facebook tracking The Highlands, Fitchburg MA: CMS Ratings & Inspections
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The Highlands

All states › Massachusetts › Fitchburg › The Highlands

335 Nichols Road Fitchburg, MA 01420 · Worcester County

(978) 343-4411

All 3 nursing homes in Fitchburg, MA (3 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 168 certified beds For profit

CMS certification number 225315 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is The Highlands a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record

There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for The Highlands as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Massachusetts average of 3.1. Inspectors issued 17 citations in the last three years. CMS reports no fines or payment denials in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 4 out of 5; for long-term residents, 3 out of 5.

Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.

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Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 3.98 hours per resident per day at The Highlands, above the Massachusetts median of 3.72 (US median: 3.72). About 0.40 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.47 hours, 13% below its all-week average. 33.8% of nursing staff left within a year (Massachusetts median 36.1%).

Nursing care per resident per day 3.98 hours
Above the Massachusetts median of 3.72 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.40 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.47 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 33.8% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 37.5% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 0 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds168
Residents per day 157 About 93% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Limited Liability company
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceDecember 1988
Part of a chainLife Care Centers of America
Legal business nameHIGHLANDS MEDICAL INVESTORS LLC

Paying for care at The Highlands: Medicare and Medicaid

The Highlands is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Massachusetts's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.

In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.

Health inspections

The most recent standard inspection was on November 25, 2025 and found 7 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 17 citations in the last three years.

Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.

What the inspections found

Over the last three years, inspectors issued 17 citations at The Highlands across 3 inspection dates. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 16 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 1 was minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (5) and resident assessment and care planning (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature" (tag F0804, level E, November 25, 2025).

November 25, 2025 · 7 citations

EEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0804 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 19, 2025)

EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 19, 2025)

DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0656 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 19, 2025)

DEnsure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0676 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 19, 2025)

DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0690 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 19, 2025)

DProvide or obtain laboratory tests/services when ordered and promptly tell the ordering practitioner of the results.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Administration Deficiencies · Tag F0773 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 19, 2025)

DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0842 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 19, 2025)

July 23, 2024 · 6 citations

EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0658 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 16, 2024)

DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0656 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 16, 2024)

DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0690 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 16, 2024)

DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 16, 2024)

DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0883 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 16, 2024)

BEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.

Potential for minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0641 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 16, 2024)

March 20, 2023 · 4 citations

DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0580 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 3, 2023)

DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0698 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 3, 2023)

DTry different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0700 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 3, 2023)

DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 3, 2023)

Questions to ask on a tour of The Highlands

  1. What do families most often ask you about before moving in?
  2. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  3. When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?

Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.

Fines and payment denials

CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 3/5 3/5 3/5 4/5
August 2026 3/5 3/5 3/5 4/5
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Location

Hospitals near The Highlands

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Fitchburg Healthcare Fitchburg · 0.8 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 2/5 160 beds · Medicaid
Fitchburg Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Fitchburg · 1.8 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 1/5 87 beds · Medicaid
Leominster Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Leominster · 4.5 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 1/5 106 beds · Medicaid
Life Care Center of Leominster Leominster · 4.6 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 3/5 133 beds · Medicaid
Wachusett Manor Gardner · 8.7 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 2/5 96 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near The Highlands ›   All nursing homes in Fitchburg ›

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Other Life Care Centers of America nursing homes in Massachusetts

Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 194 Life Care Centers of America nursing homes ›

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/massachusetts/fitchburg/the-highlands/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.