All states › Maryland › Sandy Spring › Friends Nursing Home
17340 Quaker Lane Sandy Spring, MD 20860 · Montgomery County
All 2 nursing homes in Sandy Spring, MD (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 215211 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Friends Nursing Home 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 Friends Nursing Home as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall, above 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 3.93 hours per resident per day at Friends Nursing Home, above the Maryland median of 3.70 (US median: 3.72). About 0.75 of those hours are from registered nurses. Weekend staffing is close to its all-week average. 17.1% of nursing staff left within a year (Maryland median 40.9%). That is lower than most homes in Maryland, a sign of a steadier team.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Friends Nursing Home: Medicare and Medicaid
Friends Nursing Home 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 May 26, 2026 and found 5 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 19 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 19 citations at Friends Nursing Home across 4 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 18 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 1 was minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were resident assessment and care planning (4) and freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards" (tag F0812, level F, May 14, 2025). 3 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
May 26, 2026 · 6 citations · includes complaint inspection
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.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
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.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
May 14, 2025 · 8 citations · includes complaint inspection
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
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.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DKeep all essential equipment working safely.
November 8, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
May 20, 2021 · 3 citations
DCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
BObserve each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Questions to ask on a tour of Friends Nursing Home
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on May 26, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- 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
6 penalties in the last three years, including $18,010 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 20, 2023 | Fine | $3,904 |
| Nov 13, 2023 | Fine | $3,496 |
| Nov 6, 2023 | Fine | $3,208 |
| Oct 30, 2023 | Fine | $2,857 |
| Oct 23, 2023 | Fine | $2,447 |
| Oct 17, 2023 | Fine | $2,098 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Friends Nursing Home
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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1.8 mi
Montgomery General Hospital INC OlneyEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 4h 19m for patients treated and sent home
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8.6 mi
Holy Cross Hospital Silver SpringEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 5h 14m for patients treated and sent home
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9.2 mi
Howard County General Hospital ColumbiaEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 4h 26m 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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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.