Highlands Lake Center
Nursing Home, Skilled Nursing & Respite Care · Lakeland, FL
CMS overall rating Info The Overall CMS Rating is scored from 1 to 5 stars and combines results from health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.

Highlands Lake Center

Nursing Home, Skilled Nursing & Respite Care · Lakeland, FL
CMS overall rating Info The Overall CMS Rating is scored from 1 to 5 stars and combines results from health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.
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Highlands Lake Center accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Overview of Highlands Lake Center

Highlands Lake Center, Lakeland, Florida, is dedicated to redefining the wellness journey through personalized post-acute rehabilitation and long-term nursing care. Their mission revolves around tailoring nursing and rehabilitation experiences to individual needs, enhancing the quality of life, and surpassing ordinary expectations with extraordinary outcomes. The community values health, well-being, and a caring nursing home culture, setting a gold standard in exceptional care.

Highlands Lake Center combines clinical care, heartfelt compassion, and homey nursing home amenities to provide a personalized wellness journey. The community offers specialized care programs, including wound care, short-term rehabilitation, pain management, and therapeutic recreation. Highlands Lake Center’s commitment to recovery in comfort ensures a cheerful environment, modern surroundings, and a proprietary atmosphere of happiness, healing, and hope. The spacious and welcoming facility provides private and semi-private rooms with amenities such as cable TV, telephone, internet, and fine dining, creating a trusted destination in wellness focused on residents’ healthcare needs.

(863) 646-8699

Quality ratings

Measured by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Overall rating Info The Overall CMS Rating combines results from health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Health inspections carry the most weight. Staffing and quality scores can increase or decrease the final rating based on performance compared to state and national standards.
▼ 37.0% Below FL avg. ▼ 37.0% Below FL avg.Click the badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Health Inspection Info Based on the results of the facility's three most recent standard inspections and any complaint investigations. CMS reviews the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies, with more recent findings weighted more heavily.
▼ 28.9% Below FL avg. ▼ 28.9% Below FL avg.Click the badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Staffing Info Measures average nursing staff hours per resident per day, including Registered Nurses (RNs) and total nursing staff. Ratings are adjusted based on the level of care residents require and are compared to state and national benchmarks.
▼ 11.3% Below FL avg. ▼ 11.3% Below FL avg.Click the badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Quality Measures Info Based on clinical and physical health indicators reported to CMS, such as hospital readmissions, falls, pressure ulcers, and improvements in mobility. These measures reflect how well residents' health needs are being managed.
▼ 1.4% Below FL avg. ▼ 1.4% Below FL avg.Click the badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.

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 Florida state averages

Total nursing care / resident Info This home is ranked 174th out of 252 homes in Florida. Total adjusted nursing hours per resident per day, combining RN, LPN, and aide time. CMS adjusts this for case-mix so facilities can be fairly compared.
3h 40m per day
Rank #174 / 252Nurse hours — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 174th out of 252 homes in Florida. Shows adjusted nurse hours per resident per day benchmarked to the Florida average, with a ranking across 252 Florida SNFs. More hours mean more direct care. The national average is about 3.5 hrs; below 3.0 is a red flag.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
This facility Florida avg (4h 2m per day)
vs Florida avg
-9%

5 of 6 metrics below state avg

Standout metric Physical Therapist is +20% above state avg
Staff typeHours / Day / Residentvs 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. 38m per day ▼ 14% 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. 38m per day ▼ 19% State avg: 47m 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 1m per day ▼ 14% State avg: 2h 20m per day · National avg: 2h 21m per day
Weekend Total Nursing 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. 3h 11m per day ▼ 10% State avg: 3h 31m 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. 6m per day ▲ 20% State avg: 5m per day · National avg: 4m per day
Weekend RN 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. 30m per day ▼ 6% State avg: 32m per day · National avg: 29m per day

Types of Care at Highlands Lake Center

Skilled Nursing Respite Care

Capacity and availability

This home usually has limited availability

Occupancy between 85% and 95% suggests balanced demand.

Higher occupancy than the Florida average: 84.3%
Occupancy rate 93.8% Rank #45 / 255Occupancy rate — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 45th out of 255 homes in Florida. Shows this facility's occupancy rate versus the Florida average, with its Statewide rank out of 255. Higher occupancy signals strong local demand and financial stability.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Avg. Length of Stay 57 days
Occupancy rate
93.8% Rank #45 / 255Occupancy rate — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 45th out of 255 homes in Florida. Shows this facility's occupancy rate versus the Florida average, with its Statewide rank out of 255. Higher occupancy signals strong local demand and financial stability.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Avg. Length of Stay
57 days
Walk Score
Walk Score: 9 / 100 Rank #235 / 259Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 235th out of 259 homes in Florida. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average Walk Score across Florida SNFs. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options.

Contact Highlands Lake Center

Staffing Data

Reporting period: October 1 – December 31, 2025 (Q4 2025). Source: CMS Payroll-Based Journal report.

Total staff 229
Employees 224
Contractors 5
Staff to resident ratio 1.35:1
11% worse than Florida average
Florida average ratio: 1.52:1 Florida average ratio: 1.52:1See full Florida ranking
Avg staff/day 84
Average shift 8.2 hours
0% compared with Florida average
Florida average: 7.9 hours Florida average shift: 7.9 hoursSee full Florida ranking
Total staff hours (quarter) 63,035

Nursing staff breakdown

Q4 2025 · Oct 1 – Dec 31 More info This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Registered Nurse

Manages medical care and health needs.

RN Staff 26
Average shift length Info Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day. 8.8 hours

No contractors work on this role.

Licensed Practical Nurse

Assists with medical care and medications.

LPN Staff 22
Average shift length Info Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day. 9.3 hours

No contractors work on this role.

Certified Nursing Assistant

Helps with daily care and mobility.

CNA Staff 109
Average shift length Info Average shift length. Calculated as total hours divided by days worked and average staff per day. 7.9 hours

No contractors work on this role.

Contractor staffing

Q4 2025 · Oct 1 – Dec 31 More info This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.

Total hours from contractors

1.2%

728 contractor hours this quarter

Clinical Nurse Specialist: 2 Administrator: 1 Occupational Therapy Aide: 1 Medical Director: 1

Staff by category

Q4 2025 · Oct 1 – Dec 31 More info This data comes from the CMS Payroll-Based Journal report covering October 1 – December 31, 2025.
Certified Nursing Assistant109010929,03692100%7.9
Licensed Practical Nurse220228,94792100%9.3
Registered Nurse260267,82292100%8.8
Nurse Aide in Training150153,33292100%8.4
Speech Language Pathologist110112,5238997%7.5
Physical Therapy Aide120122,3989098%7
Dietitian5051,85492100%7.8
Clinical Nurse Specialist5271,7657986%7.2
Respiratory Therapy Technician5051,3428289%7.7
Administrator1128876672%7.7
Dental Services Staff2027146065%7.9
Physical Therapy Assistant5056076571%6.8
Mental Health Service Worker1014645863%8
Qualified Social Worker3034475459%8
Nurse Practitioner1014245560%7.7
RN Director of Nursing1013204043%8
Occupational Therapy Aide0111211617%7.5
Medical Director0113444%8.4
109 Certified Nursing Assistant
% of Days 100%
22 Licensed Practical Nurse
% of Days 100%
26 Registered Nurse
% of Days 100%
15 Nurse Aide in Training
% of Days 100%
11 Speech Language Pathologist
% of Days 97%
12 Physical Therapy Aide
% of Days 98%
5 Dietitian
% of Days 100%
7 Clinical Nurse Specialist
% of Days 86%
5 Respiratory Therapy Technician
% of Days 89%
2 Administrator
% of Days 72%
2 Dental Services Staff
% of Days 65%
5 Physical Therapy Assistant
% of Days 71%
1 Mental Health Service Worker
% of Days 63%
3 Qualified Social Worker
% of Days 59%
1 Nurse Practitioner
% of Days 60%
1 RN Director of Nursing
% of Days 43%
1 Occupational Therapy Aide
% of Days 17%
1 Medical Director
% of Days 4%

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 (Data as of Jan 2026)

Total fines amount $4K Rank #143 / 257Federal fines — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 143rd out of 257 homes in Florida. Shows this facility's cumulative CMS federal fine dollars versus the Florida average among facilities with fines, and where it ranks among 257 skilled nursing facilities in the pool. Lower total dollars mean a better rank.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
95% lower than Florida average

Florida average: $72K

Number of fines 1
62% fewer fines than Florida average

Florida average: 2.6

Payment Denials Info Serious action where Medicare and/or Medicaid temporarily stops payments for new residents until issues are fixed. 0
100% fewer payment denials than Florida average

Florida average: 0.1

Fines amount comparison
Fines amount comparison
This facility $4K
Florida average $72K

No penalties in the past 3 years

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

Quality of care over time

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

High-risk clinical events score Info A composite score based on pressure ulcers, falls with injury, weight loss, walking ability decline, and activities of daily living decline. 6.7
10% better than Florida average

Florida average: 7.4

Functional decline score Info A composite score based on activities of daily living decline, walking ability decline, and incontinence. 12.6
In line with Florida average

Florida average: 12.4

Long-stay resident measures
Significantly above average Florida avg: 4.5 Info CMS star rating based on long-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = significantly above average, 1 star = significantly below average.
Need for Help with Daily Activities Increased Info Percent of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased 9.5%
9% better than Florida average

Florida average: 10.5%

Walking Ability Worsened Info Percent of long-stay residents whose ability to move independently worsened 8.0%
39% better than Florida average

Florida average: 12.9%

Low Risk Residents with Bowel/Bladder Incontinence Info Percent of low risk long-stay residents who lose control of their bowels or bladder 20.4%
51% worse than Florida average

Florida average: 13.5%

Falls with Major Injury Info Percent of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury 2.9%
9% worse than Florida average

Florida average: 2.6%

High Risk Residents with Pressure Ulcers Info Percent of long-stay high risk residents with pressure ulcers 4.4%
17% better than Florida average

Florida average: 5.4%

Urinary Tract Infection Info Percent of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection 0.0%
100% better than Florida average

Florida average: 0.9%

Lost Too Much Weight Info Percent of long-stay residents who lose too much weight 8.5%
42% worse than Florida average

Florida average: 6.0%

Depressive Symptoms Info Percent of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms 0.0%
100% better than Florida average

Florida average: 3.3%

Antipsychotic Use Info Percent of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication 17.6%
119% worse than Florida average

Florida average: 8.0%

Pneumococcal Vaccine Info Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine 99.3%
In line with Florida average

Florida average: 97.7%

Influenza Vaccine Info Percent of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine 100.0%
In line with Florida average

Florida average: 99.2%

Hospitalizations per 1,000 days Info Number of hospitalizations per 1,000 long-stay resident days. 2.37
13% worse than Florida average

Florida average: 2.10

ED visits per 1,000 days Info Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1,000 long-stay resident days. 0.69
42% better than Florida average

Florida average: 1.18

Short-stay resident measures
Below average Florida avg: 3.1 Info CMS star rating based on short-stay quality measure performance. 5 stars = much above average, 1 star = much below average.
Pneumococcal Vaccine Info Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine 87.2%
7% worse than Florida average

Florida average: 94.0%

Antipsychotic medication increase Info Percent of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication 1.4%
9% better than Florida average

Florida average: 1.5%

Influenza Vaccine Info Percent of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine 77.0%
19% worse than Florida average

Florida average: 94.7%

Re-hospitalized after SNF stay Info Percentage of short-stay residents who were re-hospitalized after their nursing home admission. 21.6%
18% better than Florida average

Florida average: 26.2%

Emergency department visits Info Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit. 9.0%
In line with Florida average

Florida average: 9.3%

Falls with major injury Info Percentage of SNF residents who experience falls with major injury during their stay. 2.5%
218% worse than Florida average

Florida average: 0.8%

Ability to care for self at discharge Info Percentage of residents at or above expected ability to care for themselves at discharge. 36.1%
33% worse than Florida average

Florida average: 53.7%

Successful return to home or community Info Rate of successful return to home or community from a skilled nursing facility. 38.9%
23% worse than Florida average

Florida average: 50.6%

Breakdown by payment type

Medicare

26% of new residents, usually for short-term rehab.

Typical stay 29 days

Private pay

59% of new residents, often for short stays.

Typical stay 1 - 2 months

Medicaid

15% of new residents, often for long-term daily care.

Typical stay 5 - 6 months

Facility Characteristics

Source: CMS Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Data as of Jan 2026)

Total residents 170
Medicare
34
20% of residents
Medicaid
94
55.3% of residents
Private pay or other
42
24.7% of residents
Programs & Services
Residents Group

Residents meet regularly to discuss policies, care quality, and activities

Active Resident Council

Organized group of residents that meets regularly to discuss facility policies, quality of life, and activities.

Finances and operations

Privately-owned community
Home revenue
$20.3M
Profit
$5.4M
Privately-owned community
Home revenue
$20.3M Rank #111 / 256Revenue — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 111th out of 256 homes in Florida. Shows this facility's annual revenue compared to the Florida SNF average. Higher revenue generally means more resources for staffing and capital — read alongside Payroll %.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Profit
$5.4M
Payroll costs Info The portion of the home's budget spent on staff, including nurses, caregivers, and other employees who support care and operations. Rank #62 / 256Payroll — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 62nd out of 256 homes in Florida. Shows total annual staff payroll benchmarked to the Florida average. Higher payroll investment relative to peers often signals better staffing and less reliance on cheaper contract labor.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
$10.4M
51.5% of revenue Rank #56 / 256Payroll % — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 56th out of 256 homes in Florida. Shows payroll as a percentage of revenue versus the Florida average. Well-run Florida SNFs typically land around 49–56% — the top third Statewide. Below 25% may signal understaffing or heavy agency use — read with Staffing ratings.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Other operating costs Info All remaining costs needed to run the home, such as food, utilities, building maintenance, supplies and administrative expenses.
$6.0M
Total costs $16.5M

Who this home usually serves

TYPE OF STAY

Mix of rehab and long-term care

This home supports both short-term rehab and long-term care, with residents staying for a wide range of durations.

Places of interest near Highlands Lake Center

Address 4.9 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Lakeland's city center to Highlands Lake Center's address, calculated via Google Maps. — 5.49 miles to nearest hospital (Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of Florida)

Calculate Travel Distance to Highlands Lake Center

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Financial Assistance for
Nursing Home in Florida

Highlands Lake Center is located in Lakeland, Florida.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in Florida.

Get Financial aid guidance

Long-Term Care Waiver

Florida Medicaid LTC Waiver

Age 65+ or 21+ disabled
General Florida 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).
FL

High demand; waitlists common.

Benefits
In-home care (6-8 hours/day) Assisted living Respite (240 hours/year) Case management

Community Care for the Elderly (CCE)

Florida CCE

Age 60+
General Florida resident, at risk of nursing home.
Income Limits ~$2,000/month varies
Asset Limits $5,000 individual
FL

Limited funding; regional variation.

Benefits
Homemaker services (3-5 hours/week) Adult day care (~$60/day) Respite (up to 10 days/year)

Home Care for the Elderly (HCE)

Florida Home Care for the Elderly

Age 60+
General Florida resident, at risk of nursing home placement; caregiver must be approved.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month individual, aligned with Medicaid thresholds
Asset Limits ~$2,000 (individual); varies by case manager discretion.
FL

Limited funding (~3,500 served annually); prioritizes low-income frail seniors.

Benefits
Basic subsidy (~$160/month) for housing/medical costs; special subsidies for supplies/services (e.g., incontinence supplies, ~$50-$200/month)

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

Florida Medicaid PACE

Age 55+
General Florida resident, nursing home-level care need, safe with PACE support.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).
FL

Limited to specific counties (e.g., Hillsborough, Miami-Dade); ~10 sites statewide.

Benefits
Personal care (5-7 hours/day) Medical care Meals Transportation Therapy

Optional State Supplementation (OSS)

Florida Optional State Supplementation

Age 65+ or disabled
General Florida resident, living in approved facility, receiving SSI or low-income.
Income Limits (2025) ~$1,004/month individual, including SSI
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).
FL

Limited to specific facility types; ~$78.40/month max supplement.

Benefits
Cash payment (~$78.40/month) for room/board or personal needs in facilities

Compare Nursing Home around Lakeland

The information below is reported by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).

3 facilities compared · CMS & FL Dept. of Health data

Filter by care type
Highlands Lake Center
NH

Nursing Home Licensed facility providing 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. Staffed by RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. Inspected and star-rated annually by CMS. Accepts Medicare (short-term rehab) and Medicaid (long-term care).

RC

Respite Care Short-term temporary care — days to weeks — to give family caregivers a break. Full care provided during the stay. Often used after hospitalization or to trial a facility before a permanent placement decision.

Lakeland179 93.8% +11%3.66 -4%-9%$3.8k354.4-159 9 Cynthia Ayala$20.3M$10.4M51.5%105620
Lakeland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
NH

Nursing Home Licensed facility providing 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. Staffed by RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. Inspected and star-rated annually by CMS. Accepts Medicare (short-term rehab) and Medicaid (long-term care).

Lakeland (Tigertown)185 74.6% -11%3.61 -33%-11%$791.9k335.53161 57 Palm Terrace J Dek Operations LLC$26.8M$8.9M33.2%105354
Bridgewalk on Harden
NH

Nursing Home Licensed facility providing 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. Staffed by RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. Inspected and star-rated annually by CMS. Accepts Medicare (short-term rehab) and Medicaid (long-term care).

Lakeland120 72.9% -13%3.42 -65%-15%$181.4k193.2492 24 Louis Garrard$10.9M$6.4M58.4%106138

Frequently Asked Questions about Highlands Lake Center

Is Highlands Lake Center in a walkable area?

Highlands Lake Center has a walk score of 9. Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options.

What is the occupancy rate at Highlands Lake Center?

Highlands Lake Center's occupancy is 93.8%.

What is the phone number of Highlands Lake Center?

(863) 646-8699 will put you in contact with the team at Highlands Lake Center.

Is Highlands Lake Center Medicare or Medicaid certified?

Yes — Highlands Lake Center is a CMS-certified provider of Medicare and Medicaid.

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