The Highlands
Nursing Home · Decorah, IA
CMS certification number165178
Contact & location
607 Highland DriveDecorah, IA 52101
Winneshiek County
- Phone
- (563) 382-3603
- ZIP code
- 52101 – all care providers
Facility details
- Certified beds
- 86
- Residents per day
- 75.4 (88% occupied)
- Ownership
- Non profit - Corporation
- Legal name
- Aase Haugen Homes, INC.
- Medicare certified since
- January 1, 1993
- Participates in
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Continuing care
- Part of a continuing care retirement community
- Council
- Resident council
CMS star ratings
Staffing
Hours of nursing care per resident per day, from payroll data. More hours generally mean more time for each resident.
- Total nurse staffing
- 3.90 (state 3.82 · U.S. 3.86)
- Registered nurses (RN)
- 0.44 (state 0.74 · U.S. 0.69)
- Licensed practical nurses
- 0.66 (state 0.56 · U.S. 0.86)
- Nurse aides
- 2.79 (state 2.51 · U.S. 2.32)
- Weekend total
- 3.59 (state 3.37 · U.S. 3.42)
- Nursing staff turnover
- 53.3 (state 44.0 · U.S. 45.8)%
- RN turnover
- 44.4 (state 42.1 · U.S. 42.9)%
- Administrators who left
- 1 in the last year
Inspections
- Last standard inspection
- June 12, 2025
- Health deficiencies (last cycle)
- 6.0 (state 6.5 · U.S. 9.3)
- From complaints
- 3
- Citations on record (3 years)
- 28 health · 26 fire safety · includes immediate jeopardy
| Date | Citation | Severity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. F0689 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2026-07-01 |
| 2025-09-23 | Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. F0550 · Resident Rights Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
E No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2025-09-24 |
| 2025-09-23 | Have enough outside ventilation via a window or mechanical ventilation, or both. F0923 · Environmental Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
E No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2025-09-24 |
| 2025-06-12 | Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered. F0582 · Resident Rights Deficiencies |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2025-06-26 |
| 2025-06-12 | Give their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation. F0943 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2025-06-26 |
| 2025-06-12 | Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. F0641 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies |
B No actual harm, potential for minimal harm |
Corrected 2025-06-26 |
| 2024-12-09 | Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. F0684 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
J Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety |
Corrected 2024-12-10 |
| 2024-09-25 | Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. F0580 · Resident Rights Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-09-26 |
| 2024-09-25 | Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. F0684 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-09-26 |
| 2024-07-25 | Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. F0689 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies |
G Actual harm |
Corrected 2024-07-26 |
| 2024-07-25 | Provide each resident with a nourishing, palatable, well-balanced diet that meets his or her daily nutritional and special dietary needs. F0800 · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies |
E No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-07-26 |
| 2024-07-25 | Provide sufficient support personnel to safely and effectively carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service. F0802 · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies |
E No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-07-26 |
| 2024-07-25 | Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. F0812 · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies |
E No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-07-26 |
| 2024-07-25 | Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. F0644 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-07-26 |
| 2024-07-25 | Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. F0684 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-07-26 |
| 2024-07-25 | 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. F0801 · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies |
C No actual harm, potential for minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-07-26 |
| 2024-02-07 | Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. F0689 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
G Actual harm |
Corrected 2024-02-08 |
| 2024-02-07 | Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. F0550 · Resident Rights Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-02-08 |
| 2024-02-07 | 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. F0584 · Resident Rights Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-02-08 |
| 2024-02-07 | Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. F0641 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-02-08 |
| 2024-02-07 | Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. F0658 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-02-08 |
| 2024-02-07 | Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. F0677 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · complaint inspection |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2024-02-08 |
| 2023-09-18 | Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. F0880 · Infection Control Deficiencies |
E No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2023-09-29 |
| 2023-09-18 | Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. F0550 · Resident Rights Deficiencies |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2023-09-29 |
| 2023-09-18 | 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. F0578 · Resident Rights Deficiencies |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2023-09-29 |
| 2023-09-18 | Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. F0656 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2023-09-29 |
| 2023-09-18 | Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. F0684 · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies |
D No actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm |
Corrected 2023-09-29 |
| 2023-09-18 | Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered. F0582 · Resident Rights Deficiencies |
B No actual harm, potential for minimal harm |
Corrected 2023-09-29 |
Severity letters A–L combine how widespread a problem was (isolated, pattern, widespread) with how serious (from potential for minimal harm to immediate jeopardy). How to read inspection results
Fines & penalties
3 penalties in the last three years, including $93,839 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-09 | Fine | $50,211 |
| 2024-07-25 | Payment Denial | 10 days payment denial |
| 2024-07-25 | Fine | $43,628 |
Ownership & management
| Name | Role | Since |
|---|---|---|
| Schmidt, Jeffrey (individual) | Corporate Director · NOT APPLICABLE | |
| Continuum Health Care Services LLC (organization) | Operational/managerial Control · NOT APPLICABLE | |
| Bjelland, Susan (individual) | W-2 Managing Employee · NOT APPLICABLE | |
| Elsbernd, Nancy (individual) | W-2 Managing Employee · NOT APPLICABLE |
Frequently asked questions
What is the rating of The Highlands?
The Highlands has a 2-star overall rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on a scale of 1 to 5, compared with a 3.1-star average in Iowa.
How many beds does The Highlands have?
It has 86 certified beds and cares for about 75 residents per day.
Has The Highlands been fined?
Yes. CMS lists 3 penalties totaling $93,839 in the last three years.
What is the phone number of The Highlands?
(563) 382-3603. The facility is located at 607 Highland Drive, Decorah, IA 52101.
Other nursing homes in Decorah
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Wellington Place
Nursing Home · Decorah, IA · 56 beds
★★★
Source: CMS Care Compare, August 2026. Information is provided as published by CMS; verify details directly with the facility.