Highlandspring of Ft Thomas
Strong Medicare quality ratings; families often praise highly effective physical and occupational therapy. Still worth an in-person visit.
based on 72 Google reviews
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What this means for your family
While the facility's rehabilitation therapy team is frequently praised for helping patients regain mobility, there is a consistent pattern of reports regarding neglect, slow response times, and poor hygiene. If you choose this facility, it is critical to have a family member present daily to monitor care, as multiple reviewers noted that the quality of attention significantly improves when a family advocate is involved.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
72 reviews on Google“Highlandspring of Ft Thomas receives highly polarized feedback, with many families praising the facility's physical therapy department and specific staff members, while others report severe neglect and communication failures. Recurring complaints involve slow response times to call lights, poor hygiene and incontinence care, and inconsistent staffing levels, particularly on weekends. Families considering this facility should be aware that while some report excellent rehabilitation outcomes, others have documented significant concerns regarding basic patient safety and administrative transparency.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Highly effective physical and occupational therapy
- Clean and well-maintained facility environment
- Friendly and supportive individual staff members
- Responsive medical leadership for some residents
Concerns
- Slow or ignored response to call lights (mentioned by 6 reviewers)
- Poor hygiene and incontinence care (diapers/bedding not changed) (mentioned by 7 reviewers)
- Understaffing, especially on weekends (mentioned by 4 reviewers)
- Inadequate assistance with feeding and nutrition (mentioned by 4 reviewers)
- Lack of communication and administrative transparency (mentioned by 4 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 64 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility rarely responds to reviews.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1Given the current staffing levels, what specific protocols are in place to ensure call lights are answered promptly, especially during weekend shifts?
- 2Could you walk me through the daily routine for incontinence care and hygiene checks to ensure residents remain comfortable and clean throughout the day?
- 3With the therapy department being a noted strength here, how do you coordinate that care with the nursing staff to ensure residents are getting the support they need during meals and daily activities?
- 4What is your current process for keeping families updated on changes in care or health status, and how do you ensure that communication remains transparent?
- 5Since staffing is a critical component of resident safety, what steps is the facility taking to address the recent CMS staffing rating and ensure consistent coverage?
- 6How does the nursing team manage medication administration and nutritional support to ensure that every resident receives the proper assistance they require?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The therapy staff at Highlandspring is top notch! The exceptional are too numerous to name. Suffice it to say, they are all very good at their jobs!”
“Response to call buttons is unacceptable; a 15 min. call turned into 2 hrs. The quality of meals, especially dinner, is not acceptable; some meals are not even eaten; food is wasted;”
“My mother received less than adequate care. They do not have enough staff to properly care for the residents. The weekends are beyond horrible.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026This facility meets the national staffing benchmarks. Higher staffing is linked to fewer falls and better day-to-day care.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
11
measures
4
measures
2
measures
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents who lost too much weight
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
This facility has 16 federal deficiencies across three surveys, with recurring issues in fire safety systems, medication management, and care planning. The most recent December 2024 survey found problems with nursing staffing levels, sprinkler systems, and infection control. While all deficiencies have correction dates, the pattern shows ongoing challenges across multiple care areas that families should discuss during visits.
Feb 11, 2026Routine3
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Allow residents to easily view the nursing home's survey results and communicate with advocate agencies.
Dec 6, 2024Routine7
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Sep 27, 2019Routine3
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have posted "No-smoking" signs in areas where smoking is not permitted or ashtrays provided where smoking was allowed.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have restrictions on the use of portable space heaters.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Highlandspring of Ft Thomas
for profit
Chain Affiliation
Carespring
16 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 4.2/5 · Rank 11 of 16
Ownership & Management
Owners
Carespring Health Care Holdings Lp
Owner · Organization
Barry N Bortz 06042009 Tr
Owner (parent company) · Organization
Bortz Family Trust/key Bank Trustee
Owner (parent company) · Organization
Eppers, David
Owner (parent company)
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
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References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
72 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit carespring.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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