All states › Maryland › Belcamp › Sterling Care Riverside
1123 Belcamp Garth Belcamp, MD 21017 · Harford County
CMS certification number 215233 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Sterling Care Riverside 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 Sterling Care Riverside as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Maryland average of 3.2.
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 3.54 hours per resident per day at Sterling Care Riverside, below the Maryland median of 3.70 (US median: 3.72). About 0.63 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.99 hours, 15% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 47.1% of nursing staff left within a year (Maryland median 40.9%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Sterling Care Riverside: Medicare and Medicaid
Sterling Care Riverside is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Maryland's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on August 25, 2025 and found 11 deficiencies, plus 9 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 49 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 49 citations at Sterling Care Riverside across 4 inspection dates, 9 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 48 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 1 was minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (12) and resident rights (10). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "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" (tag F0585, level F, August 12, 2026). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
August 12, 2026 · 8 citations · includes complaint inspection
FHonor 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.
FKeep all essential equipment working safely.
DGive the resident's representative the ability to exercise the resident's rights.
DHonor the resident's right to share a room with spouse or roommate of choice and receive written notice before a change is made.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
August 25, 2025 · 12 citations · includes complaint inspection
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
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.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DHave a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
DPost nurse staffing information every day.
DEnsure 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.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
April 6, 2023 · 17 citations
EHonor 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.
EProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
ESafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
EImplement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
EPerform COVID19 testing on residents and staff.
DHonor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
DCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DEnsure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
December 21, 2018 · 12 citations
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DEnsure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
DObserve each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DProvide routine and 24-hour emergency dental care for each resident.
DProvide or obtain dental services for each resident.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
CPost nurse staffing information every day.
Questions to ask on a tour of Sterling Care Riverside
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on December 21, 2018. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Weekend staffing is 15% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- 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
1 penalty in the last three years, including $4,194 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 11, 2023 | Fine | $4,194 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Sterling Care Riverside
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 4.7 mi
-
6.6 mi
Upper Chesapeake Medical Center Bel AirEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 59m for patients treated and sent home
- 10.7 mi
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Sterling Care Riverside › All nursing homes in Belcamp ›
Compare Sterling Care Riverside with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Lorien Bulle Rock · Havre De Grace · 5 stars · 9.0 mi
- Sterling Care Forest Hill · Forest Hill · 5 stars · 9.4 mi
- Citizens Care Center · Havre De Grace · 5 stars · 9.4 mi
- Lorien Nursing & Rehab Center Belair · Bel Air · 4 stars · 5.1 mi
Other Sterling Care nursing homes in Maryland
- Sterling Care Forest Hill · Forest Hill · 5 stars
- Sterling Care Hillhaven · Adelphi · 5 stars
- Sterling Care Rockville Nursing · Rockville · 4 stars
- Sterling Care Bel Air · Bel Air · 4 stars
- Sterling Care Bethesda · Bethesda · 4 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 6 Sterling Care nursing homes ›
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.