F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
F

Unsanitary, Leaking Toilets and Poor Bathroom Maintenance for Multiple Residents

Sterling Care BethesdaBethesda, Maryland Survey Completed on 02-05-2026

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain a functional, sanitary, and comfortable bathroom environment for five residents whose rooms had toilets with rust, black mildew-like buildup, missing caulk/sealant, instability, and active water leakage. Facility policies on Resident/Patient Room Cleaning and Safe and Homelike Environment required regular cleaning and disinfection of restrooms, including toilets and surrounding areas, and provision of housekeeping and maintenance services as necessary to maintain a sanitary, orderly, and comfortable environment. Despite these policies, surveyors observed that the toilets in the rooms of five residents had a rust stain approximately five inches wide and seven inches long, black discoloration around the toilet seal resembling mildew, missing caulk/sealant, and unsteady commodes that shifted side to side, with water leaking from the base. The affected residents had multiple medical diagnoses and varying levels of cognitive function and dependence on staff for ADLs, including toileting. One resident had Type II diabetes, dysphagia, hyperlipidemia, depression, hypertension, GERD, and frequent bowel and bladder incontinence, and was cognitively intact and able to report that the toilet rust stain had been present for a while, that housekeeping cleaned daily but the stains remained, that the toilet moved and leaked where the caulking was missing, and that no one should live with a dirty bathroom. Another resident with dementia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, GERD, major depressive disorder, dysphagia, and frequent incontinence, who used a walker and went to the bathroom independently, reported that the toilet leaked and expressed concern about slipping and falling, though they did not know how long the leakage had been occurring. Other residents involved had conditions such as dementia, chronic kidney disease, hemiplegia, aphasia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, COPD, and failure to thrive, and were dependent on staff for toileting and transfers, yet their toilets were also found with rust, mildew-like buildup, missing caulk, and leakage. Staff interviews revealed inactions and incomplete follow-through that contributed to the ongoing unsanitary and nonfunctional bathroom conditions. A housekeeper with 16 years of experience stated they clean the bathroom, including the toilet bowl and the area behind the toilet, and are expected to report room problems to a supervisor so a work order can be placed, but acknowledged they did not see the rust stain behind the toilet, could not remove a stain, and simply left it, planning only to inform the supervisor if it happened again. The Environmental Services Manager stated that rooms are expected to be cleaned daily and that only about 10% of rooms receive a complete daily check, and reported having seen caulk/sealant issues but not rust stains. The Maintenance Supervisor, in the role for two months, stated they noticed the rust stain two to three weeks earlier, notified housekeeping to clean again, and asked a technician to complete caulking, but did not perform any follow-up to ensure the work was completed. These actions and omissions allowed the rust, mildew-like buildup, missing caulk, toilet instability, and water leakage to persist in resident bathrooms in violation of facility policies and regulatory expectations for a safe, clean, and comfortable environment.

Penalty

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0921 citations
Unsanitary Hair Salon and Open Kitchen Drain
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

An open floor drain near the dish machine was observed without a grate, and the FSM confirmed it had no grate and was unsure how long it had been open. In the Hair Salon, the sink drain filter had a glob of hair, and 3 brushes plus a box of hair curlers had hair on them; the AD and HS both confirmed the unsanitary conditions, and the HS stated she might have forgotten to clean the salon after the beautician visit.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Dirty resident room and unclean memory care dining room
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

A resident room was observed in disrepair with unpainted wall areas, black marks, discoloration, ceiling staining, and scuffed, missing paint on the door frame, and the same conditions remained on follow-up. The memory care dining room floor also had food crumbs and debris under multiple tables; an LPN said it appeared not to have been cleaned after the prior night's meal, and the administrator confirmed the food was still present.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Leaking and Loose Faucets in Facility Sinks
F
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Leaking and Loose Faucets in Facility Sinks: During a facility tour, a beauty shop style sink was observed leaking where the faucet connected to the sink, and maintenance staff stated they were not aware it needed repair. A sink in the soiled linens room on D/F Hall was also observed with a loose swivel faucet that leaked when turned on, and maintenance staff confirmed the observation.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Sharps Containers Left Full and Unusable
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Sharps containers on a locked dementia unit were observed full to the point that they could not be opened, including one in a shower room with three uncapped used disposable razors sitting on top of it and another on a medication cart. The DON and an LPN confirmed the containers were unusable, and the LPN noted two residents on the unit required routine blood glucose monitoring with lancets that would need disposal in a sharps container.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Resident Room Walls Found Moist, Stained, and Damaged
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Resident room walls were observed with moisture, black/gray staining resembling mildew or mold-like substance, bubbling paint, cracks, gouges, and dirty vents in multiple rooms, including B-2, B-4, B-6, B-8, B-10, and B-12. The Tel's record review showed no reports about the wall conditions for the past 6 months, and the ADM stated the moisture had been present for a while and had not previously been brought to the ADM and Maintenance Director's attention.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Broken Bedside Table Within Resident Reach
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

A resident with moderate cognitive impairment and anticoagulant use had a bedside table within reach that was observed to be broken, with an unfinished edge, exposed particle board, splinters, and wood chips on the tabletop. A CNA confirmed the table was in poor repair and accessible to the resident.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Citation search

Search every citation & Plan of Correction

Go to search
Citation watch

Track new serious citations across Maryland

Get a heads-up on the newest immediate-jeopardy (J–L) citations in Maryland — where surveyors are focused right now.

Free · about one email a month

Trusted data from CMS and state health departments

Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release July 29, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.

In your survey window? See what surveyors are citing.

The Survey-Prep Report maps your facility's risk from 12 months of CMS and state citation data — what's being cited around you and what to check first. $129 one-time.

Get the Survey-Prep Report
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙