During the December 30 inspection, state surveyors found residents with stroke, Parkinson's disease, and dementia whose fingernails had grown long and jagged. Brown material had accumulated underneath.
When asked if he needed his nails cut, one stroke patient with paralysis on one side of his body replied "Yeah." Another resident with dementia said, "I need them cut but I don't know who cuts them." A Parkinson's patient confirmed he needed nail care when inspectors asked.
The facility's own policy, last reviewed November 1, requires daily cleaning and regular trimming of fingernails and toenails. But the Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed during walking rounds that staff had failed to provide nail care for four of ten residents inspectors checked.
A family member's December 22 complaint stated: "They don't clean or cut his nails. I'm the one that cuts his nails."
The residents affected included people with conditions that make self-care difficult or impossible. One had suffered a stroke causing hemiplegia. Another had muscle weakness and dementia. A third had Parkinson's disease and a hip fracture.
During observations between 11:12 a.m. and 11:31 a.m., inspectors documented the neglected nail care across multiple residents. The Assistant Director of Nursing walked through the facility with surveyors and confirmed their findings.
Highland Hills Post Acute operates at 1105 Perry Highway in Pittsburgh. The facility was cited for failing to ensure residents received assistance with activities of daily living they couldn't perform themselves.
The complaint inspection revealed basic hygiene needs going unmet despite written policies requiring such care.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Highland Hills Post Acute from 2025-12-30 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.