Overview
The Highlands has a Medicare overall rating of 2 out of 5, below the Iowa average of 3.1. It ranks 2nd of 2 nursing homes in Decorah. Its strongest area is staffing (4 of 5), and its weakest is health inspections (2 of 5).
Residents receive about 4.0 hours of nursing care per day, more than at 63% of nursing homes in Iowa (the state average is 3.9 hours). Of that, 0.5 hours come from registered nurses.
Its most recent standard inspection, on July 22, 2026, found 5 health deficiencies, fewer than the Iowa average of 6.5. 1 of them came from complaint investigations. Medicare records 2 fines totaling $93,839 in the past three years.
The Highlands is a nonprofit facility with 86 certified beds, caring for about 74 residents on an average day. It accepts both Medicare and Medicaid and has participated since 1993. It is part of a continuing care retirement community.
Medicare ratings
- Health inspections
- Quality of care
- Staffing
Source: Medicare Care Compare, data as of October 1, 2026.
How it compares nearby
Ranked by Medicare overall rating, then quality, inspection and staffing ratings.
Top 100%
Top 71%
Top 70%
Family reviews
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Inspections and penalties
- Most recent standard inspection
- July 22, 2026
- Health deficiencies cited
- 5
- Complaint-related deficiencies
- 1
- Fines in the last 3 years
- 2 totaling $93,839
- Payment denials
- 1
- Total penalties
- 3
Staffing
Average hours of care each resident receives per day.
- All nursing staff3.96 hrs
- Registered nurses (RN)0.49 hrs
- Licensed practical nurses (LPN)0.70 hrs
- Nurse aides2.77 hrs
- Physical therapists0.07 hrs
Facility details
- Ownership
- Non profit - Corporation
- Certified beds
- 86
- Average residents per day
- 74
- Participates in
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Medicare/Medicaid since
- January 1, 1993
- Inside a hospital
- No
- Continuing care retirement community
- Yes
- Changed ownership in last 12 months
- No
- Resident or family council
- Resident
- Sprinklers in all required areas
- Yes