19th out of 120 homes in Nebraska. Shows total annual staff payroll benchmarked to the Nebraska average. Higher payroll investment relative to peers often signals better staffing and less reliance on cheaper contract labor.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
All remaining costs needed to run the home, such as food, utilities, building maintenance, supplies and administrative expenses.
Minimum Age: 55 Years Old
Pets Allowed
Room Sizes: 470 / 1010 sq. ft
Housing Options: 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Building Type: Apartments
Transportation Services
Fitness and Recreation
Most residents typically stay for a few weeks or months before returning home or moving on.
Most new residents arrive under Medicare (56% of admissions), and a typical Medicare stay runs around 1 months.
Coverage residents most often arrive under.
Coverage residents most often leave under.
2.8 miles from city center
Estimated distance in miles from Columbus's city center to The Heritage at Meridian Gardens's address, calculated via Google Maps.
— 0.2 miles to nearest hospital (Columbus Community Hospital)
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The Heritage at Meridian Gardens is located in Columbus, Nebraska.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Nebraska.
The Heritage at Meridian Gardens has a walk score of 23. Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options.
According to NE state health department records, The Heritage at Meridian Gardens's license number is ALF310.
The Heritage at Meridian Gardens's occupancy is 84%.
Joshua Stoddard is the administrator of The Heritage at Meridian Gardens.
The Heritage at Meridian Gardens has 117 beds.
Yes — there are 5 photos of The Heritage at Meridian Gardens in the photo gallery on this page.
(402) 835-4396 will put you in contact with the team at The Heritage at Meridian Gardens.
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