Highland Springs is a residential community for older adults seeking supportive living
Highland Springs Retirement Home is a residential community where older adults live with access to meals, housekeeping, activities, and staff support on-site. It is not a nursing home — residents do not receive medical care or skilled nursing — but rather a setting where people who want community and daily information can live independently with help available when needed.
The community operates as a private residential facility. Costs, services offered, and admission requirements vary depending on which Highland Springs location you are considering, as the organization may operate multiple communities or partner with regional operators under the same name. Before contacting them, it helps to know what questions to ask and what information you will need to gather.
Key Takeaways
- Highland Springs provides housing, meals, and daily support services, but not medical care or nursing — that is the main difference from a nursing home.
- Monthly costs and the services included in those costs differ by location, so you will need to contact the specific community you are interested in for pricing and details.
- Most retirement communities require a tour, a conversation about your needs, and sometimes a health assessment before admission.
- You can ask about payment options, including whether they work with long-term care insurance or offer financial information programs.
- Visiting in person and talking to current residents is one of the most useful ways to understand whether the community is a good fit for you or your family member.
What services and support are typically available
Retirement communities like Highland Springs usually offer three main categories of support. The first is daily living information — help with bathing, dressing, grooming, and using the bathroom. The second is meals and nutrition — dining rooms where meals are prepared and served, often with options for dietary needs. The third is housekeeping and maintenance — cleaning of your room or apartment, laundry service, and upkeep of common areas.
Beyond those basics, communities often provide activities, social programs, transportation to appointments or outings, medication reminders (though not administration by medical staff), and 24-hour staff presence for emergencies. Some have fitness centers, libraries, or craft rooms. The exact mix depends on the community's size, location, and philosophy. When you contact Highland Springs, ask for a detailed list of what is included in the monthly fee and what costs extra.
What they do not provide is medical care. If you need wound care, injections, physical therapy, or nursing oversight, you would need to arrange that through your doctor or a home health agency that visits the community. If your health needs grow to require daily nursing care, you would likely need to move to a nursing home.
How to find out about costs and what is included
Monthly fees at retirement communities vary widely based on location, the size of your apartment or room, and which services you use. There is no standard price across the industry. The only way to know what Highland Springs charges is to contact them directly or visit their website if they have one.
When you ask about cost, also ask what is included in the base monthly fee and what costs extra. For example, some communities include all meals and housekeeping in one price; others charge separately for extra services like laundry, transportation, or activities. Ask whether there is an entrance fee or deposit, and whether that money is refundable if you leave. Ask how they handle price increases — do they raise fees annually, and by how much in recent years.
If cost is a concern, ask whether they work with long-term care insurance, Medicaid, or veteran benefits. Some communities have financial information programs or sliding-scale fees for residents whose resources are limited. Others do not. This is a direct question worth asking early.
What happens during the admission process
Most retirement communities ask you to tour the facility, meet with an admissions counselor, and sometimes complete a health assessment. The tour lets you see the rooms, dining areas, activity spaces, and meet staff. The counselor will ask about your daily needs, your health history, and what matters most to you in a living situation.
The health assessment is usually not a medical exam but rather a conversation about your mobility, any information you need with daily tasks, and whether you have medical conditions the community should know about. They use this to understand whether they can meet your needs and to plan what support to arrange for you.
You will likely be asked to provide references, a doctor's contact information, and sometimes proof of income or financial resources. Some communities require a waiting period or have a waiting list. Ask about their move-in timeline and what happens if your health changes after you move in — can you stay, or would you need to transfer to a nursing home.
Questions to ask when you visit or call
Before or during a visit, write down questions that matter to you. Here are some that often matter to residents and families:
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio, and are staff available 24 hours a day?
- How do you handle medical emergencies — do you call 911, or do you have a nurse on staff?
- Can I bring my own furniture, and how much space is in a typical room or apartment?
- What activities and outings are offered, and how often?
- Can I have visitors whenever I want, and can family members eat meals with me?
- What happens if I need more help than the community can provide — what is the process for moving to a nursing home?
- How do you handle medication — do I manage my own, or does staff help?
- Are there additional costs for transportation, activities, or special meals?
- Can I see a sample lease or service agreement before I commit?
Write these down and bring them with you on a visit, or call ahead and ask them over the phone. Taking notes on the answers helps you compare communities later if you are looking at more than one.
Visiting in person and talking to residents
A tour on a scheduled day when staff are expecting you is useful, but visiting without an appointment — if the community allows it — can give you a truer sense of daily life. You might see how busy the dining room is at lunch, whether residents look engaged, and how staff interact with people.
If you can, talk to residents or family members of residents. Ask them what surprised them about living there, what they wish they had known, and whether they feel safe and well cared for. Ask whether staff respond quickly when someone needs help, and whether the community feels like a real community or more like a hotel.
Pay attention to the physical environment too. Are hallways clean and well-lit? Do rooms smell fresh? Are there handrails and grab bars where people might need them? Is there outdoor space? These details matter to your daily quality of life.
Understanding the difference between retirement communities and nursing homes
The main difference is medical care. A retirement community like Highland Springs provides housing, meals, and help with daily tasks, but not nursing or medical treatment. A nursing home (also called a skilled nursing facility) has nurses on staff and provides medical care, wound care, rehabilitation after surgery or injury, and oversight of complex health conditions.
If you are independent or need help mainly with bathing, dressing, and meals, a retirement community may be right for you. If you need daily nursing care, medication injections, wound care, or medical supervision, you need a nursing home. Some people move to a retirement community first and later move to a nursing home as their health needs change — that is a normal progression.
There is also assisted living, which sits between the two. Assisted living communities provide more hands-on help with daily tasks and often have staff trained to help with some medical needs, but still not the level of nursing care a nursing home provides. Highland Springs may or may not offer assisted living; ask them directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Highland Springs take Medicaid?
Some retirement communities accept Medicaid, and some do not. You will need to contact Highland Springs directly to ask whether they work with Medicaid and, if so, whether they have openings for Medicaid residents. Medicaid coverage and rates vary by state, so the answer depends on your location.
What if I need medical care while living there?
You would arrange that through your own doctor or by hiring a home health agency to visit you at the community. The retirement home provides the housing and daily support; medical care comes from outside providers. Ask Highland Springs which doctors and home health agencies work with their residents.
Can I leave if I do not like it?
Most communities allow you to leave, but you should ask about the notice period required and whether any entrance fee or deposit is refundable. Some require 30 or 60 days' notice; others may have different terms. Read the lease or service agreement carefully before you move in.
What happens if I fall or have a medical emergency?
Staff should respond quickly to calls for help. Ask Highland Springs specifically how they handle emergencies — whether they call 911, whether a nurse is on staff, and what their response time is. This is a safety question worth asking in detail.
Can I bring my pet?
Pet policies vary widely. Some communities welcome pets; others do not allow them or allow only small pets. Ask Highland Springs about their pet policy before you move in if this matters to you.