Heritage of Emerson
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Heritage of Emerson has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for families considering care options. It ranks #53 out of 177 nursing homes in Nebraska, placing it in the top half, and is the best facility among three in Dakota County. However, the facility is experiencing a worsening trend, with the number of identified issues increasing from 2 in 2024 to 4 in 2025. Staffing is a strong point, with a 4 out of 5 star rating and a turnover rate of 37%, which is significantly lower than the state average. It also has good RN coverage, being better than 97% of facilities in Nebraska. On the downside, there were several concerning incidents, including failures to ensure proper COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated staff, inadequate cleaning of CPAP equipment, and deficiencies in training for nurse aides, which may impact resident care. Overall, while there are strengths in staffing and trust, families should consider the recent increase in compliance issues.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Nebraska
- #53/177
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 37% turnover. Near Nebraska's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Nebraska facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 56 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Nebraska. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 9 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
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4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (37%)
11 points below Nebraska average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Nebraska avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 9 deficiencies on record
Jun 2025
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Licensure Reference Number 175 NAC 12-006.02(H)
Based on record review and interview; the facility failed to report, complete, and submit a thorough investigation of a resident-to-resident altercation...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Licensure Reference Number 175 NAC 12-006.09
Based on record review and interview; the facility staff failed to monitor and to a...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Licensure Reference Number 175 NAC 12-006.11(E)
Based on observation, record review and interview; the facility failed to ensure food temperatures were maintained at a level to prevent the potential f...
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CONCERN
(E)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Licensure Reference Number 175 NAC 12-006.18
Based on observations, record review, and interviews; the facility failed to follow...
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Jun 2024
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Licensure Reference Number 175 NAC 12.006.17
Based on record review, interviews, and observation, the facility failed to provide catheter care in a manner to prevent cross contamination and the potent...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0947
(Tag F0947)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Licensure Reference Number 175 NAC 12-006.04B2a
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure 5 [Nurse Aid...
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Apr 2023
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Transfer Notice
(Tag F0623)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Licensure Reference Number 175 NAC 12-006.05(5)
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure the residents and /or the resident's representatives were notified in writing of the...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0697
(Tag F0697)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** LICENSURE REFERENCE NUMBER 175 NAC 12-006.09D
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to evaluate the resident...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0886
(Tag F0886)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure COVID-19 testing was completed in accordance with the facility mitigation plan (a plan to reduce the severity or seriousness of COVI...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade B+ (80/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Nebraska.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Nebraska facilities.
- • 37% turnover. Below Nebraska's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Heritage Of Emerson's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Heritage of Emerson an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Nebraska, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Heritage Of Emerson Staffed?
CMS rates Heritage of Emerson's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 37%, compared to the Nebraska average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Heritage Of Emerson?
State health inspectors documented 9 deficiencies at Heritage of Emerson during 2023 to 2025. These included: 9 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Heritage Of Emerson?
Heritage of Emerson is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by VETTER SENIOR LIVING, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 38 certified beds and approximately 33 residents (about 87% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Emerson, Nebraska.
How Does Heritage Of Emerson Compare to Other Nebraska Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Nebraska, Heritage of Emerson's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (37%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Heritage Of Emerson?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Heritage Of Emerson Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Heritage of Emerson has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Nebraska. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Heritage Of Emerson Stick Around?
Heritage of Emerson has a staff turnover rate of 37%, which is about average for Nebraska nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Heritage Of Emerson Ever Fined?
Heritage of Emerson has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Heritage Of Emerson on Any Federal Watch List?
Heritage of Emerson is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.