Highland Square Nursing: Crumbling Walls, Holes - OH
The crumbling walls and deteriorating conditions at Highland Square Nursing and Rehabilitation affected eight residents directly but had the potential to harm all 64 people living there, according to inspection findings from August 19-20.
In Resident 7's room, the baseboard behind his bed barely clung to the wall. Multiple holes punctured the crumbling surface, exposing foam insulation underneath. The administrator confirmed the damage when inspectors pointed it out.
Assistant Director of Nursing 336 admitted she wasn't sure how long the ceiling bubble had been deteriorating above Resident 36's bed because she rarely visited that unit. When inspectors returned the next day, the administrator had removed the bulging plaster, leaving a ring of damaged ceiling material. Wallpaper peeled around the air conditioning unit while torn sections and crumbled wall pieces littered the lower portion of the room.
Water damage plagued Resident 44's room, where multiple large brown stains spread across the ceiling near the window. Paint peeled from the water-damaged surface while the baseboard bulged away from the wall. Behind the bed, wallpaper hung in strips.
The deterioration extended throughout the building. Moderately soiled carpet covered the first floor, marked by dried pink and yellow paint on Resident 39's door and a large pink stain near Resident 37's room. Peeling wallpaper surrounded Resident 48's room.
Both elevators showed extensive damage. Multiple long scratches scarred the walls while dirty floors revealed missing sections of flooring material. The grooves in the silver entryway to both elevators accumulated heavy soil buildup.
Heavy black marks traced a path from the third floor elevator through the walkway by the nurses' station and into Resident 63's room. The markings gave the floor a soiled appearance while dark scuffs and scratches covered the walkway walls near the nurses' station.
Similar damage appeared on the second floor, where wallpaper pulled away from the wall seams near Resident 42's room. A baseball-sized patched hole showed a fresh tear. The nurses' station walkway walls bore heavy scuffing, scratches, and dirt accumulation.
Residents 27 and 46 shared a room with a baseball-sized hole punched through the bottom portion of the wall near the television stand. Certified Nursing Assistant 303 confirmed the damage when inspectors discovered it on the second day of their visit.
The facility's own cleaning policy, last revised in June 2009, required housekeeping surfaces to be cleaned regularly, when spills occurred, and when visibly soiled. The policy specifically mandated cleaning walls, blinds, and window curtains in resident areas when visibly contaminated or soiled.
The inspection occurred in response to complaints filed under Master Complaint Number 2579281 and Complaint Number 2575188. Federal inspectors classified the violations as having minimal harm or potential for actual harm to residents.
The administrator accompanied inspectors on their facility tour and verified each deteriorating condition they documented. He personally removed the ceiling bubble that had been hanging over Resident 36's bed, though he offered no timeline for addressing the remaining structural damage throughout the building.
The extensive maintenance failures created an environment where residents lived surrounded by crumbling walls, water-damaged ceilings, and holes exposing building materials. In Resident 7's case, the wall behind his bed had deteriorated so severely that foam insulation became visible through multiple openings.
The conditions violated federal requirements that nursing homes maintain safe, clean, and comfortable environments for residents. With 64 people living in the facility, the widespread deterioration posed risks that extended beyond the eight residents whose rooms showed the most severe damage.
From peeling paint and torn wallpaper to structural holes and water damage, Highland Square Nursing failed to address visible maintenance problems that accumulated throughout the building. The inspection revealed a pattern of deferred maintenance that left residents living in conditions far below acceptable standards for long-term care facilities.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Highland Square Nursing and Rehabilitation from 2025-08-20 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
HIGHLAND SQUARE NURSING AND REHABILITATION in AKRON, OH was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 20, 2025.
In Resident 7's room, the baseboard behind his bed barely clung to the wall.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.