Highland Farms
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Highland Farms in Black Mountain, North Carolina, has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for care. It ranks #37 out of 417 nursing homes in the state, placing it in the top half, and #3 out of 19 in Buncombe County, meaning only two local facilities are ranked higher. The facility is improving, with issues decreasing from 4 in 2024 to 3 in 2025, and it boasts excellent staffing, with a 5/5 rating and a turnover rate of 42%, which is lower than the state average. However, it has received $4,271 in fines, which is average, and there have been some concerns, such as inappropriate food storage and a failure to properly monitor a resident's return after hospitalization. Despite these weaknesses, the facility has strong RN coverage, exceeding that of 91% of North Carolina facilities, ensuring better oversight of resident care.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In North Carolina
- #37/417
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 42% turnover. Near North Carolina's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $4,271 in fines. Lower than most North Carolina facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 66 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of North Carolina nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 14 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (42%)
6 points below North Carolina average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near North Carolina avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
The Ugly 14 deficiencies on record
Aug 2025
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0559
(Tag F0559)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, and responsible party (RP) and staff interviews, the facility failed to notify the Responsible Party in ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, record review, Security Officer interview, Independent Living (IL) Resident interview, and staff intervie...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations and staff interviews the facility failed to label and date leftover food stored for use in 1 of 1 walk in cooler and 1 of 1 walk-in freezer and failed to discard expired food ite...
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Aug 2024
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0726
(Tag F0726)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, record review, and staff interviews the facility failed to provide competent nursing staff when 2 of 4 nu...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, record review, and staff interviews the facility failed to implement their policy and procedures for glucometer disinfection when Nurse #1 failed to disinfect a resident (Reside...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0883
(Tag F0883)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, resident and staff interviews the facility failed to administer a pneumococcal vaccine to a resident who...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0887
(Tag F0887)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, resident and staff interviews the facility failed to offer and provide a COVID-19 vaccine to 1 of 5 resi...
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Apr 2023
7 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Assessments
(Tag F0636)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and staff interviews, the facility failed to complete care area assessments to address underlying causes ...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Drug Regimen Review
(Tag F0756)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interviews with the resident, staff, Consultant Pharmacist, Nurse Practitioner (NP), and Medical Dire...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0757
(Tag F0757)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interviews with the resident, staff, Consultant Pharmacist, Nurse Practitioner (NP), and Medical Dire...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
QAPI Program
(Tag F0867)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and staff interviews, the facility's Quality Assessment and Assurance (QAA) Committee failed to maintain implemented procedures and monitor interventions previously put in place...
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CONCERN
(E)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Transfer
(Tag F0626)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interviews with the Medical Director, Responsible Party, and staff the facility failed to allow a res...
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CONCERN
(E)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations and staff interviews the facility failed to remove expired food from 1 of 1 dry food storage rooms and from 1 of 4 kitchen refrigerators (lift top refrigerator). This practice ha...
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MINOR
(B)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
MDS Data Transmission
(Tag F0640)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interviews with staff, the facility failed to complete and transmit the discharge Minimum Data Set (M...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade B+ (83/100). Above average facility, better than most options in North Carolina.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • $4,271 in fines. Lower than most North Carolina facilities. Relatively clean record.
- • 42% turnover. Below North Carolina's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 14 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Highland Farms's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Highland Farms an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within North Carolina, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Highland Farms Staffed?
CMS rates Highland Farms's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 42%, compared to the North Carolina average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Highland Farms?
State health inspectors documented 14 deficiencies at Highland Farms during 2023 to 2025. These included: 13 with potential for harm and 1 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Highland Farms?
Highland Farms is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 60 certified beds and approximately 48 residents (about 80% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
How Does Highland Farms Compare to Other North Carolina Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in North Carolina, Highland Farms's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (42%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (3 stars) is at the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Highland Farms?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Highland Farms Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Highland Farms has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in North Carolina. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Highland Farms Stick Around?
Highland Farms has a staff turnover rate of 42%, which is about average for North Carolina nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Highland Farms Ever Fined?
Highland Farms has been fined $4,271 across 1 penalty action. This is below the North Carolina average of $33,122. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Highland Farms on Any Federal Watch List?
Highland Farms is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.