Nursing HomeInspections

The Highlands

Nursing home in Decorah, IA

Medicare & Medicaid certified2★ overall (CMS)

Call (563) 382-3603Send a messageMap ↗

Public-record details

Address
607 Highland Drive, Decorah, IA 52101
Phone
(563) 382-3603
Listed under
Nonprofit, Part of a retirement community
Medicare CCN
165178
Overall star rating
2 of 5 ★★☆☆☆
Health inspection rating
2 of 5
Staffing rating
4 of 5
Quality measures rating
3 of 5
Certified beds
86
Average residents per day
75
Ownership
Nonprofit, corporation
Legal business name
Aase Haugen Homes, INC.
Certified for
Medicare and Medicaid
First approved by Medicare/Medicaid
Jan 1, 1993
Changed ownership in last 12 months
No
Continuing care retirement community
Yes
Located inside a hospital
No
Resident or family council
Resident council
Sprinklers in all required areas
Yes

CMS certification number 165178. Source: CMS Nursing Home Provider Information, Health Deficiencies and Penalties (record). Data as of 2026-09-30.

Inspection record

Most recent standard health inspection: Jun 12, 2025. CMS lists 28 health citations for this facility across its last three standard inspection cycles and complaint inspections (Sep 18, 2023 to Jun 18, 2026): 12 from complaint inspections, 3 at the “actual harm” level or higher, including 1 at “immediate jeopardy”.

InspectionCitationSeverity
Jun 18, 2026Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care · complaint inspection		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Sep 23, 2025Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Resident Rights · complaint inspection		E
Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Sep 23, 2025Have enough outside ventilation via a window or mechanical ventilation, or both.
Environmental · complaint inspection		E
Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Jun 12, 2025Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning		B
Potential for minimal harm, pattern
Jun 12, 2025Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Resident Rights		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Jun 12, 2025Give their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Dec 9, 2024Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care · complaint inspection		J
Immediate jeopardy, isolated
Sep 25, 2024Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Resident Rights · complaint inspection		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Sep 25, 2024Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care · complaint inspection		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Jul 25, 2024Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
Nutrition and Dietary		C
Potential for minimal harm, widespread
Jul 25, 2024Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Jul 25, 2024Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care		D
Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated

Showing the 12 most recent of 28. Full inspection reports are on Medicare Care Compare.

Severity letters follow CMS's scope-and-severity grid: A–C potential for minimal harm, D–F potential for more than minimal harm, G–I actual harm, J–L immediate jeopardy. Most citations are corrected; a citation is what inspectors found on that date. Source: CMS Health Deficiencies file, processed Aug 1, 2026.

Fines and payment denials

CMS records 2 fines totalling $93,839 and 1 denial of Medicare payment for new admissions in the last three years.

Dec 9, 2024Fine: $50,211
Jul 25, 2024Fine: $43,628
Jul 25, 2024Payment denial for 10 days from Aug 21, 2024

Source: CMS Penalties file, processed Aug 1, 2026. Amounts are as CMS reports them and may reflect later reductions or appeals.

Staffing

Total nurse staffing per resident per day
3.90 hours
Registered nurse (RN) time per resident per day
0.44 hours
Nurse aide time per resident per day
2.79 hours
Total nurse staffing on weekends
3.59 hours
Nursing staff turnover (yearly)
53%
RN turnover (yearly)
44%
Administrators who left in the past year
1

From payroll-based staffing data the facility submits to CMS. Hours are per resident per day.

A citation is what inspectors found on one date; most are corrected within weeks. Look for patterns — the same problem cited in several inspections — and for anything at the G–L level (actual harm or immediate jeopardy). The full inspection narrative (Form CMS-2567) is linked from Medicare Care Compare, and your state long-term care ombudsman can tell you about complaints.

Other nursing homes in Decorah

Wellington Place2479 River Road · Decorah, IA 52101 · (563) 382-9691 · Nonprofit3 health citations in 3 inspection cycles · last standard inspection Aug 7, 2025 · no CMS fines in 3 yrsMedicare & Medicaid certified3★ overall (CMS)

All 2 in Decorah →