Highlands, the
335 NICHOLS ROAD, Fitchburg, MA 01420
Fitchburg, Massachusetts · CMS verdict
On the federal five-star scale, Highlands, the shows above-average quality that runs above Massachusetts's state average of 3.0.
The rating and the PlainElderCare Index below summarize federal inspection, staffing, and outcome data, they measure specific, documented dimensions of this facility, not a holistic verdict on the care your family member would receive. Visit in person, talk with staff and current residents' families, and weigh your family member's specific needs before choosing.
Highlands, the in Fitchburg, Massachusetts holds a CMS overall rating of 5 of 5 stars and a PlainElderCare Quality & Compliance Index of 76 of 100 (grade C). Its CMS inspection record lists multiple deficiencies. Figures are from CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Quality & Compliance Index (larger bed book)
Its certified bed capacity sits in the upper U.S. bed tercile (>120). A transparent composite of this facility's CMS Care Compare sub-ratings and its federal inspection record. It complements, and does not replace, the official CMS overall star rating shown at the top of the page. How this is calculated.
How the 76 is built
Each segment is a dimension's weighted points toward the score, summing to 76.
Weights: health inspections 30%, staffing 25%, quality measures 25%, inspection record 20%; any dimension CMS has not published drops out and its weight redistributes (no silent deflation). Inspection record is benchmarked against all rated US nursing homes. Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Highlands, the's larger certified-bed book
Quality ratings
The rating comes from CMS's most recent Care Compare release (data as of April 2026). CMS rolls three sub-ratings into the overall star: health inspection, staffing, and quality measures. The chart below sets each of them against the Massachusetts average.
What each sub-rating measures
The health inspection rating reflects on-site surveyor findings from the last three cycles. The staffing rating compares case-mix-adjusted nurse hours per resident day to national benchmarks, and quality measures aggregate 15 clinical indicators including pressure ulcers, falls with injury, and long-stay antipsychotic use.
Size and setting
Located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Bed capacity and average daily census, where CMS reports them, are in Facility details below. Its ownership type, listed in Facility details, can influence staffing patterns, reinvestment decisions, and admissions policy. At roughly 92% occupancy, this facility runs close to its typical range for a stabilized operation.
Same-ownership peers
Within Massachusetts, Highlands, the is one of 148 for profit - limited liability company nursing homes CMS rates. Its 5-star overall rating sits above the for profit - limited liability company-segment average of 2.6 stars, ahead of roughly 86% of same-ownership peers in the state. Same-segment comparisons like this one strip out the business-model factor, leaving a cleaner read on facility-level performance than a raw state average would give.
Inspection record
On the regulatory side, federal and state surveyors have documented multiple deficiencies at this facility; the counts are in Facility details below. CMS has levied no enforcement penalties over the equivalent window. This is a high deficiency count relative to most facilities; requesting the full survey report directly is the only way to see whether these are concentrated in one area or spread across the facility's operations.
Where these figures come from
Figures above come from CMS Nursing Home Compare (Care Compare, data as of April 2026) with state cost medians from the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey. See our methodology for vintage.
How Highlands, the's upper-tercile stars compare to Massachusetts
CMS five-star sub-ratings (0–5) for this facility against the Massachusetts facility-weighted average. Source: CMS Care Compare.
Bar = this facility's rating · vertical marker = Massachusetts state average. Higher is better on all four CMS measures.
Where Highlands, the ranks in Massachusetts
Among the 338 CMS-rated nursing homes in Massachusetts, Highlands, the’s 5-star overall rating is higher than 78% of them. The bars show how all Massachusetts homes spread across the CMS 1-to-5 scale; this facility’s band is highlighted.
73 Massachusetts homes share this 5-star rating. Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Facility details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Beds | 168 |
| Residents | 155 |
| Ownership | For profit - Limited Liability company |
| County | Worcester |
| Penalties | 0 |
| Deficiencies | 12 |
Source: CMS Care Compare Nursing Homes (data as of April 2026)
What families ask about Highlands, the's larger facility
What is the quality rating for Highlands, the? ▾
5 out of 5 stars is Highlands, the's current CMS overall rating. The chart on this page breaks it into health inspection, staffing, and quality measures against the Massachusetts average.
How much does a nursing home cost per month in Massachusetts? ▾
In Massachusetts, a semi-private nursing home room runs a median $14,448/month ($173,375/year) per the CareScout 2025 survey; private rooms average $15,817/month.
What services does Highlands, the offer? ▾
Highlands, the is a skilled nursing facility. CMS Care Compare does not list individual services or therapies, so ask the facility directly which it provides. Its bed capacity, census, and ownership type are in the Facility details table on this page.
Does Highlands, the have any deficiencies or penalties? ▾
Highlands, the has multiple deficiencies and no penalties recorded by CMS; the counts are in the Facility details table. A count this high is above what most facilities post; ask the facility directly for its plan of correction on the largest findings.
What are the alternatives to a nursing home in Massachusetts? ▾
In Massachusetts, alternatives include assisted living ($9,600/mo), home health aides ($7,627/mo), and adult day care ($2,427/mo).
Keep reading
Also see the Massachusetts elder-care overview and highest-rated states. Provider ID: 225315.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.