In Nebraska, the license families see for assisted living is "Assisted-Living Facility (ALF)", issued by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit. Nebraska law and rules do not require a physician exam or a set form before move-in; assisted-living services include the facility's own resident assessment for admission and continued stay. A resident may not be moved out involuntarily without 30 days' advance written notice, except when a transfer or discharge is needed to protect the health and safety of the resident, other residents or staff.
Key facts
- The median monthly cost of assisted living in Nebraska was $6,350 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $76,200 a year, $150 above the national median of $6,200 a month. (CareScout, 2026)
- Nebraska's Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver pays for Supported Residential Living (formerly Assisted Living) in licensed assisted living facilities, but the participant pays the room and board cost and any Medicaid share of cost. (Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, 2026)
- Nebraska's assisted living rules do not require a TB test for new residents. (175 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4-006, 2007)
- Residents who are able may take their own medicines, and when the facility gives them it must use licensed health professionals or medication aides on the state registry who finished a 40-hour course and exam. (175 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4-006, 2007)
- A facility with an Alzheimer's or dementia special care unit must give the Department and anyone seeking placement a written disclosure of its care approach, placement and discharge criteria, staff training, activities, costs and fees. (Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, 2024)
Nebraska calls assisted living an assisted-living facility (ALF) and licenses one ALF type: a residential setting that gives housing, three meals a day, 24-hour staff access and help with daily activities to four or more unrelated residents. The Department of Health and Human Services licenses ALFs under the Assisted-Living Facility Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-5901 to 71-5909) and 175 NAC 4, and an ALF with a special dementia unit may also apply for an optional memory care endorsement.
Rules change and communities can set stricter policies. Before you sign, confirm the details with the community and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit. This page is general information, not legal advice.
The rules at a glance
| Medical assessment before move-in | Nebraska law and rules do not require a physician exam or a set form before move-in; assisted-living services include the facility's own resident assessment for admission and continued stay. Complex nursing care is allowed only part-time or intermittently, meaning up to 10 hours a week for a period that ends within 21 days. [3][4] More on this |
|---|---|
| TB test | Nebraska's assisted living rules do not require a TB test for new residents. The rules set a health screening only for staff, who need a health history screening before starting work, with a physical exam at the employer's discretion. [4] More on this |
| Notice before a move-out | A resident may not be moved out involuntarily without 30 days' advance written notice, except when a transfer or discharge is needed to protect the health and safety of the resident, other residents or staff. The facility decides on retention based on the resident's care needs, its ability to meet them and any danger to the resident or others. [4][3] More on this |
| Who may give medications | Residents who are able may take their own medicines, and when the facility gives them it must use licensed health professionals or medication aides on the state registry who finished a 40-hour course and exam. A medication aide may give injections, including subcutaneous ones, only with written direction and a licensed professional's safety statement; the rule does not name insulin. [4][5][6] More on this |
| Memory care and dementia | A facility with an Alzheimer's or dementia special care unit must give the Department and anyone seeking placement a written disclosure of its care approach, placement and discharge criteria, staff training, activities, costs and fees. That training must include four hours a year for direct care staff; only facilities with the state's memory care endorsement may advertise as endorsed. [3] |
| Long-term care ombudsman | Nebraska's Long-Term Care Ombudsman, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, works with nursing home and assisted living residents on concerns and complaints and can be reached at (800) 942-7830 or DHHS.LTCOmbudsman@nebraska.gov. [7] Official page More on this |
| Medicaid help | Nebraska's Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver pays for Supported Residential Living (formerly Assisted Living) in licensed assisted living facilities, but the participant pays the room and board cost and any Medicaid share of cost. A person needs Nebraska Medicaid and nursing facility level of care, and state rules allow a waiting list if waiver capacity is limited. [8][9] Official page More on this |
What assisted living costs in Nebraska
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Nebraska was $6,350 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $76,200 a year, $150 above the national median of $6,200 a month. [10]
A median is the middle of the rates communities reported, so many charge more or less. Rates differ between regions and by the care a resident needs, so ask each community for its full fee list in writing. More: assisted living costs in every state, a monthly budget and the costs that aren't in the base rate.
How to check a community in Nebraska
Families can search the Department's License Information System, and the Department says the results of all assisted living facility inspections can be viewed there. Questions about licensing go to the Licensure Unit at (402) 471-3324. Search Nebraska's records. [2][1]
The licensing agency: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit. [1] Our guide on how to read an inspection report explains what to look for.
Put Nebraska's paperwork on a date
Parent Move Plan counts every task back from the move-in day, including the medical assessment and TB screening the community will ask for, so nothing lands in the last week.
Get your first 3 days freeFrequently asked questions
How much does assisted living cost in Nebraska?
The median monthly cost of assisted living in Nebraska was $6,350 in CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, or $76,200 a year, $150 above the national median of $6,200 a month. A median is the middle of the rates communities reported, so many charge more or less, and rates differ between regions and by the care a resident needs.
What medical assessment does Nebraska require before moving into assisted living?
Nebraska law and rules do not require a physician exam or a set form before move-in; assisted-living services include the facility's own resident assessment for admission and continued stay. Complex nursing care is allowed only part-time or intermittently, meaning up to 10 hours a week for a period that ends within 21 days.
Does Nebraska require a TB test for assisted living?
Nebraska's assisted living rules do not require a TB test for new residents. The rules set a health screening only for staff, who need a health history screening before starting work, with a physical exam at the employer's discretion.
How much notice must an assisted living community in Nebraska give before a move-out?
A resident may not be moved out involuntarily without 30 days' advance written notice, except when a transfer or discharge is needed to protect the health and safety of the resident, other residents or staff. The facility decides on retention based on the resident's care needs, its ability to meet them and any danger to the resident or others.
Who can give medications in assisted living in Nebraska?
Residents who are able may take their own medicines, and when the facility gives them it must use licensed health professionals or medication aides on the state registry who finished a 40-hour course and exam. A medication aide may give injections, including subcutaneous ones, only with written direction and a licensed professional's safety statement; the rule does not name insulin.
Who can help with a complaint about assisted living in Nebraska?
Nebraska's Long-Term Care Ombudsman, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, works with nursing home and assisted living residents on concerns and complaints and can be reached at (800) 942-7830 or DHHS.LTCOmbudsman@nebraska.gov.
Does Medicaid pay for assisted living in Nebraska?
Nebraska's Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver pays for Supported Residential Living (formerly Assisted Living) in licensed assisted living facilities, but the participant pays the room and board cost and any Medicaid share of cost. A person needs Nebraska Medicaid and nursing facility level of care, and state rules allow a waiting list if waiver capacity is limited.
Sources
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure Unit: Assisted Living Facilities (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: License Information System Search (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure Unit: Statutes Relating to Health Care Facilities, including Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-5901 to 71-5909, 71-516.01 to 71-517 and 71-471 (2024) (checked October 22, 2026)
- 175 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4-006, Standards of operation, care and treatment (via Cornell LII), 2007 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 172 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 95-007, Additional activities in the provision of medications (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- 172 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 96-004, Competency assessment for placement on the registry (via Cornell LII), 2022 (checked October 22, 2026)
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: Long-Term Care Ombudsman (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services: Medicaid HCBS Aged and Disabled Waiver (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)
- 480 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 3-003, Participant eligibility (via Cornell LII), 2021 (checked October 22, 2026)
- CareScout: Cost of Care Survey 2025, Ranked Median Costs by State (2026) (checked October 22, 2026)