Your report for LA Bella of Sterling
Overall Score
CMS Five-Star Quality Rating- Much below average
- Below average
- Average
- Above average
- Much above average
Where it ranks
- IllinoisAbove only 37% of peers665 rated homes · average 2.5★
- Whiteside CountyAbove 50% of peers7 rated homes · average 1.7★
- United StatesAbove only 20% of peers14,574 rated homes · average 3.0★
How the rating is built
- Health inspectionsStarting point3★+0.3 vs IL avg
- StaffingCan add or remove a star1★−1.1 vs IL avg
- Quality measuresCan add or remove a star2★−0.9 vs IL avg
CMS starts from the health inspection stars, then adds or subtracts a star for staffing and for quality measures. Stars are assigned relative to other facilities in the same state.
Ratings & measures
Tap a row to see what it meansHealth inspection ratingCMS stars from the last three on-site inspection cycles3★Above only 48% of peersIL avg2.7★U.S. avg2.8★
Stars assigned from the last three standard surveys and every complaint investigation in that window, weighted toward the most recent and the most serious findings. CMS assigns these stars relative to other facilities in the same state.
It carries the most weight in the overall rating and is the only domain based on what trained inspectors saw on site rather than what the facility reported.
Staffing ratingCMS stars from payroll-reported hours and turnover1★Lowest tier among peersIL avg2.1★U.S. avg2.9★
Nurse and aide hours per resident day from payroll records CMS collects every quarter, adjusted for how much care residents need, plus staff turnover and weekend coverage.
More hours and lower turnover are the strongest predictors of fewer falls, pressure sores, and avoidable hospital stays.
Quality measures ratingCMS stars from clinical outcomes and resident assessments2★Above only 17% of peersIL avg2.9★U.S. avg3.6★
Clinical outcomes from resident assessments and Medicare claims: falls with injury, pressure ulcers, hospitalizations, antipsychotic use, and more, for both short-stay and long-stay residents.
It shows whether care is working, but part of it comes from the facility’s own assessments, so read it alongside the inspection results.
Total nurse hoursPer resident per day, all nursing staff2.38hrsAbove only 5% of peersIL avg3.49Benchmark4.10
All licensed nurse and aide hours worked, divided by the number of residents, on an average day. Reported from payroll, not self-reported.
Federal research links 4.1 hours a day to fewer avoidable harms. Below about 3 hours, residents wait longer for help with basics like toileting and repositioning.
RN hoursPer resident per day, registered nurses only0.73hrsAbove 60% of peersIL avg0.73Benchmark0.75
Registered nurse hours only. RNs assess residents, manage medications, and catch changes in condition; LPNs and aides deliver most hands-on care.
RN coverage is the staffing measure most tied to fewer hospital transfers and infections, and it is where thinly staffed facilities cut first.
Nursing staff turnoverShare of nursing staff who left within a year · lower is better—No dataIL avg46%RN turnover—
The share of nursing staff who left within the past year, from the same payroll data.
High turnover means residents are cared for by people who do not know them, and it is one of the strongest predictors of inspection problems.
Fines in the last three yearsCivil money penalties imposed by CMS · lower is better$54,998Above only 45% of peersIL avg$95,677Fines · denials1 · 1
Civil money penalties CMS imposed after serious or uncorrected deficiencies, and denials of Medicare payment for new admissions.
Penalties follow the worst inspection findings. A recent fine is the clearest sign that inspectors found real harm.
Inspection history
Last three inspection cyclesCitations by monthApr 2023 – Dec 2025
- No actual harm (D–F)
- Actual harm (G–I)
- Immediate jeopardy (J–L)
- $Fine or payment denial
Showing
Click a month or a year to filter the findings below. Arrow keys move between months; Esc clears.
Dec 17, 2025Cycle 1worst F · no actual harm
- F584Honor 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.Resident RightsF · widespreadCorrected Dec 18, 2025
Oct 3, 2025Cycle 1worst G · actual harm
- F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Quality of Life and CareG · isolatedCorrected Oct 4, 2025
Mar 12, 2025Cycle 1worst F · no actual harm
- F584Honor 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.Resident RightsD · isolatedCorrected Mar 27, 2025
- F679Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Mar 27, 2025
- F680Ensure the activities program is directed by a qualified professional.Quality of Life and CareF · widespreadCorrected Apr 2, 2025
- F740Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.Quality of Life and CareE · patternCorrected Mar 27, 2025
- F742Provide 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.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Mar 27, 2025
- F745Provide medically-related social services to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life.Quality of Life and CareE · patternCorrected Mar 27, 2025
- F755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.Pharmacy ServiceD · isolatedCorrected Mar 27, 2025
- F756Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.Pharmacy ServiceD · isolatedCorrected Mar 27, 2025
- F758Implement 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.Pharmacy ServiceD · isolatedCorrected Mar 27, 2025
- F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Nutrition and DietaryF · widespreadCorrected Mar 27, 2025
- F883Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.Infection ControlE · patternCorrected Mar 26, 2025
Nov 7, 2024Cycle 2worst D · no actual harm
- F760Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.Pharmacy ServiceD · isolatedCorrected Nov 13, 2024
May 9, 2024Cycle 2worst F · no actual harm
- F755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.Pharmacy ServiceD · isolatedCorrected May 24, 2024
- F851Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.AdministrationF · widespreadCorrected May 24, 2024
Jan 16, 2024Cycle 3worst F · no actual harm
- F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Quality of Life and CareF · widespreadCorrected Jan 17, 2024
Apr 6, 2023Cycle 3worst E · no actual harm$54,998, payment denial
- F755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.Pharmacy ServiceE · patternCorrected Apr 10, 2023
- F761Ensure 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.Pharmacy ServiceE · patternCorrected Apr 10, 2023
Staffing
From quarterly payroll reportsHours per resident per day
- All nursing staffRNs, LPNs and aides combined2.38hrs
- Registered nursesRN hours only0.73hrs
- Licensed practical nursesLPN hours0.16hrs
- Nurse aidesCNA hours1.49hrs
- Weekend nursingAll staff on Saturdays and Sundays1.92hrs
- Illinois average
- Research benchmark (4.10 total, 0.75 RN)
Turnover & capacity
- Nursing staff turnoverShare who left within a year · lower is better—IL avg 46%
- RN turnoverRegistered nurses only—Not ranked by CMS
- Administrators who leftIn the past year1Leadership changed
- Occupancy70 certified beds · ~40 residents a day58%Above only 15% of peersIL avg 74%
Fines & penalties
Roughly the past three yearsEnforcement summary
- $54,998In fines
- 1Fine
- 1Payment denial
- $95,677IL avg in fines
Actions on record
- Apr 6, 2023Civil money penalty$54,998
- Apr 6, 2023Denial of payment for new admissionsfrom Jul 6, 2023
Ownership
As filed with CMSStructure
- Ownership type
- For profit - Limited Liability company
- Chain
- Independent
- Certification
- Medicaid
- Location type
- Rural
- Ownership change
- None in the last 12 months
People and entities on file
Person Organization
Sources & notes
Public data, updated quarterlyData sources
- CMS Care Compare · Provider InformationStar ratings, staffing hours, turnover, penalties and flags · processed February 2026.
- CMS Health CitationsEvery deficiency from the last three inspection cycles, with scope, severity and inspection cycle.
- CMS Penalties and Ownership filesCivil money penalties, payment denials, and the owners and managers on file.
Notes
- CMS Certification Number 14E579 · 3601 SIXTEENTH AVENUE, STERLING, IL, 61081.
- Percentiles compare this facility with every rated nursing home in Illinois and Whiteside County. Turnover and fines are inverted so a high percentile is always good.
- This is an informational summary of public data, not medical, legal, or placement advice. Facilities cannot pay to change it; a facility that believes a record is wrong can dispute it with CMS.
