Our Legacy

Tabitha Through the Years

  • 1886 - Tabitha was founded as an orphanage
  • 1890 - "Old Main" was constructed
  • 1907 - Tabitha became a Lutheran hospital and a school of nursing
  • 1909 - Began serving Tuberculosis patients
  • 1926 - Nazareth Building (Boy's Dormitory) was built
  • 1937 - Bethel Building (Girl's Dormitory) was built
  • 1946 - Construction began on what is the current south wing of Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
  • 1960 - Tabitha's original role as an orphanage ended; records transferred to Lutheran Family Services in Omaha, NE
  • 1966 - Tabitha Home Health Care began
  • 1966 - Tabitha Home Health became Medicare certified
  • 1967 - Tabitha Meals on Wheels began
  • 1971 - New skilled nursing unit was added
  • 1973 - Tabitha Village was built
  • 1974 - Tabitha established offices in Friend and Seward
  • 1975 - The Walter Apartments were built
  • 1979 - Hospice of Tabitha began; first in Lincoln
  • 1979 - Aurora Office in Hamilton County Opens, April
  • 1980 - Tabitha Rehabilitation began
  • 1981 - The Tabitha Foundation was created
  • 1982 - Hospice of Tabitha became Medicare Certified
  • 1982 - Home Care Specialties of Tabitha was first established as Special Care Services
  • 1987 - Special Care Services became Tabitha Bryan Special Care
  • 1990 - Hospice services expanded into Seward and York counties
  • 1992 - The Maseman Unit was established
  • 1993 - Tabitha Nursing Home's new inpatient Hospice Unit dedicated to Martha A. Maseman, RN
  • 1993 - The Johnsen Family Wing opened
  • 1995 - The Augustine Rehabilitation Unit opened
  • 1996 - Grand Island and York Regional Offices opened
  • 1996 - Tabitha Bryan Special Care became Home Care Specialties of Tabitha, Inc.
  • 1997 - Nursing Home renamed Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
  • 1997 - Nebraska City Regional Office opened
  • 1998 - Construction began on Alzheimer's Solarium
  • 1999 - The Kimmel Solarium at Tabitha Opened in Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
  • 1999 - Garden Lane Adult Day Services Started in Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
  • 1999 - "Sidewalk Cafe" Opened in Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
  • 2000 - Home Care Specialties of Tabitha to Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
  • 2000 - Tabitha Breaks Ground for New Child Day Care Center
  • 2001 - Tabitha Intergenerational Center Opens
  • 2002 - Tabitha Selected as One of Four Model Sites for the Green House Project
  • 2003 - Groundbreaking for Tabitha Rehabilitation Center
  • 2004 - Hospice of Tabitha formally recognized as the founding Hospice in Nebraska, National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization national conference in Washington D.C., October
  • 2004 - Tabitha Celebrates Grand Opening of Tabitha LifeQuest Center
  • 2005 - Tabitha Breaks Ground on its new Green House Project
  • 2006- Tabitha opens Nebraska's first Green House Project providing long-term care
  • 2006- Tabitha received the 2006 Celebration of Labor Industry Tour Recognition on September 14 from Governor Dave Heineman.
  • 2006- Tabitha begins operations in Crete by providing long-term care at Tabitha Nursing Center at Crete
  • 2007- Tabitha introduced Honeywell HomMed (R) Telehealth
  • 2007- Tabitha received the NHCA Outstanding Achievement Award in LTC for the Green House project
  • 2007- Tabitha was selected as York's Choice in Home Care and Favorite Nurse, York Reader's Choice Awards
  • 2007- Tabitha was named to the 2007 HomeCare Elite, the top 25 percent of home care agencies
  • 2007- On Nov. 19, Tabitha Meals on Wheels volunteers delivered the 3 millionth meal
  • 2008 - Tabitha Health Care Services was chosen by KFOR listeners as the “Best Home Health Care Service Provider.”
  • 2008 - Tabitha Health Care Services was named to the 2008 HomeCare Elite(TM), a compilation of the most successful Medicare certified home health care providers in the United States.
  • 2010 - Tabitha adds Garden Square Assisted Living of Crete to its continuum of health care services.
  • 2010 - Tabitha opens its second Green House Project, the Good House.
  • 2011 - Tabitha opens four new living communities - two additional Green House projects (Martha House and Elizabeth House), GracePointe Assisted Living & Memory Care Suites and the Journey House, Lincoln's only free-standing  Medicare certified hospice facility.

 

Tabitha's Story

Tabitha began as an orphanage in 1886 in an old cowboy bunkhouse. Rev. Henry Heiner (shown in photo with family) purchased 10 acres of land in the 48th and Randolph Streets area of Lincoln with a $25 down payment. A group of children who were homeless or orphaned were moved into a the bunkhouse. Aged members of the community joined the children. Rev. Heiner named the new institution "Tabitha" after his daughter who died in infancy. Tabitha was a disciple in the New Testament who was known as a woman who "was devoted to good works and acts of charity" (Acts 9:36).


In 1890, Old Main was built on the northwest corner of the 10-acre tract of land to provide housing for the increasing number of children and adults who lived there. Two years later, an additional five acres south of Randolph Street were purchased and used to grow fruit trees and vegetable gardens to support the growing institution.

In 1907, Tabitha became a Lutheran hospital and a school of nursing in addition to serving as a home for children and adults. Tabitha took on new responsibilities in the winter of 1909 when the State Hospital for Tuberculosis in Lincoln closed and Tabitha was asked to make room for those patients.

In 1926, the Nazareth Building was built as the Boy's Dormitory. Today, it serves as Tabitha's Administrative Offices. In 1937, the Bethel Building was constructed as the Girl's Dormitory. Today, it serves as the home for Tabitha's Education & Training Resource Center.Tabitha Through the ages.

Though at first delayed by World War II, construction began on a new brick building in 1946 to replace Old Main. This new building included a completely equipped chapel and is the current south wing of Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. When responsibility for the care of homeless children was transferred to Immanuel Hospital and Lutheran Family Services in Omaha in 1960, Tabitha's role as an orphanage ended, marking an end to an era.

By the early 1960s, the social and health care landscape had changed dramatically. Under the direction of Martha A. Maseman (Special Assistant to the Executive Director and responsible for developing Tabitha Home Health Care and later Tabitha Meals on Wheels and Hospice of Tabitha), Tabitha began to expand to home-based services.

The concept of Home Health Care was a "radical" one at the time with health care professionals going into homes to care for people with an injury or illness rather than treating them in medical facilities. In 1965, there were fewer than a half-dozen programs in existence in the nation. In March 1966, Tabitha's Home Health Care program became Medicare certified, the first in Nebraska. Nurses, physical therapists and home health aides assisted patients to recover in the comfort of their own homes.

Between October 1966 and the end of that year, 75 home health care visits were made. The second year in its existence, 500 home health care visits were made. Tabitha began to serve other counties in southeastern Nebraska, and currently, Tabitha averages over 50,000 home health visits a year.

To help feed homebound people who are elderly or with a disability, Tabitha Meals on Wheels began to roll in 1967. Tabitha Meals on Wheels serves a hot, noon meal to nearly 400 people seven days a week, 365 days a year!
By 1971, Tabitha built a new skilled nursing unit, currently known as Tabitha's North Wing.

1973 - On the land south of Randolph Street originally used as an orchard and garden, Tabitha Village was built to provide HUD-subsidized housing for people who are retired or disabled. The Walter Apartments in the Autumn Wood retirement community were built in 1975. "The Walter" was named after Rev. Ernst Walter who served as superintendent of Tabitha for 23 years.

1970s - The hospice philosophy of caring for people with a terminal illness in their own homes was new to the United States. Tabitha recognized that people needed to be free of pain and comforted emotionally, physically and spiritually in their final days. Hospice of Tabitha was the first hospice program of its kind introduced in Lincoln in 1979.
The Tabitha Foundation was created in 1981 by Stuart Maseman to raise funds to help support Tabitha's services and Mission. In 1982, Hospice of Tabitha became Medicare Certified.

1987 - Home Care Specialties of Tabitha, Inc. was established to provide private duty/24-hour care to help people recover from an illness or injury in their homes.
Building for the first time outside Lincoln, Tabitha purchased the Southeast Community College dormitory in Fairbury, Nebraska, in 1988. Tabitha converted the student residence into Pinecrest Retirement Apartments.

1992 - The Maseman Unit was established within Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center to provide inpatient, hospice care and respite services for families. The unit was dedicated to Martha A. Maseman for her effort in pioneering Hospice of Tabitha in 1979.

The same year Tabitha expanded its Pastoral Care program providing outreach to clients in the community. Additional staff were hired to make pastoral visits to Tabitha Meals on Wheel recipients, home care clients and residents at Tabitha's housing units.

The Johnsen Family Wing opened in 1993 replacing rooms with enhanced and improved resident rooms to give residents more comfort. It also provided a centralized nursing station to better serve clients. A gift shop inside to the new J Street entrance welcomes visitors to Tabitha.

1995 - Tabitha expanded its physical, occupational and speech therapy services to residents and to provide outpatient services. The Augustine Rehabilitation included new state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment to meet those needs.

February of 1996 - The Grand Island and York Regional Offices opened to meet the growing needs of expanding services to home care clients.

1997 - Tabitha Nursing Home was renamed Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center to reflect the services provided. In August 1997, the Regional Office in Nebraska City opened.

February 1999 - Tabitha made history again by opening the Kimmel Solarium of Tabitha on the 4th floor – the first facility of its kind in Nebraska for individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia.

October 1999 - Tabitha was the first site in Nebraska chosen to receive and to be trained using the first citizen-access Automated External Defibrillator (AED) unit available since new legislation was passed in Nebraska to assist people in sudden cardiac arrest.

December 1999 - Tabitha began offering Day Services for people with dementia with the program Garden Lane Adult Day Services. These services provide help to caregivers who seek an opportunity for non-residential care of their loved one with Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia.

March 2000 - Home Care Specialties of Tabitha, Inc., moved their offices to the second floor of the southeast wing in Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. In April, Tabitha resumed full ownership of Home Care Specialties of Tabitha, Inc.

September 5, 2000 - Tabitha broke ground to construct an adult and child day care center, across the street from Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, just north of Tabitha.

July 2001 - Tabitha Health Care Services opened the region's first Intergenerational Center, offering Developmental Play School and Adult Day Services in a shared site. Tabitha Intergenerational Center was dedicated August 15, 2001, as the Al and Bobby Sward Building. The Dedication Service recognized the vision and leadership of retiring president Al Sward.

June 17, 2003 - Tabitha celebrated the groundbreaking for the new Tabitha Rehabilitation Center.

2003 - Tabitha Health Care Services was honored with the Gladys Forsyth Award, given annually by the Lincoln YWCA to recognize the commitment of a business or organization to improve opportunities for women and persons of color.
In October of 2004, Hospice of Tabitha was formally recognized as the founding Hospice in Nebraska at the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization national conference in Washington D.C.

October 17, 2004 - Tabitha celebrated the Grand Opening of Tabitha LifeQuest Center, a newly constructed facility providing both Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation.

September 6, 2005 - Tabitha broke ground for the new Green House (R) Project at Tabitha. Nine residents moved into their new home providing long-term care – the Green House Project at Tabitha. This new facility was the first in Nebraska and only the second state in the nation to provide long-term care in a private residence.

Nebraska’s Governor Dave Heineman honored Tabitha along with other businesses at the 2006 Celebration of Labor Industry Tour on September 14th at the State Capitol. The award recognized Tabitha’s commitment and achievements in promoting career development and skills training for young people.

October 1, 2006 - Tabitha assumed operations of the long-term care facility located at 1540 Grove Avenue in Crete, Nebraska. This 34-bed long-term care facility was renamed, Tabitha Nursing Center at Crete.

January 2007 - Tabitha introduced Honeywell HomMed® Telehealth, a hospital-grade device that records weight, blood pressure, oxygen and pulse over the patient's telephone line from their home to Tabitha.

September 2007 - Tabitha received the Nebraska Health Care Association Award for Outstanding Achievement 2007 in Long-Term Care for the Green House Project® at Tabitha.

September 2007 - Tabitha was selected as York's Choice in Home Care and Favorite Nurse, York Reader's Choice Awards.

November 2007 - Tabitha was named to the 2007 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the most successful Medicare certified home health care providers in the United States. This annual review identifies the top 25 percent of agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance. The data used for this analysis was compiled from publicly available information. The 2007 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. The 2007 HomeCare Elite is brought to the industry by OCS, Inc., the leading provider of healthcare informatics and DecisionHealth, publisher of home care’s most respected independent newsletter Home Health Line.

November 19, 2007 - Tabitha Meals on Wheels volunteers delivered the 3 millionth meal.

April 2, 2008 - Tabitha's Aloha Schmid, RN, CHPN, received the state’s highest honor for end-of-life professionals at the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership’s (NHPCP) annual banquet. The “State Impact Award” recognizes Schmid’s contributions to the work of NHPCP and end-of-life care over the last year in Nebraska. She has served as NHPCP’s president for four years, recently completing her final two-year term. Schmid has worked for Tabitha for 17 years and serves as Assistant Administrator for Community Development. She received her certification as a Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse in 1998. Schmid maintains membership in the Hospice Professional Nurse Association and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, serving on the Assessment, Resource and Quality Workgroup, convened by the Veterans Advisory Council, a national committee of (NHPCO) in collaboration with Veteran Administration’s Hospice and Palliative Care Program. She also serves as co-chair of the York County Health Coalition End of Life Partnership. NHPCP is not-for-profit and consists of 50 organizations with an interest in caring for individuals who are terminally ill. NHPCP includes Nebraska hospices, community end-of-life coalitions and other health and elder-care organizations. You can visit NHPCP at nehospice.org.

April 24, 2008 - Tabitha Green House project received the “Award for Excellence” for “Program Enhancement” from Lutheran Services in America. Awards for Excellence are given annually to help build a resource bank of ideas and to celebrate innovation and excellence among Lutheran health and human service organizations.

June 2008 - Tabitha Nursing Center at Crete became licensed for three additional beds which allows for a capacity to serve 37 individuals with long-term health care needs. The Nursing Center has also just successfully completed its annual inspection by Nebraska Health & Human Services, demonstrating that quality care is consistently provided to Tabitha’s Elders.

September 1, 2008 - Tabitha established a Tobacco-Free campus to create a healthier environment for everyone. This will greatly improve the setting for healing, recovery and living for residents who call Tabitha their home.

September 2008 - Tabitha moved its Weeping Water Office to 105 N. Randolph Street. Tabitha will continue to offer Nebraska’s longest serving home care and hospice services from this new location. The phone number, 267-7155, and fax, 267-5380, will remain the same. Tabitha Health Care Services has been a community partner in Cass County since 1978 providing Nebraska’s longest serving home care and hospice services.

September 1, 2008 - Tabitha's Seward office to Heartland Park Senior Living Community, located at 500 Heartland Park Drive. Tabitha will continue to offer Nebraska’s longest serving home care and hospice services from this new location. The phone number, 643-6914, and fax, 643-6826, will remain the same. Tabitha Health Care Services has been a community partner in Seward County since 1975 providing home care and hospice services.

October 2008 - Tabitha Health Care Services was chosen by KFOR listeners as the “Best Home Health Care Service Provider.”

December 2008 - Tabitha Health Care Services was named to the 2008 HomeCare Elite(TM), a compilation of the most successful Medicare certified home health care providers in the United States. This annual review identifies the top 25 percent of agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.

September 2008 - Tabitha began offering VoiceCare Emergency Response System in addition to its continuum of health care services. VoiceCare supports independent living with a secure, reliable emergency response system. It has a two-way console that connects to an existing phone line, and has a personal activator button that individuals can wear around their neck or wrist. When activated, VoiceCare will contact personal responders such as friends, neighbors and family, as well as, 24-hour emergency response personnel. It can be customized for a short time after a surgery to provide a safe transition from hospital to home or used as a permanent 24-hour monitoring system.

January 2010 - Tabitha added Garden Square Assisted Living of Crete, located at 1405 Hickory Avenue, to its continuum of health care services. Built in 1996 to offer Saline County residents another option in senior living, Garden Square employs 30 staff to support services ranging from medication administration to full assistance with transfers, baths and hourly checks throughout the night. While under Ridgeline Management Company of Eugene, Oregon, a new addition was built three years ago, adding more deluxe resident rooms and enlarged common areas. Garden Square’s 48 private rooms offer studios and suites to fit any budget and lifestyle. Respite stays are another option for those caring for a loved one and needing short-term placement for a few days or weeks. Garden Square also provides a supportive setting for hospice care in the event of terminal illness. Tabitha will operate the facility using the name, Garden Square Assisted Living. Tours are available daily. For more information, please visit or call 826-2241.

April 6, 2010 - Tabitha hosted nearly 150 community members on a partly cloudy and windy day for the groundbreaking of the new assisted living and memory care facility. Joyce Ebmeier, Vice President, Strategic Planning, Tabitha Health Care Services, emceed the event, which was held on the southwest corner of Tabitha’s campus. “In the 1970s, when Bachman Turnover Overdrive sang, “You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet,” they may not have been thinking about today, but as we consider what’s just ahead, peaking over the horizon for Tabitha, it seems a fitting anthem,” said Ebmeier. Christie Hinrichs, COO/Interim President and CEO, Tabitha, shared the vision for how this new project will serve the community while unveiling the rendering of the three-story facility and surrounding garden and recreational spaces. “We believe in measuring success in the smiles, laughter and tears of purposeful lives fully lived,” Hinrichs said. “Compassion and care underpin all we do so as we break ground today on our newest project, a 63-unit assisted living facility with 48 units specially designed for memory care.”

This new community will provide Lincoln the newest choice in assisted living including spacious, maintenance-free residences, around-the-clock personal care, enriching activities and innovative technology. Residents will enjoy onsite dining, beauty and barber services, secure, underground parking and a variety of social, leisure and spiritually themed spaces perfect for community and private gatherings. Residents will have easy access to other services in Tabitha’s continuum including home health nurses, therapists, rehabilitation, wellness facilities and more! “I want to say how proud the Lincoln Chamber is to work with you as a partner, building this community and growing jobs,” said Wendy Birdsall, Executive Director, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Ambassadors, Tabitha staff and board members, project members and neighbors lined up behind 10 gold shovels to commemorate breaking ground on the new project, which is expected to open in the summer of 2011.

April 2010 - Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has earned the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Five Star Rating. The Five Star Rating is the top rating for the Annual Nursing Home Report and is based on health inspection, quality measures, staffing and overall quality. “This is an absolutely amazing achievement for Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Tabitha is now one of only a handful of facilities in the entire state and by far one of the largest community to reach this five star status level,” stated Jeremy Hohlen, Executive Director of Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. “Thank you to all staff who have had an impact in reaching this milestone.”

June 2010 - Tabitha Nurse Practitioner Angie Cardwell, APRN was the 2010 Top 10 Best Nebraska Nurse recipient. The award was presented by the Lincoln Journal Star. Cardwell has been an employee since July 2006. Angie Cardwell is the Nurse Practitioner for Tabitha staff and family members, she is the Infection Control Nurse, and serves as Tabitha's Wellness Coordinator.

July 7, 2010 - Tabitha opened its second Green House home for long-term care, the Good House. The Good Green House takes the institution out of the picture for individuals no longer able to live at home. At the center of the home, is the beautiful hearth which creates a warm and inviting environment for socializing—a frequent occurrence in Green House living. The elegant kitchen, dining and living rooms and 12 private living spaces with private baths, surround the hearth area. The Green House home is equipped with the latest technology to assist residents and caregivers. Nursing professionals provide routine and clinical support around the clock, ensuring your loved one is able to live life according to his or her individual terms and schedules.

April, 2011 – Tabitha adds two additional Green House Homes to its Elder Care continuum, the Martha House and the Elizabeth House serve 24 Elders in the Lincoln community.

May 2, 2011 – Tabitha completes its Elder Care continuum with the opening of GracePointe Assisted Living & Memory Care Suites. GracePointe is a 63-bed facility is designed for Elders who are not yet in need of skilled nursing care, yet may need a bit of extra help around their home. Forty-eight residences are dedicated to memory care.  Every detail of GracePointe, from the nostalgic design of the building to state-of-the-art technology, was planned to provide a comfortable, safe and enriching lifestyle for its residents.

May 24, 2011 – Tabitha opens the Journey House, Lincoln’s only free-standing Medicare certified hospice facility. The Journey House is a 12-resident home dedicated to care for Elders, their families and loved ones in this life’s final journey. The 8,100 sq. ft. home offers private rooms designed with a home in mind. Outside spaces and a chapel provide tranquility and comfort for families.