All states › Illinois › Sterling › La Bella of Sterling
3601 Sixteenth Avenue Sterling, IL 61081 · Whiteside County
All 3 nursing homes in Sterling, IL (3 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 14E579 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is La Bella of Sterling a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for La Bella of Sterling as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Illinois average of 2.6.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.17 hours per resident per day at La Bella of Sterling, below the Illinois median of 3.33 (US median: 3.72). About 0.79 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.93 hours, 8% below its all-week average.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at La Bella of Sterling: Medicare and Medicaid
La Bella of Sterling is certified for Medicaid but not Medicare, so Medicare won't pay for a rehab stay here after a hospital discharge. It can serve long-term residents covered by Illinois Medicaid.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on March 12, 2025 and found 11 deficiencies, plus 3 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 20 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 20 citations at La Bella of Sterling across 8 inspection dates, 5 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on October 3, 2025. The most common areas cited were pharmacy service (7) and quality of life and care (7). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level G, October 3, 2025).
June 16, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure the transfer/discharge meets the resident's needs/preferences and that the resident is prepared for a safe transfer/discharge.
December 17, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
FHonor 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.
October 3, 2025 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
March 12, 2025 · 11 citations
FEnsure the activities program is directed by a qualified professional.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EEnsure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
EProvide medically-related social services to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life.
EDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
DHonor 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.
DProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
DProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
November 7, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
May 9, 2024 · 2 citations
FElectronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
January 16, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
FEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
April 6, 2023 · 2 citations
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
EEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Questions to ask on a tour of La Bella of Sterling
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on October 3, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- The home averages about 38% of its beds filled. Are any units closed?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 1/5 | 3/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near La Bella of Sterling
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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1.6 mi
Cgh Medical Center SterlingEmergency room ★☆☆☆☆ Medicare overall 1 of 5Median ER visit 3h 18m for patients treated and sent home
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10.4 mi
OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center DixonEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 0m for patients treated and sent home
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14.4 mi
Morrison Community Hospital MorrisonEmergency roomMedian ER visit 2h 4m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
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Compare La Bella of Sterling with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.