9630 5th St, Highland, IN 46322
To contact a resident: (219) 924-6953
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Highland Nursing Home
Pros
The staff did their best, despite being limited by their knowledge of the care needed.
Cons
The rooms were cold with no heat, and the facility needed a new heating system.- There was no active medical staff; the nurses and staff did their best but were limited in knowledge.
- Nurses and staff allegedly altered medical records and denied items in patients’ records.
- A family had to bring a space heater, and the state had to investigate the heating issue.
- They seemed more focused on extracting money from insurance than providing proper care.
- A relative’s mother-in-law wore the same clothes for days and had sagging diapers; after a complaint, she wasn’t cared for because she tried to go outside.
- The director was rarely seen or heard from, there was no communication with families, and there was huge employee turnover.
Review
Highland Nursing Home in Highland, IN is best suited for families that are prepared to act as the primary advocates and accept that on-site medical oversight will be severely limited. The resident profile that fits here is someone with minimal medical complexity who can get by with custodial care, while families coordinate any necessary healthcare from outside providers. For anyone needing reliable physician rounds, wound care, stable nursing staff, or proactive medical management, this community is not a sound match.
Alternatives should be strongly considered for residents with chronic conditions, mobility limitations, wounds requiring regular care, or any need for consistent medical supervision. Look for facilities with on-site licensed nurses, physicians or nurse practitioners, a stable leadership team, transparent care plans, and evidence of heat reliability, proper nutrition overseen by a dietitian, and a dedicated rehab program. In short, if medical complexity is a constant or if dignity and timely care are non-negotiable, seek a setting that demonstrates real medical depth and dependable operations.
The reviews reveal a tenuous upside, mostly undercut by systemic gaps. The one recurring line of sentiment is that the staff appear to be doing their best within severe constraints. This goodwill matters, but it does not compensate for the absence of essential medical coverage and the fragility of daily operations. When the baseline of care hinges on what “the staff” can manage without licensed medical professionals, the risk to residents with real needs becomes too high to overlook.
The most troubling themes circle around basic safety and dignity. Rooms were described as inadequately heated, with families bringing portable heaters and authorities stepping in to address heat problems. Clothing and personal care lapses were noted, ears of neglect implied by long-worn clothes and sagging diapers. Communication breakdowns, missing or altered medical records, and allegations of a director who vanishes from routine engagement compound the sense of instability. High turnover among staff, limited rehabilitation effectiveness, and a palpable disconnect between care needs and caregiver response create a troubling pattern for anyone dependent on consistent, competent care.
Those cons overwhelmingly outweigh any faint benefits of caregiver effort. Without on-site medical staff and with frequent turnover, residents with paralysis or other significant limitations risk being forgotten or inadequately supported. Misdocumentation erodes safety and trust, while the rehab program is described as a joke by frustrated families. In short, the safety net that should exist, medical oversight, reliable communication, consistent staffing, and dignified daily living, appears missing or unreliable. Families who cannot provide constant, proactive oversight will likely experience escalating stress and uncertainty as care needs rise.
The practical conclusion is clear: this community should be avoided by families prioritizing medical reliability, resident dignity, and transparent operations. If arrival is non-negotiable due to limited options, implement a stringent oversight framework from day one, daily physician rounds arranged through outside providers, strict monitoring of temperature controls and room conditions, regular reviews of all medical records with a trusted family member, and documented care plans with explicit accountability. Prepare to supplement with private duty nursing or hospice partners as needed, and demand a highly visible leadership presence, with immediate responsiveness to concerns. For those seeking safer, more capable alternatives, target facilities with proven nursing coverage, stable administration, and rehabilitative services that actually meet professional standards.
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