Life Care Center of Elkhorn

Pros

• The staff here pour their heart and soul into their work, showing deep empathy and making a meaningful difference in residents' lives.
• The facility is described as a true community where residents are cared for with dignity and respect.
• The Lifecare Elkhorn team is consistently friendly, helpful, and professional across roles from social work to front desk.
• The therapy department is outstanding, helping residents regain strength, mobility, and independence.
• The environment is clean, safe, and welcoming, with a warm, hospitable atmosphere on entry.
• The food options are good to excellent, with variety and opportunities to dine with loved ones.
• Families feel supported by the staff, who address individual needs and communicate clearly.
• The center is praised for patient wellness, a serene environment, and highly trained staff.
• Overall rehab and long-term care experiences at Life Care Center of Elkhorn are highly recommended by many families.

Cons

• They describe the facility as a place to dispose of those people you don't have the heart to care for.
• They say the staff are illiterate, incompetent, useless, unnecessary, and oblivious.
• They report residents were not fed for days and went without meals.
• They claim the food is cold, unappealing, and not properly served.
• They note chronic understaffing and leadership failures that lead to neglect and poor communication.
• They allege personal belongings are stolen or mishandled and residents are left unattended.
• They describe pervasive filth and dirty conditions, including dirty rooms and bathrooms.
• They warn others to stay away from the facility due to these issues.

Review

Life Care Center of Elkhorn is best suited for families seeking a rehabilitation-forward nursing option where skilled therapy and deeply caring frontline staff are the expectations. The facility earns its strongest value for residents who arrive with functional goals - after surgery, stroke, or a need for intensive PT/OT/Speech therapy - and whose families prioritize real progress toward independence and a coordinated care plan. Across many reviews, the rehabilitation team, including therapists and social workers, is repeatedly praised for pushing progress, coordinating transitions, and helping residents regain walking and daily living skills. When the objective is to restore function and return home or move toward a less intensive setting, this community often delivers.

Those considering alternatives should be aware of red flags raised by a portion of families. Several reviews recount serious lapses in day-to-day operations, including inconsistent staffing, delayed call-light responses, and cleanliness or odor issues. A subset describe unsafe or disorganized experiences, with reports of neglected needs, equipment problems, and even theft or misplacement of belongings. For families prioritizing unwavering reliability, constant safety, and spotless operation, these reports warrant caution and a closer, more stringent due diligence. In short, this is not a one-size-fits-all facility; it hinges on the resident's care trajectory and the family's tolerance for variability in execution.

The strongest offset to the downsides lies in the proven strength of therapy and clinical care. Several residents and families credit the therapy department with meaningful gains in strength, balance, and mobility, often enabling a return to home or to a lower level of care. Nursing and CNAs are repeatedly described as dedicated, attentive, and patient-centered, with social workers actively guiding families through transitions and advocating for appropriate next steps. The dining experience and overall facility ambiance are frequently cited as positive - cleanliness, comfortable common spaces, and even private dining options add tangible quality of life. When therapy and personal attention align, outcomes appear robust enough to justify considering this community for rehab-focused goals.

Yet the main cons do not vanish from consideration. Understaffing and high turnover emerge as persistent undercurrents in numerous reviews, sometimes translating into longer waits for assistance or inconsistent follow-through on care plans. Communication fragmentation - between departments, between staff and families, and in transitions - appears in multiple accounts as a recurring friction point. Not all staff are perceived as equally compassionate, and several families report experiences that range from frustrating to distressing, including concerns about meal service, room cleanliness, and timely medication administration. These factors collectively erode trust and spotlight the risk profile for residents needing steady, around-the-clock supervision.

For families evaluating this community, a practical approach is essential. Schedule tours at different times to observe call-light response, staffing presence, and interaction quality. Speak directly with therapy leadership to understand goals, discharge planning, and how a resident builds toward independent living. Ask to review the latest state survey findings and request a candid discussion with the director of nursing and admissions staff about staffing models, turnover, and any recent corrective actions. If targeting rehabilitation, request concrete examples of recent patient successes, plus a clear, written plan for transitions back to home or to an alternative setting if recovery stalls. If long-term care stability is the objective, probe deeply into safety culture, daily routines, and how nutrition, hygiene, and personal belongings are safeguarded.

The verdict is decisive: Life Care Center of Elkhorn can be an excellent choice for families whose top priority is effective rehabilitation and genuinely caring staff who push residents toward meaningful gains. For those whose expectations include consistently flawless operations, zero incidents, and unwavering staffing reliability across all shifts, it is prudent to probe further and compare other options. The facility's rehabilitation reputation and patient-centered care are undeniable assets, but they must be weighed against reports of uneven staffing and operational gaps. In the right scenario - short-term rehab with a clear path to home, and a family engaged in diligent oversight - this community can deliver transformative results. For long-term custodial needs or risk-averse families, exploring alternatives with steadier day-to-day consistency is a prudent hedge.

This part of Elkhorn, Nebraska offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. With multiple pharmacies, physicians' offices, and hospitals nearby, residents have easy access to healthcare services. There are also several places of worship for spiritual support, as well as a variety of restaurants and cafes for dining options. Additionally, the area features parks and theaters for recreational activities, providing opportunities for social engagement and entertainment. Overall, this neighborhood in Elkhorn combines convenience, healthcare accessibility, and leisure options to create a comfortable and well-rounded living environment for seniors.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.3 miles)
• U-Save Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• Family Fare Supermarkets (2.9 miles)
• Hy-Vee Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• CHI Health Clinic Dermatology (161st and W Maple) (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Patrick Catholic Church (0.4 miles)
• Westside Church (4.5 miles)
• St Vincent De Paul Catholic Church (4.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Arby's (1.5 miles)
• The Mark (1.5 miles)
• Burger King (1.5 miles)
• First Watch (2.6 miles)
• McDonald's (2.8 miles)
• Local Beer, Patio and Kitchen (3 miles)
• Kona Grill (3.3 miles)

Physicians

• Methodist Perinatal Center (1.9 miles)
• Children's Physicians (3 miles)
• Olson Center for Women's Health (3 miles)
• Village Pointe Cancer Care Center (3.1 miles)
• Dr Shannon Iwanski (3.1 miles)
• Omaha Family Medicine (3.4 miles)
• Malbar Vision Center (3.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Methodist Women's Hospital (1.9 miles)
• Methodist Healthwest (3.8 miles)
• NICU - Lakeside Hospital - CHI Health (4.4 miles)
• Lakeside Hospital - CHI Health (4.4 miles)
• Lakeside Hospital (4.4 miles)
• Boys Town National Research Hospital (5.8 miles)

Theaters

• Village Pointe Cinema Omaha, Ne (3 miles)
• Theater 15 (3 miles)
• Majestic Cinema Of Omaha Omaha, Ne (5 miles)

Parks

• Stone Creek Playground (3.4 miles)
• Whitehawk park & lake (4.3 miles)
• Torrey Pines Park (4.4 miles)
• Zorinsky Lake Park (5.7 miles)
• Mission Park (6.9 miles)
• Hefflinger Park (7.3 miles)
• Hefflinger Park (7.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Scooter's Coffee Drive-Thru (7 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.1 miles)