Hillcrest Country Estates Cottages in Papillion, Nebraska, offers a quiet spot for older adults, with several cottage homes and a bigger community setup that covers assisted living, independent living, memory care, and long-term care. The grounds come with patios for sitting out, several walking paths, and large living spaces, so there's always a place to relax or stroll around, and most apartments and cottages welcome pets. Family-style meals are served to help residents feel at home, and the kitchen often works with their registered dietitian to meet nutritional needs. Every resident gets a personalized schedule to help keep life familiar and comforting, and there's a regular lineup of social and recreational activities, with different levels of care available as needs change, so people don't have to move away if their care needs go up.
The place has 48 certified beds, averages about 46 residents daily, and gives 24/7 skilled nursing care with daily living help and medication management, physical therapy services from Innovate Physical Therapy, and regular visits from a doctor. Amenities include a well-stocked library, laundry room, whirlpool bath suite, and a hair salon. Occupancy stays steady, and staffing is above the Nebraska average at almost five nurse hours per resident each day, though nurse turnover is higher than most places at about 68%. The campus claims to be the first and only freestanding nursing household community in Omaha.
Hillcrest Country Estates Cottages' parent company, Hillcrest Health Systems Inc, has managed the site since 2018, and the operation works as a for-profit Limited Liability Company. The facility does offer some specialized dementia programs, adult day services, hospice care, and support groups for families. Residents can move between different types of rooms, cottages, rehab cottages, or signature villas, depending on care needs, making it easier for people to age in place and get more or less help as things change.
There have been 22 documented deficiencies in official inspections, including three related to infection control, and some were about how medications are labeled, stored, and given out, with some medication error rates higher than federal standards. Violations have included infection control problems and issues with handling and storing drugs, all graded at severity level D, meaning there's room for improvement but nothing putting residents in immediate harm.
People looking at Hillcrest Country Estates Cottages should know the facility gets mixed reviews and that inspection reports have noted several areas where change is needed, but the community remains one of the few in Omaha with this household-style care model. The homes are sturdy and well-kept, the grounds are pleasant, and there's a focus on letting folks keep as much independence as possible without being far from help.
