The Highlands: Staffing, Turnover, and Inspection Record
The Highlands is a 168-bed for-profit nursing home in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, part of Life Care Centers of America. In the CMS August 2026 release it reported 2.31 nurse aide hours per resident per day, about the same as the Massachusetts average of 2.26, and 24.8% nursing staff turnover (Massachusetts average 38.2%).
The Highlands
335 Nichols RoadFitchburg, MA 01420
Worcester County
CMS Care Compare, August 2026 release
How many staff hours residents get
CMS reports staffing as hours per resident per day, from the payroll records each home submits. At The Highlands, nurse aides logged 2.31 hours per resident per day, about the same as the Massachusetts average. With about 156 residents a day, that works out to roughly 361 aide hours a day, or about 45 eight-hour aide shifts across day, evening, and night. On weekends, total nursing hours per resident ran 12% below the all-days figure.
| Hours per resident per day | This home | Massachusetts avg | US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse aides (CNAs) | 2.31 | 2.26 | 2.32 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 1.15 | 0.95 | 0.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.41 | 0.65 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff | 3.86 | 3.86 | 3.86 |
| All nursing staff, weekends | 3.42 | 3.48 | 3.42 |
CMS Care Compare, August 2026 release: reported staffing hours from Payroll-Based Journal data, and CMS state and US averages.
Staff turnover
24.8% of nursing staff at The Highlands left over the year CMS measured, against a Massachusetts average of 38.2% and a US average of 45.8%. Registered nurse turnover was 27.8%. No administrators left over the same period.
Inspections and penalties
State inspectors last completed a standard health inspection on Nov 25, 2025. The most recent inspection cycle, which also counts complaint and infection-control inspections from the past 12 months, found 7 health deficiencies (Massachusetts average 7.2). CMS lists no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
CMS star ratings
CMS rates every nursing home from one to five stars overall and on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. The Highlands holds 3 of 5 overall; the Massachusetts average is 3.0.
About The Highlands
- Ownership: For profit - Limited Liability company
- Chain: Life Care Centers of America, 194 homes
- Legal name: Highlands Medical Investors LLC
- Medicare and Medicaid certified since: Dec 8, 1988
- Councils: resident and family councils
- Area: urban
Nursing homes near The Highlands
The closest homes by distance, with the same CMS figures. Select a column to sort.
| Fitchburg Healthcare Fitchburg | 0.8 | 160 | 1.88 | 3.51 | 42.0% | 1 | $33,180 |
| Fitchburg Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Fitchburg | 1.8 | 87 | 1.84 | 3.13 | 30.8% | 1 | $43,719 |
| Leominster Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Leominster | 4.5 | 106 | 2.13 | 3.41 | 33.8% | 1 | $26,033 |
| Life Care Center of Leominster Leominster | 4.6 | 133 | 2.28 | 4.02 | 42.9% | 4 | None |
| Wachusett Manor Gardner | 8.7 | 96 | 1.95 | 3.29 | 43.5% | 3 | None |
| River Terrace Rehabilitation and Healthcare Ctr Lancaster | 8.8 | 82 | 1.94 | 3.37 | 33.3% | 5 | $8,964 |
| Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Gardner | 8.9 | 124 | 2.30 | 4.06 | 51.2% | 2 | None |
| Seven Hills Pediatric Center Groton | 11.7 | 83 | 2.04 | 4.15 | — | 3 | $8,278 |
Aide hrs and all nurse hrs are staff hours per resident per day. Fines are the CMS total for the last three years. Turnover is the share of nursing staff who left over a year. All figures from CMS Care Compare.
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Source: CMS Care Compare Provider Information, State and US Averages, and Penalties files, August 2026 release. Figures are as CMS publishes them; check Medicare Care Compare for the latest. Methodology.