9630 Fifth Street, Highland, IN 46322
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Highland Nursing And Rehabilitation Center
Pros
The staff is friendly and caring.- The facility is clean and orderly.
- There is no nursing home smell, and bathrooms are kept clean.
- The food is very good and tastes like homemade meals.
- Residents are encouraged to participate in daily classes and activities.
- The PT/OT staff are excellent and the equipment is well maintained.
- Daily therapy sessions are carefully planned and residents progress at their own pace.
Cons
The facility had no medical staff checking patients, leaving the father untreated.- The staff are limited in their knowledge and cannot provide adequate care for residents needing more than bed checks.
- The facility is cold with no heat in the rooms and needs a new heating system, a real dietitian, and wound care staff.
- Nurses and staff allegedly alter residents' medical records and deny items in their records.
- A family member had to bring a space heater because of heating issues, and authorities had to investigate the heat problem.
- The facility appears to prioritize money, trying to extract as much as possible from insurance.
- The mother-in-law wore the same clothes for days and had a sagging diaper; after a complaint staff could not care for her.
- A resident is consistently soaked, and aides roll their eyes when asked to help.
- The rehab center is small and limited in services, with room for improvement in food and activities.
- The facility is not very homey and has a medicated smell.
Review
Highland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is best suited for families seeking a smaller, quieter operated environment where daily rehab and routine care are the centerpiece. It works well for residents who need assistance with activities of daily living but do not require constant, high-level medical management. The facility’s clean, orderly atmosphere and an emphasis on structured therapy create a practical, predictable pace for recovery, especially in short-term rehab or intermediate care. For households prioritizing a tight-knit community and steady progress through PT/OT, Highland can be a sensible, affordable choice. It is not, however, a universal fit, and its suitability hinges on the medical complexity of the resident and the quality of ongoing oversight.
Those weighing alternatives should consider whether the loved one requires robust on-site medical oversight, wound-care expertise, or rapid clinical decision-making. Several reviews flag a lack of active medical staff on site and call for more consistent nursing coverage, which is a decisive mismatch for residents with acute or chronic medical complexities. Heat and climate control concerns also emerge, suggesting maintenance gaps that can undermine comfort and safety. In short, Highland can meet routine care and rehabilitation goals, but it may fall short for high-medical-need scenarios or for families that require transparent, proactive medical governance and rapid access to specialized care.
On the upside, the programmatic strengths are clear. The PT/OT team earns frequent praise for excellence, with sessions that are well-planned and progression-focused. The equipment is described as well maintained, and daily therapies are structured to move residents forward at a manageable pace. The dining experience and overall cleanliness contribute to a calm, home-like rhythm that many families value. For residents who enjoy activities and social engagement, bingo, outings, and daily group programming, the small facility size helps sustain participation without overwhelming participants. Taken together, Highland's rehabilitative framework and orderly environment offer dependable momentum for recovery and a sense of daily purpose.
Serious concerns do appear in numerous reviews and demand careful consideration. Heating issues and cold rooms affect comfort and may exacerbate health risks for older adults. More troubling are accounts suggesting insufficient medical responsiveness, and a few allegations that medical records were altered or used to push billing priorities over patient needs. Hygiene lapses, ranging from clothing and diaper management to a resident who remained consistently wet, underscore potential gaps in daily care and supervision. While not universal, these reports create a risk signal that cannot be ignored by families evaluating safety, accountability, and the overall quality of care delivered to higher-need residents.
When weighing the pros against the cons, the rehabilitation strengths cannot fully compensate for the safety and medical oversight gaps. The reliable progress in therapy, coupled with a clean, orderly environment, makes Highland a reasonable option for short-term rehab and for residents who tolerate a lighter medical footprint. However, the blend of limited on-site medical staff, concerns about documentation practices, and hygiene-related incidents tilts the balance toward caution for anyone with significant health needs or who requires constant clinical monitoring. The crucial decision point is whether the expected rehab trajectory and daily routine align with the resident’s medical stability and the family’s ability to oversee care quality.
Prospective families should insist on a thorough, candid tour focused on staffing patterns, on-site nurse availability, and access to wound-care and physician oversight. Request current care plans, infection-control protocols, and up-to-date maintenance logs addressing heat and room comfort. If the loved one depends on regular medical interventions or requires rapid escalation of care, a larger facility with a robust medical program may be the safer bet. For those who can live with a smaller, quiet environment and who value a disciplined rehabilitation regimen, Highland can deliver dependable progress and a respectful daily life, provided confidence in medical oversight and safety practices is strong. The final call rests on medical complexity, risk tolerance, and the family’s readiness to closely supervise care quality.
38 resident community capacity
Assisted Living
Beauty salon
Cable or satellite TV
Dining room
Fully furnished
Garden
Housekeeping services
Kitchenette
Move-in coordination
Outdoor space
Telephone
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Chicago Midway (23 miles away)
24-hour call system
Activities of daily living assistance
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Meal preparation and service
Medication management
Mental wellness program
Special dietary restrictions
Transportation arrangement (medical)
Transportation to doctors appointments
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