Last verified: October 2026
Sterling Care Riverside is a 129-bed licensed nursing home in Belcamp, Harford County. This page sets out its official federal record -- CMS star ratings, survey findings, staffing and fines -- next to its Maryland license.
| OHCQ license # | 12010 |
|---|---|
| Licensed capacity (OHCQ) | 129 beds |
| CMS certified beds | 129 |
| Average residents per day (CMS) | 113 (87% of certified beds) |
| Medicare / Medicaid | Medicare and Medicaid |
| Ownership (CMS) | For profit - Limited Liability company |
| Legal business name | RIVERSIDE SNF OPERATOR, LLC |
| Chain | STERLING CARE (6 facilities) |
| First certified for Medicare/Medicaid | May 1, 1992 |
| CMS certification number | 215233 |
| Address | 1123 Belcamp Garth, Belcamp, MD 21017 (Harford County) |
| Phone (OHCQ listing) | (410) 575-6400 |
What is Sterling Care Riverside's CMS star rating?
CMS rates Sterling Care Riverside 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 2 stars for health inspections, 2 for staffing and 5 for quality measures. The average overall rating among Harford County nursing homes is 4.3.
Quality-measure ratings split into long-stay residents (5 stars) and short-stay rehab patients (5 stars) -- read the one that matches why your parent is going there.
What did inspectors cite at Sterling Care Riverside on its most recent survey?
Maryland surveyors' most recent standard health inspection of Sterling Care Riverside, on August 25, 2025, produced 20 health deficiencies.
Most frequent categories in the current cycle: Resident Rights Deficiencies (5), Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies (4), Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies (3). Scope/severity runs from A (isolated, no actual harm) to L (widespread immediate jeopardy); G and above mean residents were harmed.
| Survey | Tag | What CMS cited | Scope/severity | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 12, 2026 | F0585 | Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. | F | Complaint |
| August 12, 2026 | F0908 | Keep all essential equipment working safely. | F | Complaint |
| August 12, 2026 | F0551 | Give the resident's representative the ability to exercise the resident's rights. | D | Complaint |
| August 12, 2026 | F0559 | Honor the resident's right to share a room with spouse or roommate of choice and receive written notice before a change is made. | D | Complaint |
| August 12, 2026 | F0686 | Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. | D | Complaint |
| August 12, 2026 | F0689 | Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. | D | Complaint |
| August 12, 2026 | F0760 | Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors. | D | Complaint |
| August 12, 2026 | F0880 | Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. | D | Complaint |
| August 25, 2025 | F0812 | Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. | F | Standard |
| August 25, 2025 | F0550 | Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. | D | Standard |
| August 25, 2025 | F0584 | Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. | D | Standard |
| August 25, 2025 | F0641 | Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment. | D | Standard |
| August 25, 2025 | F0658 | Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. | D | Standard |
| August 25, 2025 | F0689 | Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. | D | Standard |
How well is Sterling Care Riverside staffed?
Sterling Care Riverside reports 3.54 total nurse staffing hours per resident per day, including 0.63 registered-nurse hours and 1.95 nurse-aide hours; the median for Harford County nursing homes is 4.02 hours.
Weekend RN coverage is 0.40 hours per resident per day. Total nursing staff turnover is 47% and RN turnover 39%. 1 administrator(s) left in the past year.
Has Sterling Care Riverside been fined by CMS?
Yes. CMS records 1 fine(s) totaling $4,194 for Sterling Care Riverside in the last three years.
| Date | Penalty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| December 11, 2023 | Fine | $4,194 |
How does Sterling Care Riverside compare with other nursing homes near Belcamp?
By size, Sterling Care Riverside ranks 4 of 6 nursing homes in Harford County; the table compares it with nearby facilities on CMS rating and the deficiencies cited at each one's latest survey.
| Facility | City | Beds | CMS overall | Deficiencies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens Care Center | Havre de Grace | 184 | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 14 |
| Lorien Bulle Rock | Havre de Grace | 78 | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 3 |
| Sterling Care Forest Hill | Forest Hill | 156 | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 12 |
| Lorien Nsg & Rehab Ctr Belair | Bel Air | 120 | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 9 |
| Sterling Care Bel Air | Bel Air | 155 | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 11 |
Assisted living nearby: licensed programs in Aberdeen and Havre de Grace.
What should families ask before choosing Sterling Care Riverside?
Read the CMS record for Sterling Care Riverside first, then tour at a mealtime and on a weekend, and ask the questions its own data raises.
- Ask the administrator what changed after the August 25, 2025 survey's 20 citations, and to see the plan of correction.
- Ask how many residents each nurse aide covers on evening and night shifts -- CMS rates staffing here low.
- Ask what led to the federal fine and how the issue was corrected.
- Ask whether the facility accepts Maryland Medicaid for long-term care if a rehab stay turns into a permanent one.
Is Sterling Care Riverside a nursing home or assisted living?
It is a licensed nursing home (comprehensive care facility), not an assisted living program.
| Sterling Care Riverside is | It is not |
|---|---|
| OHCQ-licensed long-term care facility, license 12010 | An OHCQ assisted living program |
| Rated 3 stars overall by CMS | Rated by Baltimore Senior Advisor |
| Medicare and Medicaid | Free of charge -- Medicare covers only qualifying skilled stays |
Source: OHCQ long-term care directory (as of September 30, 2026); CMS Care Compare provider, deficiency and penalty data (release October 1, 2026). CMS record.
