Last verified: October 2026
Sterling Care Forest Hill is a 156-bed licensed nursing home in Forest Hill, Harford County. Everything here comes from Maryland's OHCQ directory and CMS Care Compare; nothing is our own rating.
| OHCQ license # | 12007 |
|---|---|
| Licensed capacity (OHCQ) | 156 beds |
| CMS certified beds | 156 |
| Average residents per day (CMS) | 129 (83% of certified beds) |
| Medicare / Medicaid | Medicare and Medicaid |
| Ownership (CMS) | For profit - Corporation |
| Legal business name | FOREST HILL SNF OPERATOR LLC |
| Chain | STERLING CARE (6 facilities) |
| First certified for Medicare/Medicaid | April 17, 1989 |
| CMS certification number | 215194 |
| Address | 109 Forest Valley Drive, Forest Hill, MD 21050 (Harford County) |
| Phone (OHCQ listing) | (410) 838-0101 |
What is Sterling Care Forest Hill's CMS star rating?
CMS rates Sterling Care Forest Hill 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for health inspections, 3 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 Forest Hill on its most recent survey?
Maryland surveyors' most recent standard health inspection of Sterling Care Forest Hill, on December 22, 2025, produced 12 health deficiencies.
Most frequent categories in the current cycle: Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies (4), Infection Control Deficiencies (3), Resident Rights Deficiencies (2). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 22, 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. | E | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0558 | Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. | D | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0677 | Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. | D | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0684 | Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. | D | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0692 | Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health. | D | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0695 | Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed. | D | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0756 | Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures. | D | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0761 | Ensure 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. | D | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0842 | Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards. | D | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0881 | Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use. | D | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0883 | Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations. | D | Standard |
| December 22, 2025 | F0887 | Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status. | D | Standard |
How well is Sterling Care Forest Hill staffed?
Sterling Care Forest Hill reports 4.08 total nurse staffing hours per resident per day, including 0.76 registered-nurse hours and 2.17 nurse-aide hours; the median for Harford County nursing homes is 4.02 hours.
Weekend RN coverage is 0.41 hours per resident per day. Total nursing staff turnover is 34% and RN turnover 22%. No administrator departures were reported in the past year.
Has Sterling Care Forest Hill been fined by CMS?
Yes. CMS records 1 fine(s) totaling $10,036 for Sterling Care Forest Hill in the last three years.
| Date | Penalty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| August 14, 2024 | Fine | $10,036 |
How does Sterling Care Forest Hill compare with other nursing homes near Forest Hill?
By size, Sterling Care Forest Hill ranks 2 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 |
| Lorien Nsg & Rehab Ctr Belair | Bel Air | 120 | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 9 |
| Sterling Care Bel Air | Bel Air | 155 | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 11 |
| Sterling Care Riverside | Belcamp | 129 | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 20 |
Assisted living nearby: licensed programs in Bel Air and Forest Hill.
What should families ask before choosing Sterling Care Forest Hill?
Read the CMS record for Sterling Care Forest Hill 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 December 22, 2025 survey's 12 citations, and to see the plan of correction.
- 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 Forest Hill a nursing home or assisted living?
It is a licensed nursing home (comprehensive care facility), not an assisted living program.
| Sterling Care Forest Hill is | It is not |
|---|---|
| OHCQ-licensed long-term care facility, license 12007 | An OHCQ assisted living program |
| Rated 5 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.
