Omaha Senior AdvisorWhat laws govern senior care facilities in Omaha?
Nebraska state law governs them: the Health Care Facility Licensure Act and the Assisted-Living Facility Act, carried out by the Department of Health and Human Services through 175 NAC 4 for assisted-living facilities and its long-term care rules for nursing homes, with federal CMS rules layered on certified nursing homes.
Last verified: October 2026The DHHS Licensure Unit in Lincoln licenses and inspects those settings. The City of Omaha, Douglas County and the Sarpy County cities do not license care settings, though zoning and fire codes apply to the buildings.
How is Nebraska's approach different from other states?
Nebraska uses one assisted living license, sets no inspection cycle after the first license (it inspects at random and when triggered), marks dementia care on its roster through Alzheimer's units and an optional memory care endorsement, and forbids ALF staff from performing complex nursing interventions themselves.
On the October 15, 2026 roster for the five Omaha-area counties that works out to 79 licensed ALFs, 34 of them holding a memory care endorsement.
Where do Omaha families report problems?
Licensing complaints go to the DHHS Licensure Unit's complaint intake line at (402) 471-0316; suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation goes to Adult Protective Services at (800) 652-1999; and residents of nursing homes and assisted living get free advocacy from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at (800) 942-7830.
The guides below explain each step, with the rule behind it.
Nebraska Rules guides
How Nebraska licenses assisted living in Omaha
Nebraska licenses assisted living as assisted-living facilities (ALFs) through the DHHS Licensure Unit under 175 NAC 4. Who needs a license, fees, the April 30 renewal, administrators and inspections.
Read →How Nebraska regulates memory care
Nebraska memory care: the dementia-unit rule in 175 NAC 4-006.11E, the memory care endorsement under Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-472, and the Alzheimer's Special Care Disclosure Act. How to check an Omaha community.
Read →Who can live in an Omaha assisted living facility
Nebraska ALF admission and retention under 175 NAC 4-006.07: who is eligible, what complex nursing interventions are, how outside home health and hospice let residents stay, and the 30-day discharge notice.
Read →Who gives medications in Omaha assisted living
How medications work in Nebraska assisted-living facilities: the Medication Aide Act and 172 NAC 95, the RN's oversight duty, self-administration rights, PRN medications and what families should ask.
Read →Resident rights in Omaha assisted living
The resident rights in 175 NAC 4-006.04, the resident service agreement, written pricing, grievances, the right to see the latest DHHS survey and the 30-day discharge notice, for Omaha-area families.
Read →How Omaha nursing homes are licensed and inspected
How Nebraska licenses nursing facilities and skilled nursing facilities, what Medicare and Medicaid certification means, how CMS inspections and star ratings work, and what the DHHS long-term care roster shows.
Read →How to check an Omaha facility's license and record
How Omaha-area families verify a Nebraska assisted living or nursing home license: the DHHS rosters, the LIS license lookup, CMS Care Compare and the facility's own survey and disclosure documents.
Read →Where Omaha families report problems
How to file a complaint about an Omaha-area assisted living facility or nursing home with the DHHS Licensure Unit, report abuse to Nebraska Adult Protective Services, and get help from the Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
Read →At a glance
| Nebraska's rules do | Nebraska's rules do not | |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted living | Require a DHHS ALF license renewed every April 30 | Set a staff-to-resident ratio |
| Memory care | Require awake, dressed staff at all times in a dementia unit | Require every dementia unit to hold the endorsement |
| Inspections | Allow unannounced inspections at any time | Publish ALF inspection results in bulk |
| Payment | Let the AD Waiver pay assisted living services | Pay ALF room and board |
