The Highlands
The Highlands is a 1-star rated nursing home in Decorah, IA with 86 beds. CMS sub-ratings: health inspections 1/5, staffing 3/5, quality measures 4/5.
The facility has 53 health violations on record. Federal fines total $16,309 across 7 enforcement actions. Most recent inspection: July 25, 2024.
Staff turnover rate: 65.2% — significantly above the national average.
Data synthesized from CMS.gov and Iowa public inspection records. Reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NR-EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Our Coverage of The Highlands
Inspection History Overview
Data current as of May 7, 2026 · Source: CMS Provider Data
Detailed Inspection Reports
Notice: These are official CMS inspection narratives containing detailed regulatory findings. This information is not available in searchable format anywhere else online.
Fines and Penalties by Year
2022 6 penalties totaling $6,559
Fine
Payment Denial
Fine
Fine
Fine
Fine
2020 1 penalties totaling $9,750
Fine
Health Violations by Year
2024 13 violations
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Provide each resident with a nourishing, palatable, well-balanced diet that meets his or her daily nutritional and special dietary needs.
Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
Provide sufficient support personnel to safely and effectively carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service.
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
2023 17 violations
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
2022 6 violations
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Assure that each resident’s assessment is updated at least once every 3 months.
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
2020 6 violations
Report COVID19 data to residents and families.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Assure that each resident’s assessment is updated at least once every 3 months.
Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
2019 3 violations
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
2018 1 violations
Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
2017 3 violations
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
2016 4 violations
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Make sure that residents receive treatments/services to maintain or improve their ability to care for themselves.
Assist those residents who need help with eating/drinking, grooming and personal and oral hygiene.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Highlands
- What violations has The Highlands received?
- The Highlands has 53 health and safety violation(s) documented by CMS inspections. All violation data comes from official Medicare inspection reports and is updated regularly from government sources.
- What is the quality rating of The Highlands?
- The Highlands has a 1-star rating out of 5 from CMS. This rating indicates the facility may have quality concerns that should be investigated further. The rating is based on health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures.
- When was The Highlands last inspected?
- Inspection reports are documented by state survey agencies and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Reports typically lag 2-3 months behind the actual inspection date. Visit the facility's full profile page for detailed violation information and inspection history.
- Is The Highlands safe?
- Safety at The Highlands should be evaluated based on multiple factors: the facility's CMS rating, recent violation history, and personal visits. We recommend reviewing the complete inspection history, speaking with current residents and families, consulting healthcare professionals, and visiting in person before making placement decisions.
- How do I contact The Highlands?
- Phone: (563) 382-3603. Address: 607 Highland Drive, Decorah, IA. For visiting hours and admission information, call the facility directly.
- What services does The Highlands offer?
- The Highlands is a skilled nursing facility with 86 beds. The facility accepts Medicare and Medicaid. For specific services like rehabilitation, memory care, or short-term recovery, contact the facility directly.
- What are better facilities near Decorah, IA?
- Compare The Highlands with other nursing homes in Decorah, IA on our facilities page. Filter by star rating, bed count, and recent inspection results to find the best match for your needs.
Compare Nursing Homes in Decorah, IA
| Facility | Rating | Violations | Beds |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Highlands (this facility) | ★☆☆☆☆ | 53 | 86 |
| Wellington Place | ★★★☆☆ | 10 | 56 |
Editorial Standards & Data Oversight
Data Source: This report is based on official public inspection records from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Provider Data Catalog.
Editorial Process: Content generated using AI to synthesize complex regulatory data, then reviewed and verified for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional Review: All content undergoes standards and compliance oversight by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., Nationally Registered EMT & BU-trained Paralegal, using professional regulatory data auditing protocols.
This page is maintained by NursingHomeNews.org and is not affiliated with The Highlands.