Below average — CMS composite of the measures below.
Past the typical resurvey interval — a standard survey could occur at any time
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of July 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at La Bella Of Sterling during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Multiple areas of the facility, including resident rooms, common spaces, and shower rooms, were found to be significantly colder than required, with temperatures as low as 50°F. Residents and staff reported discomfort and wore extra clothing indoors, while maintenance staff cited ongoing issues with old heating units and drafts. Leadership was not promptly informed of the extent of the cold conditions, and the facility's policy to maintain temperatures between 71-81°F was not met.
A resident with multiple medical conditions but no cognitive impairment sustained second-degree burns to the hand and forearm after returning unsupervised to a fire pit during an outdoor activity. Staff were occupied with other tasks and did not maintain supervision of the fire area, leading to the incident. The facility did not have a policy for supervision during outdoor activities.
The facility failed to ensure its activity program was directed by a qualified professional, affecting all residents. The Activity Director, who also serves as Social Services and a CNA, had been in the role for two months and worked every other weekend. During her absence, residents received activity packets. The Regional Director of Operations confirmed that the Activity Director lacked necessary certifications.
The facility failed to ensure the dishwasher sanitation solution was checked at the recommended level, affecting all 43 residents. A cook and a dietary aide used incorrect test strips for the hypochlorite solution, leading to inaccurate readings. The correct strips were later found under the dishwasher, and when used, showed the correct concentration. However, the log book showed inconsistent records, and the dietary manager confirmed the switch from quaternary ammonia to hypochlorite a month ago.
The facility failed to provide adequate behavioral health services for residents with mental illness, affecting four individuals. Residents expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of on-site counseling and in-person psychiatric care, relying instead on limited telehealth services. The facility's social services staff lack the necessary background to address residents' mental health needs, resulting in unmet care requirements.
The facility failed to provide necessary social services to residents with significant mental health needs. One resident expressed boredom and lack of counseling, another had unmet dental and vision needs, a third lacked in-person therapy, and a fourth had not met a psychiatrist in person. The social services staff was inexperienced and inadequately trained.
The facility failed to document consents for two residents who received the PCV 20 vaccine and declinations for two residents who refused it. The Corporate Regional Director of Operations confirmed the absence of necessary documentation in the residents' EMRs, contrary to the facility's policy requiring signed consent forms and documentation of refusals or contraindications.
A resident's room was found with missing sections of the wall and an ant infestation, which had not been addressed despite the resident notifying staff. The Maintenance Supervisor admitted to being aware of the issue but cited limited resources and time as reasons for the delay in repairs. The facility lacked a policy on building maintenance.
The facility failed to provide adequate activities for two residents, leading to dissatisfaction with the age-inappropriate and limited options available. One resident expressed a desire for more group activities and access to newspapers, while another noted staffing shortages prevented outdoor activities. Observations confirmed a lack of organized activities, contrary to the facility's policy.
A facility failed to provide appropriate mental health services for a resident with PTSD and other mental health diagnoses. The resident, who identifies as non-binary or male, did not receive recommended rehabilitative services, structured environments, or psychotherapy. The care plan was incomplete, lacking specific triggers and preferences. Staff were not informed of the resident's preferred pronouns, leading to misgendering. The facility lacked a policy on psych services and did not provide evidence of services received.
The facility failed to administer medications as ordered and properly account for controlled substances, affecting three residents. One resident missed their evening medication due to lack of staff reminder, while another had discrepancies in their narcotic count documentation. A third resident did not receive cogentin due to delayed prior authorization, leading to refusal of haldol. These issues highlight deficiencies in medication administration and documentation practices.
The facility failed to address pharmacy recommendations for three residents, leading to deficiencies in medication regimen reviews. One resident did not have required lab tests completed, another had a medication dosage adjustment unaddressed, and a third had a recommendation to discontinue a medication left incomplete. The DON found a backlog of unaddressed pharmacy forms.
The facility failed to address a gradual dose reduction for a resident on buspirone and did not ensure a stop date for a PRN anti-anxiety medication for another resident. The DON and MDS Coordinator did not follow up on the dose reduction, and the PRN order lacked the required 14-day stop date.
A resident missed five doses of apixaban due to an empty medication card sent by the previous facility and a delay in processing insurance information. The resident, admitted with acute embolism and thrombosis, received their first dose three days after admission, contrary to the facility's policy to prevent significant medication errors.
The facility failed to ensure RN staffing data was accurately entered in the PBJ system, affecting all 42 residents. The Administrator indicated uncertainty about the issue, suggesting it might be due to the corporate office pulling punch codes from the time clock, which outside agency staff do not use, or how the time clock codes the nurses. The person responsible for reporting the PBJ data only works weekends and did not respond to an email inquiry. The PBJ Staffing Data Report for a specified period showed no RN hours and failed to have licensed nursing coverage 24 hours a day, despite the nursing schedule indicating otherwise, demonstrating inaccurate reporting.
The facility failed to administer medications according to manufacturer's directions, monitor residents during medication administration, and provide ordered medications. An LPN did not provide a resident's prescribed medication due to unavailability, did not monitor another resident who threw away a pill, and did not instruct a resident to rinse after using an inhaler. Additionally, the LPN did not follow proper procedures for administering insulin to another resident.
Failure to Maintain Comfortable Temperatures Throughout Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain comfortable temperatures throughout the building, resulting in multiple areas being significantly colder than the required range. During an initial tour, surveyors observed that the west hallway, group and activity room, nursing station, and main dining area were very cold. Temperature readings taken with the facility's infrared gun showed several locations with wall temperatures as low as 50.0°F to 57.2°F, including resident rooms, common areas, and shower rooms. Residents and staff reported that the building had been cold over the weekend, with some residents wearing jackets indoors and staff layering clothing to stay warm. One resident room's heating unit had not been working properly for about a week, and maintenance staff acknowledged ongoing issues with old heating units and drafts from exhaust fans. Staff interviews revealed that although the cold conditions were noticed by both residents and staff, there was a lack of timely communication to facility leadership. The administrator and DON were not made aware of the extent of the cold temperatures until after the weekend, despite staff and residents experiencing discomfort. The maintenance log indicated that heating issues in at least one resident room had been reported two weeks prior, but the problem persisted. The facility's policy requires immediate action to maintain temperatures between 71-81°F, which was not achieved in several areas during the survey.
Lack of Supervision During Outdoor Fire Activity Results in Resident Burn Injury
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to provide adequate supervision to a resident during an outdoor activity involving a fire pit. The resident, who had diagnoses including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, COPD, schizoaffective disorder, and tremor but no cognitive impairment, was participating in a marshmallow roasting activity. Staff members were assigned to supervise different areas, but after assisting the resident with roasting a marshmallow, the dietary manager left the resident to assist others. The resident then returned to the fire pit alone, attempted to throw a napkin into what appeared to be an extinguished fire, and the napkin ignited while stuck to her hand, resulting in burns to her left hand and forearm. Other staff present were occupied with setting up a piñata and were not supervising the fire area at the time of the incident. The incident resulted in the resident sustaining second-degree burns, requiring immediate first aid and subsequent evaluation at a local emergency room. Interviews with staff revealed that supervision around the fire was not maintained after the initial activity, and there was confusion regarding who was responsible for monitoring the residents near the fire pit. The facility was unable to provide a policy regarding supervision of residents during outdoor activities.
Unqualified Activity Director in Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that its activity program was directed by a qualified professional, which has the potential to affect all residents residing in the facility. The facility's Resident Census and Condition form dated March 10, 2025, indicated a census of 43 residents. On March 11, 2025, the Activity Director, who also serves as Social Services and a CNA, stated that she had been in the role for about two months and worked every other weekend. During her absence, residents were provided with activity packets containing crosswords, sudoku puzzles, and coloring pages. However, it was revealed by the Regional Director of Operations that the Activity Director did not possess any activity director certifications.
Dishwasher Sanitation Solution Not Checked Properly
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the dishwasher sanitation solution was checked at the recommended level prior to use, affecting all 43 residents. During an observation, a cook (V7) and a dietary aide (V8) were involved in testing the dishwasher's sanitation level. Initially, quaternary ammonia test strips were used, which turned yellow, indicating an incorrect concentration. Upon realizing the sanitizing solution bucket was nearly empty, V7 replaced it with a full bucket and retested, but the strips still showed an incorrect concentration. It was then discovered that the strips used were not appropriate for the hypochlorite solution currently in use. Further investigation revealed that the correct test strips for hypochlorite were found scattered under the dishwasher. When these strips were used, the concentration registered at 50 ppm, which is the correct level according to the facility's policy. However, the log book showed that V8 had recorded a concentration of 100 ppm earlier, which was inconsistent with the findings. The dietary manager (V6) confirmed that the sanitation level should be 100 ppm and acknowledged the switch from quaternary ammonia to hypochlorite a month ago. The facility's policy requires that the chemical solutions be maintained at the correct concentration and checked at least once per shift, which was not adhered to in this instance.
Inadequate Behavioral Health Services for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary behavioral health care services for residents with mental illness diagnoses, affecting four residents in the sample. Resident 32, diagnosed with major depressive disorder, PTSD, and schizophrenia, expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of on-site counseling services and reported feelings of boredom and depression. The facility's activity director, who recently assumed the role of social services, lacks a behavioral health background and is unsure of the specific services needed by the residents. The resident's care plan includes interventions for depression and self-harm risk but lacks effective implementation of behavioral health services. Resident 41, with diagnoses including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and PTSD, also reported inadequate mental health services at the facility. He was under the impression that he would receive more intensive psychiatric care and has had to find his own therapy. The facility's social services staff, who are new to their roles, are not equipped to provide the necessary psych services, and the resident's care plan does not adequately address his mental health needs. The facility previously had behavioral health aides and an in-person psychiatrist, but these services are no longer available, leaving residents without sufficient support. Residents 22 and 26, both with severe mental health diagnoses, also reported dissatisfaction with the facility's psychiatric services, which are limited to telehealth visits. Both residents expressed a preference for in-person psychiatric care, which the facility does not currently provide. The lack of comprehensive behavioral health services and the absence of a qualified social services staff have resulted in unmet needs for these residents, contributing to their ongoing mental health challenges.
Failure to Provide Adequate Social Services for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide medically related social services to four residents, each with significant mental health diagnoses, as observed during the survey. One resident, a male with major depressive disorder and PTSD, expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of on-site counseling and life skills activities, feeling bored and uninformed about his discharge plan. Another resident, also with major depressive disorder and other mental health issues, was found with broken glasses and unmet dental needs, feeling overwhelmed due to the absence of counseling support and inadequate social service documentation. A third resident, identifying as male and with a history of suicidal ideation, reported a lack of in-person therapy and group support for trauma and wellness, despite having been recently hospitalized for mental health issues. The fourth resident, with a history of substance abuse and mental health disorders, had not met with a psychiatrist in person, only through telehealth, and expressed a preference for face-to-face interactions. The facility's social services were inadequately staffed, with the current staff lacking the necessary training and experience to meet the residents' needs.
Failure to Document Pneumonia Vaccine Consents and Declinations
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper consent or declination documentation for pneumonia vaccinations for four residents. Specifically, two residents received the PCV 20 vaccine without documented consent in their electronic medical records (EMRs), and two other residents who declined the vaccine did not have their declinations documented. This deficiency was confirmed by the Corporate Regional Director of Operations, who acknowledged the absence of the necessary consents or declinations in the residents' EMRs. The facility's policy requires that a consent form be signed prior to immunization and that any refusal or medical contraindication be documented in the clinical record.
Failure to Maintain a Homelike Environment in Resident's Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a resident's room in a comfortable and homelike environment, as observed during a survey. A resident was found in her room with a section of the baseboard wall missing, leaving an open hole approximately one foot in size, and another section with wood exposed and several ants present. The resident reported that she had informed the staff about the issue, but no repairs had been made, and ants were a year-round problem. The Maintenance Supervisor acknowledged the need for repairs, stating that the facility had been neglected over the years and he was the only maintenance staff available, which limited his ability to address the issue promptly. The facility did not provide a policy regarding the maintenance of the building.
Inadequate Activity Program for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide activities that meet the physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of two residents, R22 and R26. R22, who has diagnoses including bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, expressed dissatisfaction with the activities offered, describing them as age-inappropriate and lacking in variety. He noted a preference for activities such as dining out, reading newspapers, and participating in group activities, which were not being provided. R22 also mentioned that the facility no longer receives newspapers regularly, which was an activity he valued. R26, who has diagnoses including major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, also reported dissatisfaction with the current activity offerings. He noted that the previous activity director had quit, and the new director, who also serves as the social services person, was not providing adequate activities. R26 expressed a desire to go outside more frequently and listen to music, but stated that staffing shortages prevented this. Observations confirmed a lack of organized activities, with no staff directing activities and residents left to wander the halls or engage in minimal activities like card games. The facility's policy requires activities to be based on residents' assessments and preferences, which was not being met in these cases.
Failure to Provide Resident-Centered Mental Health Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement and provide resident-centered mental health services for a resident diagnosed with PTSD, major depressive disorder, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, and suicidal ideations. The resident, who identifies as non-binary or male, was admitted to the facility with a PASRR II recommendation for rehabilitative services, structured environments, and psychotherapy. However, the facility did not provide these services, and the resident reported having only one telehealth session with a psychiatric nurse practitioner, preferring in-person therapy sessions. The resident expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of trauma, wellness, life skills, or behavior management groups at the facility. The resident also reported that staff were not informed of their preferred pronouns and name, leading to misgendering and inappropriate interactions. The care plan for the resident was incomplete, lacking specific triggers, PTSD information, and preferences for being addressed, as well as activities that the resident enjoys, such as journaling and reward-based tasks. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of awareness and training regarding the resident's needs and preferences. The activity director/social services staff lacked a behavioral health background and was unsure of the psych services required by the resident. The facility previously had behavioral health aides and an in-person psychiatrist, but these services were no longer available. The facility did not provide evidence of the psych services the resident was receiving, nor did it have a policy regarding psych services, behavior management, or PTSD.
Medication Administration and Documentation Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure medications were administered as ordered and controlled medications were properly accounted for, affecting three residents. One resident missed their evening medication because they were not reminded by staff, and the nurse refused to administer the medication outside the scheduled time. The resident's Medication Administration Record (M.A.R.) confirmed that the medications were not administered as ordered. Another resident's Controlled Substance Form showed discrepancies in the narcotic count, with two doses of hydrocodone not signed out or accounted for. The nurse failed to document the administration of these doses, leading to uncertainty about whether the resident received the medication. Additionally, a third resident did not receive their prescribed cogentin due to a delay in obtaining prior authorization, which led to the resident refusing to take their haldol without it. The facility's attempts to secure the authorization were delayed, impacting the resident's medication regimen.
Failure to Address Pharmacy Recommendations for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to address pharmacy recommendations for three residents, leading to deficiencies in medication regimen reviews. For one resident, R18, the pharmacy recommended obtaining specific lab tests, including CBC, BMP, hepatic panel, GGT, ammonia, and A1C, which were not available in the medical record. The Director of Nursing confirmed that these labs were not done, and the MDS/Care Plan Coordinator was unaware of the reason for this oversight. Another resident, R35, had a pharmacy recommendation to increase the dosage of levothyroxine due to a high TSH level and to follow up with a TSH concentration test. This recommendation was not addressed by the resident's physician, and the resident continued to receive the lower dosage. Additionally, for resident R33, a recommendation to discontinue hydroxyzine PRN for anxiety was not completed, as the form was left blank. The Director of Nursing, who had recently joined the facility, found a backlog of unaddressed pharmacy recommendation forms, including the one for R33.
Failure to Address Gradual Dose Reduction and PRN Stop Date
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to address a gradual dose reduction for a resident diagnosed with multiple mental health disorders, including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The resident had been receiving buspirone 10 mg three times daily since late February 2025, and a consultation report dated January 9, 2025, recommended a gradual dose reduction to 10 mg twice daily. However, this recommendation was not addressed by the physician. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Coordinator were identified as responsible for ensuring gradual dose reductions, but both acknowledged that the reduction had not been addressed or followed up on. Additionally, the facility failed to ensure that an as-needed (PRN) anti-anxiety medication for another resident had a stop date. The resident had a physician's order for hydroxyzine tablets to be given every six hours as needed for anxiety, but the order lacked a stop date. The DON confirmed that PRN psychotropic medications should have a stop date of 14 days, which was not implemented in this case. A pharmacy recommendation review also noted the need to discontinue the PRN hydroxyzine dose, citing CMS requirements for a 14-day limit on PRN orders for non-antipsychotic psychotropic drugs.
Significant Medication Error Due to Missed Doses of Apixaban
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident was free from significant medication errors, specifically concerning the administration of apixaban. The resident, who was admitted with multiple diagnoses including acute embolism and thrombosis, was prescribed apixaban to be taken twice daily. However, upon admission, the resident missed five doses of this critical medication. The omission occurred because the previous facility sent an empty medication card, and the necessary medication was not available at the new facility. The issue was compounded by a delay in processing the resident's insurance information, which was only faxed to the pharmacy two days after the resident's admission. The resident's medication orders were entered into the system on the evening of the admission, but the absence of the medication was not realized until two days later. This series of inactions and oversights led to the resident receiving their first dose of apixaban three days after admission, contrary to the facility's policy to prevent significant medication errors.
Inaccurate RN Staffing Data Reporting
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure RN staffing data was accurately entered in the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system, affecting all 42 residents. The Administrator (V1) indicated uncertainty about the reporting issue, suggesting it might be due to the corporate office pulling punch codes from the time clock, which outside agency staff do not use, or how the time clock codes the nurses. The person responsible for reporting the PBJ data (V17) only works weekends and did not respond to an email inquiry. The PBJ Staffing Data Report for October 1-December 31, 2023, showed no RN hours and failed to have licensed nursing coverage 24 hours a day, despite the nursing schedule indicating otherwise, demonstrating inaccurate reporting.
Medication Administration Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure medications were administered in accordance with manufacturer's directions, failed to monitor residents during medication administration, and failed to provide ordered medications. For Resident 21, the facility did not provide the prescribed Icosapent Ethyl medication for high triglycerides since March 2024 due to an insurance denial. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the physician was notified of the denial, but there was no documented notification in the resident's progress notes. Additionally, during a medication administration observation, the LPN did not provide the Icosapent Ethyl medication as it was not available, and the resident had not received it for several months. The facility also failed to monitor Resident 21 during medication administration. The LPN dispensed all morning medications into a plastic cup, and the resident inadvertently threw away a small peach-colored pill, which was later identified as hydrochlorothiazide for high blood pressure. The LPN did not notice the resident had failed to take the medication. Furthermore, the LPN did not instruct Resident 21 to rinse and spit after using a combination inhaler for COPD, which is necessary to prevent fungal infections in the mouth. For Resident 26, the LPN did not follow the manufacturer's instructions for administering Lispro Insulin using an insulin pen. The LPN failed to wipe the tip of the pen with an alcohol wipe and did not prime the pen before injection, which could result in an incorrect dose of insulin. The DON confirmed that the LPN should have followed the manufacturer's instructions to ensure the resident received the correct dose and to prevent infection.
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What surveyors actually found near you
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Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
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Illustrative
Risk indicators are statistical estimates from public CMS data — not predictions, findings, or compliance advice.
Nursing homes near Sterling
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citadel Of Sterling,the | 1.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Allure Of Sterling | 1.5 mi | ★★★★★ | 15 | 1 |
| Rock Falls Rehab & Hlth Care C | 2.9 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Heritage Square | 10.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 9 | 0 |
| Dixon Rehab & Hcc | 10.8 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
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