Highland Palms Healthcare Center in Highland, CA

Seniors.FYI Elite Community Awards

Add this award to your website

Pros

• The staff were professional and considerate about details regarding patients’ relatives.
• Perry and Gio are standout therapists who make sessions fun.
• The therapy team is very good, experienced, and helpful.
• The physical therapy program is excellent and helps patients regain mobility.
• The facility is clean, welcoming, and feels like a home away from home.
• The staff are kind, caring, and go above and beyond to meet residents’ needs.
• Respiratory therapists and CNAs provide attentive, thoughtful care.
• Families feel confident entrusting their loved ones to Highland Palms.
• The activities and recreation staff create enjoyable experiences for residents.
• The administration and leadership are supportive, accessible, and focused on quality care.

Cons

• They warned that the care at Highland Palms is absolutely horrible and not trustworthy.
• They allege negligence led to their father’s death from pneumonia and delays in processing the death certificate.
• They reported a loved one was left in bed for days without rehab or basic hygiene, resulting in bedsores.
• They described night staff as terrible and unresponsive, with calls after 8 pm going unanswered.
• They stated the facility is the worst place for recovery, lacking basic care, supplies, and timely communication.
• They claimed some staff were abusive and suggested the facility should be shut down.
• They said family members were not informed about hospital transfers or deaths in a timely manner.
• They recounted a patient being left sitting in fecal material for over an hour due to short staffing.
• They described a nurse as unprofessional and rude when contacted by phone (Jessica).
• They said they would not recommend Highland Palms, citing neglect and lack of ethics.

Review

Highland Palms Healthcare Center in Highland, California is best suited for older adults who are focused on rehabilitation and recovery after surgery, stroke, or acute illness, and for families that value a vigorous, hands-on physical therapy program delivered in a warm, engaging environment. The therapy department repeatedly earns high praise for its experienced, encouraging therapists who can move residents from limited mobility toward meaningful independence. The setting supports active participation through well-organized activities, clean and comfortable rooms, and a recently updated rehab space that feels purpose-built for recovery. This makes Highland Palms a strong choice for those who want to see measurable progress, enjoy daily structure, and appreciate staff who treat therapy as a core component of healing. It is less ideal, however, for residents who require constant, vigilant nursing supervision, intensive memory-care supports, or a care model that prioritizes rapid, always-on family communication.

Those weighing alternatives should be mindful of specific gaps highlighted by several families. If 24/7 nursing oversight, rapid after-hours responsiveness, or robust dementia and memory-care programming are non-negotiables, another facility may better meet those needs. A subset of reviews describe nights and weekends with insufficient staff coverage, calls not answered promptly, and troubling lapses in communication about medical events or transfers. There are accounts, from multiple families, of delays in information, missed updates, and even accusations of neglect in extreme cases. While not every experience ends in crisis, the pattern suggests that reliability after hours and on weekends cannot be assumed, and families will want concrete assurances about staffing, escalation protocols, and how urgent concerns are handled when the main day shift has left for the day.

The facility’s strongest offset to these concerns lies in its standout therapy and rehabilitative identity. The therapy team, often named by residents and families as a driving force in recovery, combines technical skill with a supportive, upbeat approach, making progress feel achievable. The progress stories are concrete: residents who arrive unable to walk or stand frequently leave with improved balance, strength, and mobility thanks to therapists who emphasize repetition, proper technique, and patient encouragement. Beyond therapy, the overall atmosphere benefits from clean, well-kept spaces, attractive rooms with private patios, and a dining and activity program that keeps many residents engaged. When staff are fully present, the nursing and CNA teams are described as caring and responsive to daily needs, reinforcing a sense of safety and community that many families cherish.

From a decision-making standpoint, the right questions focus on consistency and communication flow. Prospective families should inquire about the night-shift staffing model and who handles urgent calls after hours, along with how care plans, med schedules, and condition updates are communicated to families in real time. Discharge planning deserves scrutiny, how is readiness for home or transition to another setting determined, and who leads those conversations with family members? Memory care and dementia-specific oversight require careful vetting, given the mixed feedback on those services. Visitation policies and family involvement are practical considerations as well; several reviews note appointment-based visitation, which can complicate participation in daily care decisions. A thorough tour should include conversations with the DON and therapy director, a walk-through of the rehab gym, and a close look at daily routines for both therapy and nursing staff.

The practical reality is that Highland Palms integrates therapy and nursing in a way that can yield genuine, life-changing rehabilitation when operations run smoothly. Families report meaningful strides, from regaining walking ability to improving endurance, thanks to therapists who are patient, communicative, and capable of tailoring programs to individual needs. The facility’s reputation for cleanliness, patient privacy, and thoughtfully prepared meals that accommodate dietary restrictions also matters; such details contribute to a dignified, respectful recovery environment. Several reviews praise administration’s accessibility and its willingness to coordinate care with families, a point that should not be underestimated when facing complex rehab journeys. Yet these strengths coexist with reports of inconsistent after-hours responsiveness and occasional breakdowns in communication that can undermine trust during vulnerable moments.

In the end, Highland Palms is a compelling option for families prioritizing robust rehabilitation and a nurturing, activity-rich setting, provided due diligence confirms consistent safety and communication practices. A disciplined site visit should verify that night and weekend staffing are reliable, that family updates are timely and transparent, and that the dementia-care approach aligns with the resident’s needs. If those assurances cannot be secured, or if the priority is unwavering 24/7 nursing oversight or highly specialized memory-care programming, exploring alternatives is prudent. For families willing to engage in proactive care oversight, advocate for clear communication, and leverage a proven therapy-centric model, Highland Palms can support meaningful recovery and everyday quality of life, so long as vigilance remains a constant companion to the healing process.

Located in Highland, California, this area offers a variety of restaurants ranging from Thai cuisine to fast food options like Panda Express and McDonald's. For your pharmaceutical needs, there are several pharmacies nearby such as Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy. Access to healthcare is convenient with several physicians' offices in the vicinity, including Inland Health Care Group. Places of worship like Packinghouse Church and Crosswalk Church are within a short distance for spiritual support. If you enjoy entertainment, there are theaters like Mountain Grove 16 for movie buffs. For a relaxing afternoon, you can visit cafes like Starbucks or The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Nearby hospitals include Mountain View Surgery Center for any medical emergencies. Overall, this part of Highland offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to seniors looking for convenience and comfort in their daily lives.

Restaurants

• Orchid Thai Restaurant (0.3 miles)
• Panda Express (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (0.7 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• Serrano Vista Cafe (2.6 miles)
• Rock & Brews (2.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Caremark Rx (3.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.7 miles)
• Ascend Pharmaceuticals (3.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)
• Family Pharmacy (4 miles)

Physicians

• Inland Heath Care Group (0.9 miles)
• Merkel, Clifford Dr - Merkel Clifford MD FAAOS (3.3 miles)
• Farhad Ardeshirpour, MD - Facial Plastic Surgeon (3.5 miles)
• Benjamin Bradford MD (3.5 miles)
• Retinal Consultants Of Southern California (3.5 miles)
• California Orbital Consultants (3.5 miles)
• California Eye Specialists (4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Packinghouse Church (2.8 miles)
• Crosswalk Church (4 miles)
• The Labyrinth At Memorial Chapel. University Of Redlands (4.4 miles)
• National Association of Seventh Day Adventist Dentists (5.5 miles)
• The River Christian Reformed Church (5.5 miles)

Theaters

• Mountain Grove 16 (3 miles)
• Studio Movie Grill (4.3 miles)
• Regal San Bernardino & RPX (4.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.2 miles)
• The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• Stell Coffee & Tea Company (4.8 miles)
• Viva La Boba (4.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Mountain View Surgery Center (3.9 miles)
• Vantage Oncology (4.1 miles)
• San Bernardino Medical Group (4.1 miles)
• Loma Linda Ambulatory Care Center (4.2 miles)
• Jerry L Pettis Memorial (5.2 miles)

Parks

• Brookside Park (4.9 miles)
• Leonard Bailey Park (5.2 miles)

Transportation

• San Bernardino Transit Center (5.1 miles)