Lakeland Senior AdvisorWhat is Highlands Lake Center licensed and certified as?
Highlands Lake Center, at 4240 Lakeland Highlands Rd in Lakeland (33813), is a nursing home licensed for 179 beds under AHCA license #1345096; CMS's Care Compare gives it 2 of 5 stars overall (data as of October 1, 2026).
| Record | Value |
|---|---|
| AHCA license number | 1345096 |
| Licensed beds (AHCA) | 179 |
| License status | Licensed |
| First licensed (AHCA) | May 1, 2003 |
| License expires | July 29, 2028 |
| CMS certification number | 105620 |
| Ownership type (CMS) | For profit - Corporation |
| Certified beds / average residents per day | 179 / 166.4 |
| Chain (CMS) | ASTON HEALTH |
| Inside a continuing care retirement community (CMS) | No |
What star ratings does CMS give Highlands Lake Center?
On Care Compare, Highlands Lake Center holds 2 of 5 overall; its component ratings are 2 for health inspections, 2 for staffing and 4 for quality measures.
| CMS rating | Stars |
|---|---|
| Overall | 2 of 5 |
| Health inspections | 2 of 5 |
| Staffing | 2 of 5 |
| Quality measures | 4 of 5 |
| Long-stay quality | 5 of 5 |
| Short-stay quality | 2 of 5 |
Nurses and aides together log 3.36 hours per resident per day, lower than the Polk County median of 3.57; RN hours alone come to 0.64, higher than the Polk County median of 0.47; nursing staff turnover stands at 54.5%, higher than the Polk County median of 45.5%.
How did Highlands Lake Center do at its most recent health inspection?
CMS's latest standard health inspection for this home, dated March 7, 2024, recorded 17 health deficiencies, against a Polk County median of 10; separately, CMS shows 0 federal fines adding up to $0 within three years.
Earlier cycles two and three together recorded 13 deficiencies, CMS lists 0 infection-control citations, and the surveys themselves are carried out by Florida inspectors on CMS's behalf.
Are there state sanctions on Highlands Lake Center's license?
Yes: 7 state sanctions sit on the AHCA profile, $2,000 in all, the newest initiated June 19, 2020.
| Initiated | Sanction | Basis | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 19, 2020 | Conditional License | Survey | — |
| June 19, 2020 | Fine | Survey | $2,000 |
| June 27, 2019 | Rule Variance/Waiver | Administrative Rule | — |
| May 17, 2019 | Rule Variance/Waiver | Administrative Rule | — |
| March 5, 2019 | Rule Variance/Waiver | Administrative Rule | — |
| November 19, 2018 | Rule Variance/Waiver | Administrative Rule | — |
| October 18, 2017 | Rule Variance/Waiver | Administrative Rule | — |
Which other Polk County nursing homes are close to Highlands Lake Center?
Scott Lake Health and Rehabilitation is the nearest alternative, roughly 2.9 miles away, with a CMS overall rating of 2 of 5.
| Facility | Miles away | CMS overall | Licensed beds | CMS deficiencies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Lake Health and Rehabilitation 800 E County Rd 540A, 33813 | 2.9 | 2 of 5 | 120 | 8 |
| Bridgewalk on Harden Health and Rehabilitation, LLC 3110 Oakbridge Blvd E, 33803 | 3.4 | 1 of 5 | 120 | 5 |
| Westminster Lakeland 909 Lakeside Ave, 33803 | 3.9 | 5 of 5 | 68 | 5 |
| Charming Lakes Rehab 2020 W Lake Parker Dr, 33805 | 5.9 | 1 of 5 | 120 | 11 |
Which hospitals are nearest to Highlands Lake Center?
Measured in a straight line, Lakeland Regional Medical Center is closest (roughly 7.4 miles), with Bartow Regional Medical Center next (roughly 9.9 miles).
Hospital case managers tend to refer to nearby homes, but a patient may pick any Medicare-certified nursing home that has a bed and accepts the referral.
AHCA profile: FloridaHealthFinder record
