Above average — CMS composite of the measures below.
A standard survey is most likely before around November 2026
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of July 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Highland Farms during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Surveyors found that kitchen staff failed to label and date leftover food in the walk-in cooler and freezer, and did not discard expired food items in the dry goods storage room. Unlabeled cooked chicken fillets, sliced potatoes, expired angel food cake, cornflakes, and poultry gravy powder were all available for use, contrary to food safety standards.
A resident with moderate cognitive impairment was moved to a different room without advance written notice to the responsible party or clear documentation of the reason for the change. The responsible party was notified only after the move had occurred, and staff interviews revealed inconsistent understanding of notification requirements.
A deficiency was cited due to the facility's failure to keep an area free from accident hazards and to provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents. Surveyors observed that the environment did not meet safety standards and lacked proper oversight.
The facility failed to provide competent nursing staff regarding glucometer disinfection. A nurse was observed not disinfecting a glucometer after use, and both she and a medication aide lacked documented training on the procedure. The DON confirmed the absence of training records and attributed the oversight to turnover in the SDC position.
A nurse failed to disinfect a glucometer after performing a blood glucose test on a resident, contrary to the facility's infection control policy. The nurse was unaware of the requirement to disinfect the device after each use, and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the glucometer should be cleaned per manufacturer instructions, which conflicted with the facility's policy. The Administrator stated that an EPA-approved disinfectant should be used to prevent the transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
A resident who consented to receive a pneumococcal vaccine did not receive it due to a lapse in the facility's immunization process. The resident's consent was documented, but the vaccine was not administered, and there was no record of past immunization. The DON expected timely administration, but the IP's lack of communication and process changes led to the oversight.
A resident with moderate cognitive impairment was not offered a COVID-19 vaccine upon admission to the facility, despite having not received one for over a year. The DON acknowledged the oversight, attributing it to the IP's lack of communication and changes in the immunization process. The resident expressed a desire to receive the vaccine, which was not documented or offered.
Failure to Properly Label, Date, and Discard Food Items
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple deficiencies in food storage and labeling practices within the facility's kitchen. In the walk-in cooler, there was an open and unlabeled ripped plastic bag of cooked chicken fillets and an opened, unlabeled plastic-wrapped bag of thin sliced potatoes, both available for use. In the walk-in freezer, a tray of frozen angel food cake was found wrapped in plastic and labeled with a use-by date that had already passed. Additionally, in the dry goods storage room, two plastic bags of cornflakes and a plastic bin of poultry gravy powder were found with use-by dates that had expired, yet these items remained available for use. Interviews with the Dietary Manager and Food Service Director confirmed that the items were not stored or labeled according to facility policy and professional standards. The Dietary Manager acknowledged the improper storage and labeling, and the Food Service Director stated that staff had previously received education on proper procedures. The Administrator also confirmed that kitchen staff are expected to follow food safety standards and policies. These findings indicate that the facility failed to consistently label, date, and discard expired or improperly stored food items, as required.
Failure to Provide Advance Written Notice of Room Change
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to notify the responsible party (RP) in advance of a room change for a resident who was moderately cognitively impaired. Documentation showed that the Social Service Director left a voicemail and sent an email to the RP on the same day the room change occurred, but there was no evidence that the RP or the resident was notified prior to the move or provided with the reason for the change in advance. The resident was moved to a different room on the same day as the notification, and the RP reported being informed only after the move had already taken place. The resident had been in her previous room for over a year and had refused to move, but this refusal was not documented or communicated among staff. Interviews with facility staff, including the interim Social Service Director, MDS Coordinator, DON, and Administrator, revealed inconsistent practices and understanding regarding notification requirements for room changes. The MDS Coordinator stated that the facility did not need permission to change a resident's room, and the Administrator believed that simply notifying the RP by email was sufficient. There was no documentation of the resident's refusal to move or of any discussion with the resident about the room change prior to it occurring.
Failure to Maintain Accident-Free Environment and Adequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified in the facility's failure to ensure that an area was free from accident hazards and that adequate supervision was provided to prevent accidents. The report notes that the environment did not meet safety standards, which could contribute to accidents occurring. Specific actions or inactions leading to this deficiency include the lack of proper oversight and the presence of hazards in the area, as directly observed by surveyors.
Deficiency in Glucometer Disinfection Training
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that nursing staff had the appropriate competencies regarding the disinfection of glucometers, as evidenced by observations and staff interviews. Nurse #1, who had been employed at the facility for about three months, was observed performing a blood glucose check and returning the glucometer to the medication cart without disinfecting it. During an interview, Nurse #1 admitted to not being aware of the need to disinfect the glucometer and confirmed that she had not received any training on this procedure. A review of her employee file corroborated the absence of any documented education on glucometer disinfection. Similarly, Medication Aide #1, who had been with the facility for a year and a half, reported that she was instructed during her orientation to clean glucometers after each use, using either a disinfectant wipe or an alcohol wipe. However, she admitted to using an alcohol prep pad for convenience. Her employee file also lacked documentation of education on glucometer disinfection. The Director of Nursing confirmed the absence of training records for both staff members and acknowledged that education on glucometer disinfection was not currently part of the new hire orientation, attributing this oversight to turnover in the Staff Development Coordinator position.
Failure to Disinfect Glucometer After Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its policy and procedures for glucometer disinfection, resulting in a deficiency in infection prevention and control. During an observation, Nurse #1 was seen performing a blood glucose test for a resident without disinfecting the glucometer afterward. The glucometer, labeled for individual use, was returned to its storage bag without being cleaned, despite the presence of disinfectant wipes in the medication cart. Nurse #1 stated she had not been informed of the need to disinfect the glucometer after each use and had not received any education on the facility's disinfection procedures. Interviews with the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator revealed that the facility's policy required glucometers to be disinfected after each use, regardless of individual use, to prevent the transmission of blood-borne pathogens. The DON acknowledged that the glucometer in use was intended for home use and should be cleaned according to manufacturer instructions, which conflicted with the facility's policy. The Administrator confirmed that an EPA-approved disinfectant should be used to disinfect glucometers after each use.
Failure to Administer Pneumococcal Vaccine
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to administer a pneumococcal vaccine to a resident who had consented to receive it. The resident, who was cognitively intact, had consented to the vaccine during a video conference with her family, as documented on the Resident Vaccine Consent Form. Despite the consent being recorded, there was no documentation in the resident's medical record indicating that the vaccine had been administered. The resident expressed her desire to receive the newest pneumococcal vaccine and was waiting for the facility to provide it. The Director of Nursing (DON) acknowledged the absence of any record of the vaccine being administered and noted that the facility lacked any past immunization history for the resident. The DON expected the vaccine to be offered upon admission and administered promptly after consent was obtained. However, the Infection Preventionist (IP), who was responsible for managing immunizations, had not communicated effectively and had made changes to the immunization process without discussing them with the DON. As a result, the administration of the pneumococcal vaccine to the resident was overlooked. The Administrator confirmed that the vaccine should have been offered and administered to the resident as per her consent.
Failure to Offer COVID-19 Vaccine to Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to offer and provide a COVID-19 vaccine to a resident, identified as Resident #42, who was reviewed for COVID-19 immunizations. Resident #42 was admitted to the facility with moderate cognitive impairment and had last received a COVID-19 vaccine prior to admission. There was no documentation in the medical record indicating that the COVID-19 vaccine had been offered to him since his admission. During an interview, Resident #42 confirmed that the facility had not discussed or offered the COVID-19 vaccine to him, and he expressed a desire to receive the newest recommended vaccine. The Director of Nursing (DON) acknowledged the absence of a record offering the COVID-19 vaccine to Resident #42 and explained that the Infection Preventionist (IP) was responsible for obtaining immunization history and offering vaccines to residents. The DON noted that the IP had been overwhelmed with other responsibilities and had not communicated changes to the immunization process effectively, resulting in the oversight. The Administrator also confirmed that the COVID-19 vaccine should have been offered to residents upon admission, and if Resident #42 had wanted the vaccine, it should have been administered.
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Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
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Nursing homes near Black Mountain
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nc State Veterans Home - Black Mountain | 1.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 2 | 0 |
| Mountain Ridge Rehabilitation And Healthcare Cente | 2.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 2 | 2 |
| Black Mountain Neuro-medical Treatment Center | 2.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Swannanoa Valley Health And Rehabilitation | 5.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 4 | 0 |
| The Laurels Of Summit Ridge | 7.7 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
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Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release July 2026) and official state health department websites.