Overview of The Highlands

The Highlands in Topsham, ME, is a welcoming community where residents live life to the fullest. With a deep sense of community fostered by a dedicated team and diverse residents on their 98-acre campus, The Highlands offers a true continuum of care, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Estate Homes, Cooperative Apartment Homes, Town Hall Village, and Short-term/Respite Stays. They aim to provide personalized living options and daily wellness, cultural, and educational programs, ensuring residents’ unique lifestyles are honored and expectations are exceeded.

The Highlands boasts a variety of amenities and assisted living facilities, ranging from a well-stocked library and fitness center to craft card and game rooms. Residents can focus on health with an indoor pool and outdoor spaces. With a range of living options, including one- and two-bedroom floor plans, studios, and estate homes, The Highlands caters to diverse preferences. Whether renting, owning, seeking support, or living independently, residents find a welcoming home with uplifting activities and supportive staff.

Staffing hours breakdown

Info Daily nursing hours per resident by staff type, reported to CMS. Higher is generally better — compare this facility to state and national averages to see where staffing stands.

Hours per resident per day — compared to Maine state averages

Staff typeHours / dayvs state avg
Registered Nurse (RN) Info RNs hold the highest nursing license and can assess residents, interpret test results, and direct care plans. More RN hours per day often signals stronger clinical oversight and faster response to health changes. 32m per day ▼ 27% State avg: 44m per day · National avg: 41m per day
LPN / LVN Info Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) deliver routine hands-on care — medication administration, wound dressing, and monitoring vital signs. They work under RN supervision and make up a large share of daily bedside care. 35m per day ▲ 3% State avg: 34m per day · National avg: 52m per day
Nurse Aide Info Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) provide the most direct day-to-day assistance: bathing, dressing, feeding, and mobility. Nurse aide hours are typically the largest staffing category and directly affect residents' quality of life. 2h 12m per day ▼ 13% State avg: 2h 32m per day · National avg: 2h 20m per day
Total Nursing (Weekend) Info Combined nursing hours (RN + LPN + Nurse Aide) per resident per day on weekends. Staffing often drops on weekends — this figure reveals whether the facility maintains adequate coverage outside of weekday hours. 2h 47m per day ▼ 17% State avg: 3h 21m per day · National avg: 3h 26m per day
Physical Therapist Info Hours per resident per day provided by licensed Physical Therapists (PTs) or PT Assistants. PT services help residents recover mobility after injury or illness and are especially important for post-acute (short-stay) rehabilitation. 4m per day ▲ 100% State avg: 2m per day · National avg: 4m per day
RN (Weekend) Info Registered nurse hours specifically on weekends. Facilities sometimes reduce RN presence on Saturdays and Sundays — a low weekend RN figure compared to weekday hours can indicate reduced clinical oversight when most administrative staff are absent. 20m per day ▼ 33% State avg: 30m per day · National avg: 28m per day
Years in operation
37 years in operation
A longer operating history, which may indicate experience navigating regulations and delivering ongoing care.
Walk Score
Walk Score: 25 / 100
Somewhat walkable. A few nearby services may be reachable on foot, but most trips require transportation.
BBB Rating
BBB Rating: A+ (Not Accredited)
An independent rating from the Better Business Bureau based on factors such as complaint history, transparency, and business practices.
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Staffing

Key information about the people who lead and staff this community.

Leadership

ContactMr. Chelise Mitchell, Executive Director

What does this home offer?

Housing options icon
Housing options icon

Housing Options: 1 Bed

Building type icon
Building type icon

Building Type: 3-story

Transportation services icon
Transportation services icon

Transportation Services

Fitness and recreation icon
Fitness and recreation icon

Fitness and Recreation

Types of Care at The Highlands

Assisted Living Independent Living Memory Care

Contact The Highlands

Financial Assistance for
Assisted Living in Maine

The Highlands is located in Topsham, Maine.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Maine.

Get Financial aid guidance

Home and Community Benefits for the Elderly

MaineCare HCB Program

Age 65+ or 18+ with disability
General Maine resident, Medicaid- eligible, nursing home-level care need.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).
ME

Rural access emphasized.

Benefits
Personal care (5-7 hours/day) Respite (240 hours/year) Meals ($6/meal) Adult day services ($60/day)

Maine Statewide Respite Program

ME Respite Program

Age
General Caregiver of someone 60+ with dementia, Maine resident.
Income Limits ~$2,500/month individual, varies
Asset Limits $40,000 individual
ME

Limited to dementia caregivers; capped funding.

Benefits
In-home respite (up to 30 days/year) Adult day care (~$60/day)

MaineCare Long-Term Care (Nursing Facility Services)

MaineCare Nursing Facility Services

Age 65+
General Maine resident, Medicaid-eligible, requires nursing home-level care.
Income Limits (2025) $943/month (individual); must be less than nursing home cost for full coverage.
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple); spousal allowance up to $155,356.
ME

Home equity limit of $636,000; estate recovery applies post-55.

Benefits
24/7 nursing care Meals Therapy Medications (hours unlimited per medical need)

Consumer-Directed Home-Based Care (CDHBC)

Maine Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Services

Age 65+
General Maine resident, needs ADL assistance, income/asset limits apply.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,000/month varies by AAA
Asset Limits Not strict; prioritizes low-income.
ME

Available through five Area Agencies on Aging.

Benefits
Personal care (20-30 hours/week) PERS Adult day care Home modifications

Home Accessibility and Repair Program

Maine State Housing Authority Home Accessibility and Repair

Age 62+
General Maine resident, homeowner, low-income.
Income Limits (2025) ~$34,000/year individual, 80% AMI, varies by county
Asset Limits Not specified; focus on income.
ME

Includes Elderly Hardship Grants for urgent repairs.

Benefits
Wheelchair ramps Grab bars Roof repairs (up to $20,000/project)

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

Maine PACE (not widely available yet)

Age 55+
General Maine resident, Medicare/Medicaid-eligible, nursing home-level care need, community-safe.
Income Limits (2025) No strict limit; Medicaid portion $2,901/month max.
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual) for Medicaid portion.
ME

Pilot phase; check availability with DHHS.

Benefits
Medical care Personal care Day center Transportation Respite (tailored to need)

Veterans Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefit

Maine VA Aid and Attendance

Age
General Wartime veteran/spouse, age 65+ or disabled, needs ADL help, Maine resident.
Income Limits (2025) Net income minus medical expenses < $1,984/month individual with A&A
Asset Limits $155,356 net worth limit
ME

High veteran population in rural areas.

Benefits
Cash benefit ($1,478-$2,471/month, varies by status) for care costs

Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)

Maine Medicare Savings Programs

Age 65+
General Maine resident, Medicare Part A/B enrollee.
Income Limits (2025) $2,014/month (individual, QMB), $2,706/month (SLMB/QI).
Asset Limits $9,090 (individual), $13,630 (couple).
ME

Includes Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and Qualified Individual (QI).

Benefits
Covers Medicare premiums (up to $174.70/month Part B) Co-pays Deductibles

Places of interest near The Highlands

Address 1.3 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Topsham's city center to The Highlands's address, calculated via Google Maps. — 2.45 miles to nearest hospital (MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital)

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Quality of care over time

These measures show how residents usually do over time at this home, based on health outcomes and preventive care.

Long-stay resident measures
Above average Info CMS star rating based on long-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = significantly above average, 1 star = significantly below average.
Hospitalizations per 1,000 days Info Number of hospitalizations per 1,000 long-stay resident days. 0.62
58% better than Maine average

Maine average: 1.48

ED visits per 1,000 days Info Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1,000 long-stay resident days. 1.92
8% better than Maine average

Maine average: 2.09

Short-stay resident measures
Above average Info CMS star rating based on short-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = much above average, 1 star = much below average.
Re-hospitalized after SNF stay Info Percentage of short-stay residents who were re-hospitalized after their nursing home admission. 15.9%
25% better than Maine average

Maine average: 21.3%

Emergency department visits Info Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit. 18.5%
41% worse than Maine average

Maine average: 13.1%

Falls with major injury Info Percentage of SNF residents who experience falls with major injury during their stay. 0.0%
100% better than Maine average

Maine average: 0.8%

Successful return to home or community Info Rate of successful return to home or community from a skilled nursing facility. 44.9%
11% worse than Maine average

Maine average: 50.6%

Penalties and fines

Federal penalties imposed by CMS for regulatory violations, including civil money penalties (fines) and denials of payment for new Medicare/Medicaid admissions.

Source: CMS Penalties Database

Penalty History

Penalties are imposed by CMS for violations of federal nursing home regulations.

No penalties in the past 3 years

No civil money penalties or payment denials were reported in the last 3 years.

Compare Assisted Living around Topsham The information below is reported by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification.

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The Highlands
AL

Assisted Living A licensed, long-term care setting for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and medication management — but not 24-hour skilled nursing. Offers housing, meals, and around-the-clock support while aiming to maximize resident independence.

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