Senior Living – September 2024

As Lincoln’s population grows older, health becomes more and more important to focus on and pay attention to, but sometimes, live gets busy and it’s hard to keep track of everything going on at once. That’s why these businesses are constantly making sure that you’re living your best and happiest life without the stress of making sure you’re staying healthy. They’re here to ensure your health, comfort, safety, social life and your family’s peace of mind as you move into a different phase of your life! These businesses are experts at easing you into downsizing your house, moving you into a care facility or making sure you change your exercise or diet to fit your new lifestyle.

Aging is something that will happen to us, so why not ease into it with all the comfort provided to you by care professionals? Senior living is something you need to plan and work for before it happens to make sure you’re not working yourself overtime to get comfortable. That’s why these Lincoln businesses are helping you embrace your age and find suitable living arrangements when it’s time.

Founded in 1995, Legacy Retirement Communities (legacyretirement.com) have been distinguished as leaders in the senior living industry and have earned numerous local and national awards for their elegant communities, as well as their world-class service and programming. Legacy Retirement Communities believes in care, convenience, and enrichment, and have been voted Best of Lincoln for 26 years in a row.

Legacy Retirement Communities believes it’s people and genuine connections that make the legacy. Residents, along with Legacy’s staff and the Lincoln community, all play an integral part of cultivating these positive relationships to last a lifetime.

Legacy Retirement Communities makes excellence the standard at all four of its locations:

• The Legacy, 5600 Pioneers Boulevard
• Legacy Terrace, 5700 Fremont Street
• Legacy Estates, 7200 Van Dorn Street
• Legacy Arbors, 3777 North 58th Street

At Legacy Retirement Communities, seniors can expect to embrace an enriching lifestyle, whether they’re an adventure-seeker, a life-long learner, an eager volunteer, or all of the above. Legacy is proud to be a family-owned and operated business and is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lincoln community and its families for years to come.

CarePatrol of Lincoln (carepatrol.com) has been setting the standard for senior placement services since 1993 and is the pioneer organization in the placement-services industry. CarePatrol’s core values are dedicated to being a comprehensive personal service and valuable resource for families during the placement of their loved ones.

CarePatrol understands that being different makes all the difference. Because of this, CarePatrol adheres to the following expectations at every location:

• Expert knowledge and personal consideration. CarePatrol’s local senior advisors will visit clients’ residences and talk face to face with seniors and their families, taking the time to learn about each senior’s unique needs.
• Personalized guidance and care. CarePatrol’s local senior advisors will personally supportive through every step of the process, leaving no question unasked.
• Local senior advisors. CarePatrol’s senior advisors live where its seniors live and know the area. Because of this, they provide a “local” view on facilities and resources and will help seniors and their families in person when touring and comparing communities.
• Safer senior care options. CarePatrol’s network of providers are licensed and in good standing. CarePatrol will only recommend communities that it has vetted and that will provide the level of care required for each senior’s individual needs.

For these reasons, CarePatrol has been and will continue to be a leader in the senior placement industry for decades to come.

“We want to help make the senior living transition as stress free as possible, which is why we offer free customer service to our families,” says Owner Michael Conover. “We are dedicated to helping each family make a good decision out of a seemingly large sea of bad ones, providing all the resources they need to make a well-informed decision.

The professionals at Husker Rehab (huskerrehab.com) understand that physical pain and dysfunction are personal. Listening and evaluating each patient as an individual in a holistic manner is what makes the services at Husker Rehab stand out and the main goal is to help patients get back to what they love to do.

Professionals at Husker Rehab treat the body holistically, finding the cause of the pain or dysfunction and then treating that cause. The Therapists use multiple measures and tools to build a treatment program. With guidance and treatment both in the clinic and with instructions for home, therapists and patients work together to reach individual goals and get their lives back. Reassessment is done throughout the course of treatment and instructions for continued care and maintaining progress are provided. The people of Husker Rehab make all the difference providing care in a fun upbeat environment, answering questions and learning about each patient. Treating staff and patients like family keeps everyone excited to stay on board. Continuing education and growth with staff development is a key to offering innovative and compassionate care.

Today, Husker Rehab proudly offers services in five clinics in four different Nebraska cities, serving physicians and their patients with unique and highly-customized rehabilitation, wellness and preventive care therapies that make a real difference in people’s lives. Each location has its own specialties such as the Beatrice location offering a full gym with Silver Sneaker membership. Husker Rehab. is a Medicare provider and accepts Medicare assignment. Medicare advantage and all Medicaid plans welcome, as well as all other major insurance companies.

Community is also important. Husker Rehab cares about their patients as neighbors and friends and strives to do their part to support the community—to make it strong and vital. That’s why every Husker Rehab location makes a specific effort to get involved!

Visit North Lincoln, South Lincoln, Nebraska City, Beatrice or Fairbury to experience Husker Rehab’s commitment to keeping seniors happy and healthy!

Finding a caring, competent caregiver who will treat one’s loved one with kindness and respect is a top priority for Visiting Angels (visitingangels.com). Hourly, overnight or round-the-clock care is available, and the Visiting Angels Lincoln caregivers are qualified and experienced to fulfill each client’s every need.

Help with personal care, hygiene, meal preparation, medicine reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, errand running and respite care are just a few of the many services Visiting Angels offers. Families can rely on Visiting Angels to offer the individualized support they need, whether it is for a short period of time or continuous care.

“The hiring process for caregivers is very thorough and assesses their abilities as well as their capacity to form personal connections with clients,” says Client Care Coordinator Julie Day. “We are experts in selecting skilled caregivers who have a servant heart and matching them appropriately with our clients.”

It is essential for clients and caregivers to build a solid relationship based on trust and rapport. Because of this fundamental trust, clients can get comfort and support in the comfort of their own homes through Visiting Angels.

The Waterford Communities’ (thewaterford.net) facilities are accommodating the growing population of seniors and helping to make the transition to assisted living easier by individualizing each resident’s care plans and daily routines to their preferences, so it feels like they never left home. The Waterford Communities team strives to accommodate residents’ day to day activities, so they are safe during engagement. The Waterford Communities team believes that one shouldn’t have to stop doing what one loves just because one transitions into a living community.

Waterford Communities is an equal opportunity employer, so when applicants show interest in working for Waterford Communities, even those with little to no experience but are willing to learn, Waterford is willing to train them. Waterford Communities offers flexible scheduling, so its student caregivers can pick up hours around school schedules and take care of residents during the school year.

“Our communities mandate knowledgeable training for all our staff, so they stay up to date and know the best way to care for your loved ones,” assures Melissa Vandeloo, Waterford College View Administrative Director. “We offer career advancement and will assist in helping our staff get their CPR, CNA, Medication Aid or Food Handlers certifications to ensure longevity and success for our employees and facilities.”

Innovation and compassion flows through Waterford Communities daily–with person centered activities. Waterford Communities doesn’t just kill time; it spends time doing what its seniors residents prefer, so Waterford Communities is always busy making long-lasting memories with its residents.

Nebraska Real Estate Specialty Group (nebraskarealty.com) specializes in making the home-buying process easier and more accessible for seniors, with specialists dedicated to working specifically with seniors.

When looking for a new house, seniors should consider factors such as accessibility features, proximity to healthcare facilities and the overall ease of maintenance. It’s important to think about the future and how the home will meet their needs as they age. Ensuring the neighborhood is safe and the home is adaptable to changing mobility needs can provide long-term peace of mind.

Nebraska Real Estate Specialty Group leverages the latest tools and technologies to enhance the service it provides to seniors. This includes virtual tours that allow seniors to view homes without leaving their current residence and digital signing options that simplify paperwork.

Nebraska Real Estate Specialty Group offers comprehensive services including the Downsizing Club, which helps seniors prepare for moving, and the Nebraska Savvy Senior Empowerment Seminars, designed to educate, equip and empower seniors to live their best life. The team also offers the Senior Stories Podcast to share interesting stories. For veterans, there is a veteran specialist dedicated to helping seniors navigate their unique needs.

Additionally, Nebraska Real Estate Specialty Group provides guides to assist seniors and Legacy Planning Kits to ensure that all necessary documents are readily available for any situation. And, because life should be enjoyable, the team organizes Travel Adventures, making it fun and safe for seniors to explore new places with a group of friends!

This comprehensive service package reflects Nebraska Real Estate Specialty Group’s commitment to delivering not just senior-friendly, but also family-accommodating, compassionate and innovative support.

Sumner Place Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation (sumnerplacecare.com) selects and develops team members who radiate warmth, compassion and respect while skillfully performing their duties. Sumner Place is known for promoting relationships of trust, confidence and loyalty, and its passion is to be a world class facility. Doing what’s right for people is the driving force that separates Sumner Place from the average.

The most important ingredient to this continual pursuit of excellence is Sumner Place’s team members! Sumner Place understands that it can only be as excellent as the combined efforts of its individual team members. Therefore, Sumner Place encourages personal growth, supports educational opportunities, endorses continual learning and encourages people to stretch beyond their comfort zones. People who approach Sumner Place with an inner commitment to excel will find an environment that enables them to do just that! This is why Sumner Place strives to hire and keep those who have that inner commitment to excellence!

Sumner Place believes that it all starts with culture, and it has created an amazing culture of “Family Serving Family.” Clients entering Sumner Place’s doors consistently comment, “It feels different.” People quickly learn that they can trust Sumner Place–it is what it says it is and does what it says it’ll do.

Sumner Place retains high-quality personnel due to its unique benefits, including student loan reimbursement; medical, vision and dental insurance; 401K planning with employer matching; flexible spending accounts; CNA training reimbursement and more!

Sumner Place Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation is a Certified Great Place to Work, so clients and their families can always be confident that they’re receiving the best possible care during their senior living transition.

In 2011, Shannon Schultz decided she wanted to challenge herself and do more with her career. Making an impact in her community was her top priority, so Nebraska LTC Pharmacy (neltcpharmacy.com) was established!

This was only the beginning for her and the pharmacy. She found herself running her business out of a closet-sized office with just five clients. Fast forward to now, and she has five amazing employees and an expanded office space that serves over 300 clients!

However, there is one thing that has never changed–Nebraska LTC Pharmacy’s mission to offer unmatched care, where everyone can feel that confident that their pharmaceutical needs and expectations will not only be met, but exceeded.

Nebraska LTC Pharmacy loves serving the Lincoln community and proudly denotes itself as a concierge pharmacy due to its unmatched attention to detail and quality customer service, unlike many other retail pharmacies. Located at 3901 Normal Blvd. STE 203, Nebraska LTC Pharmacy’s unwavering goal is to provide individualized patient care that both increases safety and prolongs each patient’s independence.

Nebraska LTC Pharmacy also wants to make an impact on the pharmaceutical industry at large, to rewrite and improve the expectations seniors have of pharmacies today. So, Nebraska LTC Pharmacy also advocates for the avoidance of polypharmacy, works to increase communication among healthcare professionals to reduce medication errors and hospitalizations and above all, aims to provide a small-town level of customer service.

Caring Friends In-Home Care (caringfriends.com) provides in-home care and customized care plans for all clients. Their team collaborates with each client and their families to make sure Caring Friends is meeting their needs and makes updates as their needs change.

Caring Friends has appointed staff who focus on talent acquisition. Caring Friends feels it is one of the most important roles in the company and devotes resources to make sure caregivers meet all requirements prior to working with clients.

Caring Friends In-Home Care also invests in education and training platforms to prepare caregivers who are new to the company and for ongoing education needs. Additionally, Caring Friends offers specific training for advanced client needs.

In August, Caring Friends In-Home Care transitioned to a new electronic medical record (EMR), which offers any approved family members remote access to notes on client visits and the ability to communicate with the Caring Friends team.

“Innovations such as Caring Friends In-Home Care’s new EMR allows for more transparency, a better ability to meet the needs of clients and reassurance to their family members that their loved ones needs are being met,” assures Valerie Heedum, Director of Business Development.

Caring Friends In-Home Care continues to serve seniors and support clients with their mission to improve the quality of life, safely and independently, in the comfort of their own home! It is with these values that Caring Friends In-Home Care empowers clients and their families alike.

Cedar Creek of High Plains (cedarhurstliving.com) supports the growing population of seniors and the subsequent demand for high-quality care by creating communities where each person feels loved, valued, supported and capable to live life to the fullest.

Cedar Creek of High Plains believes in creating a positive resident experience. To do that, the Cedar Creek team spends a lot of time asking questions and listening to then create new programs and opportunities to address any unmet needs.

Just as Cedar Creek of High Plains is committed to serving residents, it’s also committed to serving its team members. Cedar Creek of High Plains wants to hire people who are kind and wants them to stay in the community. Cedar Creek makes sure to create outstanding benefit packages and clear career paths to ensure this becomes the reality.

Cedar Creek of High Plains is committed to resident satisfaction and knows moving into senior living is a big change. So, the Cedar Creek team developed the one-of-a-kind program Pair to Prepare, where residents invite a family member to stay with them during the first few days of their move, at no cost. Cedar Creek wants to build trust from the beginning of the senior living experience. Cedar Creek also offers a 60-day, money-back guarantee that reassures all new residents, so they can focus on settling into their new community.

This dedication is what sets Cedar Creek of High Plains apart and why they can be relied upon for outstanding senior support services.

The Housing Authority of the City of Lincoln (LHA) (l-housing.com) is a governmental entity established under state law, by the City of Lincoln, with a mission of providing affordable housing to the residents of Lincoln.

The Lincoln Housing Authority fulfills that mission by:

• The ownership and/or management of 1,400 plus units of rental housing
• The administration of the federal Section 8 Rent Subsidy Program in the city of Lincoln
• The operation of two home ownership programs
• Tenant supportive services
• Community partnerships with other providers of housing and social services

Although the Lincoln Housing Authority is a governmental entity, it does not have the power to tax and does not receive local tax dollars. It is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners appointed by Lincoln’s mayor and approved by the City Council. The Board of Commissioners appoints an Executive Director to oversee the daily operation and ensure that the Board’s policies are implemented. This thoughtful and efficient process allows Lincoln Housing Authority to continue to make serving the senior population and their care a priority for the community.

The ultimate mission of the Lincoln Housing Authority is to provide affordable, safe, sanitary and decent housing to qualifying families currently undergoing financial stress in a manner affording applicants and tenants dignity and minimal intrusion within the limits of prudent fiscal management.

Senior housing is an important facet to maintaining a healthy, safe and satisfied community, which is why Lincoln Housing Authority takes its role in the community seriously and strives to ensure seniors have the opportunity to live a meaningful life here in Lincoln.

The aging population in Nebraska is booming while the number of available caregivers continues to dwindle. With more seniors looking for care, The Residence at Gramercy (12oaks.net) continues to prepare its community for an increase in population. While Gramercy may have more residents, it strives to keep the focus on the individual. Focusing on the individual means Gramercy focuses on knowing its resident’s life story and truly understanding what is important to them and finding ways to honor this. The Residence at Gramercy strives to ensure residents feel seen and valued by the Gramercy staff.

As a senior living community, The Residence at Gramercy maintains strong relationships with its fellow communities to ensure that it can provide resources to those searching for more care. Gramercy may not be able to accommodate every individual, yet it strives to help them find communities that are able to provide them with a safe environment and meet their needs.

The Residence at Gramercy offers it’s resident care team additional training, utilizing experts in the industry. Gramercy hosts Lunch and Learns, so they can collaborate and share their expertise. These lessons are reflected in the areas in which Gramercy improve for their residents–to ensure care needs are always being met.

The Residence at Gramercy’s compassion is translated through actions. The number one way Gramercy does this is by meeting residents and their families where they are. If they are upset, then the Gramercy team slows down and does not try to immediately rectify, rather they listen and attempt to understand why residents and their families feel the way they do. After all, Gramercy’s ultimate goal is to be as helpful as possible!

Noreen Home Care is locally owned. Their owner Noreen Mwabe, has a personal focus of finding ways to support and give back to the community. Her generosity is reflected in her philosophy that she is not striving to be the “Biggest,” but to be the most personal, hands-on provider of in home care. She believes in doing all of the “EXTRAS,” that family would do. Each care companion is taught to look for ways to treat each person like family.

Noreen Home Care (noreenhomehealth.com) receives many employees through word of mouth from those organizations who know individuals who want to work in a fun, healthy and personable business that is willing to do the “EXTRAS” for them just as they are taught to do for those, they provide care and services too.

They also participate with many other community leaders in meetings and promotions that focus on local workforce. Their hands-on trainer ensures that each person is given instruction on not only care techniques but also the individual needs of the people we value and care for.

“Innovation is in the core of our care and services,” says Executive Director Virginia Cole. “Our Motto is, “Caring for you like family.” This cannot be accomplished without us training and providing opportunity for our care companions to identify and provide the “EXTRA” attention, activities and compassionate focus for every individual. We spend a great deal of time learning each person’s story to help identify hobbies, nostalgic moments to be created, favorite animals or pets for activity planning, etc. There is no limit to the kindness and creativity people can bring to their work when inspired and empowered.”

Noreen Home Care provides the common services for home care such as, personal care, housekeeping, laundry, med reminders, transportation to appointments or activities, meal preparation and so much more.

Each of these Lincoln businesses is so proud to serve you and your family as you age into a new phase of your life. From a new brace to a new place to live, they’re here to make sure you’re as comfortable as you can be. If you’re looking for some of the services you provide, make sure to access and explore the recourses they provide to take part in their amazing services.