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Highlands Lake Center

4240 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 338138636468699Ownership: For profit - CorporationCertified beds: 179Avg. daily residents: 167Chain: Aston Health (38 facilities)County: Polk
Health inspection overdue — CMS reports the most recent standard inspection is older than its normal cycle.

The complete public record on Highlands Lake Center, a Medicare & Medicaid–certified nursing home in Lakeland, Florida, from the CMS Care Compare database (August 2026 release). Every figure below is published by federal regulators; ClearPath adds the state comparisons and the plain-English reading.

CMS Star Ratings

Overall rating
★★☆☆☆
CMS’s composite of the three ratings below. Florida average: 3.3 stars.
Health inspection
★★☆☆☆
Based on the last three years of on-site inspections and complaint investigations — the rating CMS weights most heavily.
Staffing
★★★☆☆
Nurse and aide hours per resident per day, adjusted for how much care residents need, plus staff turnover.
Quality measures
★★★★☆
Clinical outcomes CMS tracks, such as falls with injury, pressure ulcers and hospital readmissions.
Highlands Lake Center holds a 2-star overall rating, in the bottom two tiers CMS assigns. Nursing staff turnover of 54% is well above the Florida average of 41%; high turnover is one of the strongest predictors of inconsistent care. None of this tells you whether a bed is open, whether your insurance is in network, or whether the facility will accept a given level of care — confirm those three directly with the facility before you commit.

Staffing

3.32 total nurse staff hours per resident per day
below the state average (3.82)
0.70 RN hours per resident per day
about the state average (0.73)
3.09 weekend nurse staff hours per resident per day
53.5% total nursing staff turnover
above the state average (41.4)
46.9% RN turnover
1 administrator left in the reporting period

Hours are per resident per day, from payroll-based journal data facilities submit to CMS. Turnover is the share of nursing staff who left over the past year.

Inspections & Penalties

March 7, 2024 most recent standard health inspection
17 health deficiencies cited in the most recent inspection cycle
above the state average (7.1)
13 health deficiencies in the two prior cycles combined
$0 in federal fines across 0 penalties (last 3 years)
0 payment denials
CMS withholding Medicare/Medicaid payment for new admissions until problems were fixed

Recent Inspection Citations

32 citations on record across recent inspections. Showing the most recent inspection. Severity uses CMS’s A–L scope-and-severity scale; G and above means residents were actually harmed.

InspectionTagWhat was citedSeverity
November 5, 20250755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. ComplaintE · Potential for more than minimal harm
November 5, 20250697Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services. ComplaintD · Potential for more than minimal harm
April 17, 20250585Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and… ComplaintE · Potential for more than minimal harm
April 17, 20250773Provide or obtain laboratory tests/services when ordered and promptly tell the ordering practitioner of the results. ComplaintD · Potential for more than minimal harm
August 6, 20240584Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and… ComplaintD · Potential for more than minimal harm
August 6, 20240585Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and… ComplaintD · Potential for more than minimal harm
August 6, 20240761Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all… ComplaintD · Potential for more than minimal harm
March 7, 20240582Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered. ComplaintE · Potential for more than minimal harm
March 7, 20240641Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.E · Potential for more than minimal harm
March 7, 20240644Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.E · Potential for more than minimal harm

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Source: CMS Care Compare (data.cms.gov), August 2026 monthly release. Figures are as published by CMS and change monthly; ClearPath refreshes automatically. ClearPath Senior Guide is an independent information service, accepts no referral fees or placement incentives from any facility, and does not recommend facilities. Verify current details with the facility.