2026 National Senior Care Cost Index • Updated with U.S. Census ACS & CMS Medicare Data Covering 51 States & DC • 29,639 Cities • 14,676 CMS Facilities
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Home › Nebraska › Kearney, NE

Senior Care & Assisted Living Costs in Kearney, NE

2026 monthly care rates for Kearney (Buffalo County), local Census affordability metrics, and 5 CMS-certified care facilities.

Assisted Living🏠
$4,700/mo
$56,400/yr
-24% vs U.S. avg
Memory Care🧠
$5,730/mo
$68,760/yr
-24% vs U.S. avg
In-Home Care🤝
$26.56/hr
$5,060/mo (44h/wk)
-24% vs U.S. avg
Nursing Home (Semi)🏥
$7,270/mo
Private: $8,190/mo
-24% vs U.S. avg

2026 Long-Term Care Financial & Runway Simulator

Models eldercare inflation, home equity liquidation fees (7%), income offsets & Medicaid spend-down rules.

1. Select Care Setting & Schedule
Assisted Living$4,700/mo
Memory Care$5,730/mo
Home Care$26.56/hr
Nursing Semi$7,270/mo
Nursing Priv$8,190/mo
Planning Horizon 3 Years (36 mos)
Average U.S. assisted living stay: 28–36 mos
Annual Care Inflation 4.0% / yr
Historical eldercare inflation: 3.5%–4.5%/yr
2. Monthly Income & Insurance Offsets
Social Security & Pension ($/mo)
LTC Insurance / VA Benefit ($/mo)
VA Aid & Attendance up to $2,358/mo
3. Capital & Home Equity Reserves
Liquid Savings & IRA ($)
Home Value / Equity ($) Net: $220k
Auto-deducts 7% realtor & closing costs
Total Projected Care Cost
$0
Year 1 → Year 3
Net Out-of-Pocket Gap
$0
Initial monthly shortfall: $0/mo
Annual Care Cost vs. Remaining Capital End Balance: $0
Annual Care Cost (Inflation-Adjusted) Remaining Net Capital
2026 Cost Crossover Analysis

Home Care vs. Assisted Living Break-Even Point in Kearney, NE

40.8 hrs/wk Break-even threshold

At Kearney, NE's average caregiver rate of $26.56/hr, hiring in-home care equals the $4,700/mo cost of Assisted Living at exactly 40.8 hours per week (~5.8 hrs/day).

Part-Time Care (15 hrs/wk) Crossover: 40.8 hrs/wk 24/7 Shifts (168 hrs/wk)
Home Care Cheaper 20 hrs/wk at Home
$2,302/mo

Saves $2,398/mo vs. Assisted Living (excludes home mortgage/utilities).

Full-Time Benchmark (44h/wk) 44 hrs/wk vs. Assisted Living
$5,064 vs. $4,700/mo

Full-time home care costs $364/mo more than Assisted Living (where meals & utilities are included).

Facility Cheaper 80+ hrs/wk (Day + Night)
$9,207/mo

Assisted Living saves $4,507/mo; Memory Care averages $5,730/mo.

Kearney vs. Nebraska & U.S. Averages

Monthly Assisted Living cost comparison adjusted for Buffalo County economic indicators.

Kearney, NE$4,700/mo
Nebraska State Average$5,030/mo
U.S. National Median$6,200/mo

Buffalo County Economic Context (U.S. Census)

Official ACS 5-Year benchmarks used to model local care affordability (see methodology).

Median Household Income $74,570/yr ($6,214/mo)
Median Home Value $236,800
Median Gross Rent $911/mo
Nebraska Medicaid Limit (2026) $2,901/mo

CMS-Certified Senior Care & Nursing Facilities in Kearney, NE

Official Medicare provider registry showing certified bed capacity, ownership structure, and CMS 5-star quality ratings.

Mt Carmel Home - Keens Memorial
412 West 18Th Street, Kearney, NE 68845 • 3082372287
75 Certified Beds Non profit - Corporation CCN: 285216
5/5 CMS Rating
Brookestone Gardens
2615 West 11Th Street, Kearney, NE 68845 • 3082360211
54 Certified Beds Non profit - Corporation CCN: 285305
5/5 CMS Rating
Mother Hull Home
125 East 23Rd Street, Kearney, NE 68847 • 3082342447
58 Certified Beds Non profit - Corporation CCN: 285254
2/5 CMS Rating
Good Samaritan Society - St John'S
3410 Central Avenue, Kearney, NE 68847 • 3082341888
56 Certified Beds Non profit - Corporation CCN: 285189
2/5 CMS Rating
Good Samaritan Society - St Luke'S Village
2201 East 32Nd Street, Kearney, NE 68847 • 3082373108
60 Certified Beds Non profit - Corporation CCN: 285192
1/5 CMS Rating

Frequently Asked Questions About Senior Care in Kearney

The estimated median cost of assisted living in Kearney, NE is $4,700 per month ($56,400 per year), adjusted for Buffalo County housing and income data.
A semi-private room in a skilled nursing facility in Kearney averages $7,270 per month, while a private room averages $8,190 per month.
In-home caregiver services in Kearney, NE average $26.56 per hour, or roughly $5,060 per month for 44 hours of weekly care.
For 2026, the standard monthly income cap for Medicaid nursing home and HCBS waiver eligibility in Nebraska is $2,901 per individual applicant.

Compare Senior Care Costs in Nearby Nebraska Cities

Riverdale, NE $4,700/mo Odessa, NE $4,700/mo Axtell, NE $4,510/mo Amherst, NE $4,700/mo Funk, NE $4,340/mo Elm Creek, NE $4,700/mo Gibbon, NE $4,700/mo Minden, NE $4,510/mo Pleasanton, NE $4,700/mo Wilcox, NE $4,510/mo Miller, NE $4,700/mo Holdrege, NE $4,340/mo