Not rated by CMS — ratings are suppressed for new or low-volume facilities.
The next survey window likely opens around November 2026
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of June 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Sterling Care Forest Hill during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A cognitively impaired resident with a known elopement risk exited a facility unsupervised due to an unsecured kitchen door left open by contractors. Despite having a functional wander guard, the resident was able to leave without triggering an alarm and was found at a nearby gas station. The incident highlighted a lapse in supervision and security measures for residents with exit-seeking behaviors.
The facility failed to store food according to professional standards, as observed during a survey. A bowl of croutons with expired dates was found in the refrigerator, and several items in the walk-in freezer lacked date labels. The dietary aide confirmed these issues and removed the items. These findings were discussed with the administration team.
The facility failed to allow residents on Unit 300 to move freely, as the unit was locked and required a code to enter and exit. The RN Unit Manager stated the unit was locked due to an elopement risk, but not all residents had access to the codes. A GNA was seen giving a resident the code, and some residents who went to the dining room had it, but one resident stated they never received the code, and another confirmed they did not have it.
A resident expressed concern about their vision, stating they needed cataract surgery, but the facility failed to follow up on an ophthalmologist's recommendation. Despite an optometrist's referral for surgery, the appointment was delayed due to miscommunication and incorrect information about insurance issues.
The facility failed to maintain equipment and provide a clean, homelike environment, as observed in two resident rooms. Issues included non-functioning heating and air-conditioning units, a musty odor, a detached bathroom sink, and a large hole in the wall. Despite acknowledgment from maintenance staff, these deficiencies persisted upon follow-up observation.
The facility staff did not complete daily assignment sheets on Unit 300 and failed to retain nursing staff data for 18 months. Missing assignment sheets for specific dates and shifts were discovered during a survey. Interviews with the RN Unit Manager and the Assistant DON confirmed the expectation for daily completion and monthly storage of these sheets.
A facility failed to make necessary repairs in a resident's room, where a large section of the baseboard was detached from the wall, and the bathroom sink had a significant gap needing caulking. The resident noted previous repair attempts and mentioned a hallway flood that caused the wall to shift, leading to further damage.
Resident Elopement Due to Inadequate Supervision and Unsecured Exit
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate supervision to a cognitively impaired resident with a known risk of elopement and exit-seeking behavior, resulting in the resident leaving the building unsupervised. The incident involved a 72-year-old resident with severe cognitive impairment, as indicated by a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 0, and a history of dementia with behavioral disturbance. The resident was placed on a wander guard due to wandering behavior and a high elopement risk assessment. Despite these precautions, the resident was able to exit the facility through a kitchen door that was left open by a contractor. On the night of the incident, the resident was last seen at the nurses' station and later near a soda machine on the second floor. A Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) attempted to guide the resident back to the unit, but the resident stopped at the nurses' station and began talking to himself. The GNA left the resident to attend to other duties, and shortly after, the resident eloped from the facility. The resident was found approximately 800 feet away at a nearby gas station and was returned to the facility by the night shift RN supervisor. The facility's investigation revealed that the wander guard on the resident's wrist was functional, but the kitchen exit door lacked a wander guard alarm at the time of the incident. The door was left open by contractors cleaning the kitchen hoods, allowing the resident to exit without triggering an alarm. The facility's failure to ensure the kitchen door was secured and monitored contributed to the resident's unsupervised departure.
Removal Plan
- The resident's wander guard bracelet was checked and found functional.
- A thorough physical examination and psychological assessment performed by the registered nurse and the social worker found the resident with physical injuries and was still cognitively impaired with a BIMS of 0.
- All doors were checked in the facility by the RN supervisor and the nurses.
- The ADON was notified.
- The ADON performed an audit of the elopement risk book, elopement assessments, wander guards to ensure placement and function, wander guard orders and elopement care plans to ensure the documents were updated.
- An elopement drill was performed at the facility to ensure all residents were in the facility.
- An assessment of the kitchen door was performed again by the administrator and the maintenance director.
- The plan of correction was initiated, and staff education was initiated regarding the kitchen staff signing off in the evening that the kitchen door is locked.
- A statement signed by the Maintenance Director stated that he educated the vendors on the new policy related to ensuring the kitchen doors remain locked while the vendors are working on kitchen projects. The requirement to have a facility maintenance staff member present during the evening hours when the contracted vendors are present.
- The magnetic lock and the wander guard alarm were installed on the exterior kitchen door.
- Elopement drills to be conducted on 7-3, 3-11, and 11-7 shifts and then quarterly.
Food Storage Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety, as observed during a survey. During an initial tour of the kitchen, a large bowl of croutons was found in the refrigerator with a date-in of 06/13/24 and a date-out of 06/19/24, indicating it should have been removed. The dietary aide staff accompanying the surveyors confirmed this and removed the croutons. Additionally, in the walk-in freezer, several items, including a small bag of sugar cookies, five large bags of pancakes, and three bags of French toast, were found without date labels. The dietary aide staff acknowledged that these items should have been dated and removed them immediately. These observations were discussed with the administration team at the time of exit.
Failure to Allow Free Movement on Locked Unit
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to allow residents on Unit 300 to move freely throughout the facility, as the unit was locked and required a code to enter and exit. This deficiency was identified during a survey when the surveyor entered Unit 300, which is primarily used for residents requiring rehabilitation services. The Registered Nurse (RN) Unit Manager explained that the unit was locked due to a resident being an elopement risk, although the resident was easily redirected. Family members and visitors were provided with the codes at the front desk. During interviews, it was revealed that not all residents had access to the codes. A Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) was observed giving a resident a piece of paper with the code, and it was noted that some residents who went to the dining room had the code. However, one resident stated they had never received the code, and another resident confirmed they did not have the codes to enter and exit the unit.
Failure to Follow Up on Ophthalmologist's Recommendation for Cataract Surgery
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to address and follow up on an ophthalmologist's recommendation for a resident who required cataract surgery. The resident expressed concern about their vision, stating that their last eye appointment was in January and that they were informed they would need surgery. Upon observation, the resident was not wearing glasses, and no glasses were found at their bedside. A review of the resident's medical record revealed an order for an optometrist consult placed in October of the previous year, and the last optometrist appointment in April recommended a referral for cataract surgery. Interviews with staff revealed discrepancies in the scheduling of the necessary ophthalmologist appointment. The Unit Manager, responsible for scheduling specialty appointments, initially cited insurance issues as a barrier to scheduling the appointment. However, the business manager confirmed that there were no insurance issues preventing the appointment. This lack of follow-up and miscommunication resulted in a delay in addressing the resident's vision needs, as the ophthalmologist appointment was only scheduled after the surveyor's inquiry.
Facility Fails to Maintain Equipment and Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain equipment in good repair and provide a clean, homelike environment for its residents. During observation rounds, surveyors noted several deficiencies in two resident rooms. In one room, the heating and air-conditioning unit was not functioning, with a wet black substance visible on the grill, and the unit's cover was falling off. A musty odor was present throughout the room. In another room, the bathroom air duct vent had a 1-inch layer of dry gray/white substance, and the bathroom sink was detached from the wall. Additionally, a heating and air-conditioning unit was leaking water onto the floor, and a large hole was observed in the wall adjacent to the unit. Despite the maintenance technician's acknowledgment of these issues and the promise to address them, a follow-up observation revealed that the deficiencies persisted. The heating and air-conditioning unit continued to leak water, the musty odor remained, and the hole in the wall was not repaired. The wet black substance was still present on the heating and air-conditioning grill, and the bathroom air duct vent still had the dry gray/white substance. The unit manager confirmed these ongoing issues and indicated that the maintenance technician would be notified immediately.
Failure to Maintain Daily Assignment Sheets
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure that assignment sheets were completed daily on Unit 300 and did not retain the posted daily nursing staff data for a minimum of 18 months. This deficiency was identified during a survey when the surveyor requested assignment sheets for specific dates and shifts, which were found to be missing. Specifically, the written copies of the schedule for the dates 08/02/24 11pm-7am, 08/03/24 & 08/04/24 all shifts, 08/05/24 11pm-7am, and 08/06/24 11pm-7am were not available. During interviews, the RN Unit Manager and the Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that staff are expected to complete assignment sheets daily for all shifts and that these sheets are removed from the unit after one month and stored monthly.
Facility Failed to Ensure Timely Repairs in Resident's Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure necessary repairs were made in a resident's room, as observed during a survey. Specifically, a large section of the baseboard, approximately 25 feet, was completely detached from the wall at the head of the resident's bed, with broken drywall pieces visible. Additionally, the bathroom sink in the resident's room had a significant gap between the sink and the wall, requiring caulking. The resident reported that some repairs had been attempted, but following a hallway flood, the wall at the head of the bed shifted, causing further damage. The resident also mentioned that personal items were stored in a plastic bag on the floor.
What surveyors are citing around you — mapped
All 10 risk areas, ranked with evidence
Repeat citations, what's rising near you, and quality measures — ranked so department heads know exactly where to look first.
Illustrative
What surveyors actually found near you
We read the 729 citations issued within 25 miles in the last 12 months — including the 3 immediate-jeopardy cases — and tell you exactly what happened, in plain English, matched to your record.
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.
Illustrative
A prioritized, do-first checklist
Every risk area becomes concrete audit steps drawn from real citations at facilities like yours — run them this week, before your window opens.
Illustrative
Risk indicators are statistical estimates from public CMS data — not predictions, findings, or compliance advice.
Nursing homes near Forest Hill
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Care Bel Air | 1.8 mi | — | 18 | 0 |
| Lorien Nsg & Rehab Ctr Belair | 4.8 mi | — | 9 | 0 |
| Sterling Care Riverside | 9.4 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Meadows Retirement Com. | 10.8 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
| Lorien Bulle Rock | 12 mi | — | 0 | 0 |
Every risk area ranked, a do-first checklist, and your local survey patterns
Built specifically for Sterling Care Forest Hill.
100% money-back within 48 hours.
Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release August 2026) and official state health department websites.