The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Lincoln, NE for 2023

As the capital city of Nebraska, Lincoln can be a great place to retire for seniors seeking affordable metropolitan living. It’s home to 291,082 people, and 13% of them are 65 and up. Residents pay less overall for necessities like housing, and the city has an impressive selection of cutting-edge hospitals and clinics offering specialty care. Additionally, Lincoln has a wide range of services to support the city’s older adults. These include assistance programs for low-income people, door-to-door transportation and counseling that can help seniors make decisions about long-term care.

Assisted living provides personal care, housekeeping, meals and other supportive services in a community-based setting. It’s ideal for seniors who don’t want to maintain a home or are no longer able to safely live on their own. In Lincoln, assisted living costs an average of $4,715 per month, which is higher than the national average of $4,500 and Nebraska average of $4,076.

This guide covers benefits and drawbacks of assisted living in Lincoln, the cost compared to other cities, free local resources and financial assistance options that can help pay for care.

In Nebraska, assisted living facilities are licensed and regulated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health. Residents can contact DHHS to learn about licensing requirements, facility inspection reports and state laws that facilities are required to follow.

• Some of the top hospitals in Lincoln include CHI Health St. Elizabeth, Lincoln Surgical Hospital and Bryan Medical Center, which was rated as the second-best hospital in Nebraska by U.S. News and World Report. The hospital was also ranked as “High Performing” in 14 conditions, including five cardiac procedures, orthopedics, diabetes treatment and several types of surgeries.
• Nebraska has high income and property tax rates, and most kinds of retirement income are taxed, including pensions, 401(k) funds and IRA withdrawals. A portion of Social Security benefits are taxed as well. However, low-income homeowners may be eligible for a homestead exemption that can reduce or eliminate what they pay for property taxes.
• Lincoln offers several transportation programs for seniors. One of these is the StarTran Paratransit Bus Service, which provides curb-to-curb transportation to residents who can’t ride the regular bus system due to disability. People 62 and up qualify for reduced-fare passes to ride the regular bus. Medicaid recipients can get free transportation via Mike’s HandyVan, Madonna Medical Transportation and Nebraska Total Care.
• Lincoln’s property and violent crime rates are somewhat higher than average, but it’s still safer than 13% of U.S. cities. The southern and eastern parts of the city tend to be the safest.
• Lincoln’s cost of living index is 89.8 compared to the U.S. average index of 100. Groceries (97.4), utilities (92.3), housing (78.1) and transportation (76) are more affordable than the norm, but health care costs are higher (124.5).
• Lincoln has air quality that’s a bit better than average with an index of 64 (the national average is 58), which can make the city a decent option for people with asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The Air Quality Index is based on a measure of hazardous air pollutants from the EPA.
• Lincoln typically has very cold winters, with an average low of 14 degrees in January and an average annual snowfall level of 26 inches. Summers can be fairly comfortable, however, with an average high temperature of 89 degrees in July. Lincoln also gets approximately 214 sunny days per year compared to the U.S. average of 205.

According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost for assisted living in Lincoln is $4,715 per month.

At $4,715, assisted living in Lincoln is pricier than the Nebraska average of $4,076 and the U.S. average of $4,500. Seniors can find slightly cheaper rates in Omaha, where the average price for care is $4,652. Prices are much cheaper in Grand Island, located about 94 miles to the west of Lincoln. There, residents pay just $2,906 — $1,809 less than average rates in Lincoln. Across the Iowa border in Sioux City, assisted living costs approximately $4,148. Prices are higher in Kansas City, Missouri, averaging $4,585.

Seniors in Lincoln might want to consider other kinds of senior care that might be a better fit for their budget and needs. Both regular home care and home health care cost $5,148. Both services provide personal care and help with activities of daily living, but home health care also includes medical services, like physical therapy and medication administration. Adult day care is far cheaper at just $576, but it only provides supervision during the daytime hours. A semiprivate room in a nursing home costs $7,908.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Nebraska page.