Citadel of Sterling,the
105 EAST 23RD STREET, Sterling, IL 61081
Sterling, Illinois · CMS verdict
Citadel of Sterling,the's CMS overall star rating stands at 3 of 5, in line with the Illinois state average (2.5) and reflecting average quality by the federal five-star measure.
The rating and the PlainElderCare Index below summarize federal inspection, staffing, and outcome data, they measure specific, documented dimensions of this facility, not a holistic verdict on the care your family member would receive. Visit in person, talk with staff and current residents' families, and weigh your family member's specific needs before choosing.
Citadel of Sterling,the in Sterling, Illinois holds a CMS overall rating of 3 of 5 stars and a PlainElderCare Quality & Compliance Index of 37 of 100 (grade F). The 121-bed facility operates where a semi-private nursing-home room in Illinois runs a median of $8,304 per month. Figures are from CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Quality & Compliance Index (larger bed book)
At 121 certified beds, this facility sits in the upper U.S. bed tercile (>120). A transparent composite of this facility's CMS Care Compare sub-ratings and its federal inspection record. It complements, and does not replace, the official CMS overall rating of 3 of 5 stars. How this is calculated.
How the 37 is built
Each segment is a dimension's weighted points toward the score, summing to 37.
Weights: health inspections 30%, staffing 25%, quality measures 25%, inspection record 20%; any dimension CMS has not published drops out and its weight redistributes (no silent deflation). Inspection record is benchmarked against all rated US nursing homes. Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Citadel of Sterling,the's larger certified-bed book
Quality ratings
Citadel of Sterling,the holds a CMS overall quality rating of 3 out of 5 stars, based on the most recent Care Compare release (data as of April 2026). CMS breaks this into three sub-ratings: health inspection (3/5), staffing (2/5), and quality measures (2/5).
What each sub-rating measures
The health inspection rating reflects on-site surveyor findings from the last three cycles. The staffing rating compares case-mix-adjusted nurse hours per resident day to national benchmarks, and quality measures aggregate 15 clinical indicators including pressure ulcers, falls with injury, and long-stay antipsychotic use.
Size and setting
Located in Sterling, Illinois, this facility operates 121 certified beds with an average daily census of roughly 92 residents - an occupancy rate of about 76%. The facility is classified under for profit - corporation ownership, a designation that can influence staffing patterns, reinvestment decisions, and admissions policy. At roughly 76% occupancy, this facility has meaningful open capacity relative to its certified bed count.
Same-ownership peers
Within Illinois, Citadel of Sterling,the is one of 234 for profit - corporation nursing homes CMS rates. Its 3-star overall rating sits above the for profit - corporation-segment average of 2.3 stars, ahead of roughly 59% of same-ownership peers in the state. Same-segment comparisons like this one strip out the business-model factor, leaving a cleaner read on facility-level performance than a raw state average would give.
Inspection record
On the regulatory side, federal and state surveyors have documented multiple deficiencies at this facility (25 total). CMS has levied 4 enforcement penalties - civil money penalties or denials of payment, during the same window. This is a high deficiency count relative to most facilities; requesting the full survey report directly is the only way to see whether these are concentrated in one area or spread across the facility's operations.
Where these figures come from
Figures above come from CMS Nursing Home Compare (Care Compare, data as of April 2026) with state cost medians from the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey. See our methodology for vintage.
How Citadel of Sterling,the compares to Illinois
CMS five-star sub-ratings (0–5) for this facility against the Illinois facility-weighted average. Source: CMS Care Compare.
Bar = this facility's rating · vertical marker = Illinois state average. Higher is better on all four CMS measures.
Where Citadel of Sterling,the ranks in Illinois
Among the 665 CMS-rated nursing homes in Illinois, Citadel of Sterling,the’s 3-star overall rating is higher than 54% of them. The bars show how all Illinois homes spread across the CMS 1-to-5 scale; this facility’s band is highlighted.
110 Illinois homes share this 3-star rating. Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Facility details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Beds | 121 |
| Residents | 92 |
| Ownership | For profit - Corporation |
| County | Whiteside |
| Penalties | 4 |
| Deficiencies | 25 |
Source: CMS Care Compare Nursing Homes (data as of April 2026)
What families ask about Citadel of Sterling,the's larger facility
What is the quality rating for Citadel of Sterling,the? ▾
3 out of 5 stars is Citadel of Sterling,the's current CMS overall rating, built from a health inspection rating of 3/5, a staffing rating of 2/5, and a quality measures rating of 2/5.
How much does a nursing home cost per month in Illinois? ▾
The median cost for a semi-private nursing home room in Illinois is $8,304 per month ($99,645 annually). A private room averages $9,216 per month. Costs are from the CareScout 2025 survey.
What services does Citadel of Sterling,the offer? ▾
With 121 beds with approximately 92 current residents, Citadel of Sterling,the is a skilled nursing facility. It operates under for profit - corporation ownership, and CMS's inspection record shows 25 deficiencies and 4 penalties.
Does Citadel of Sterling,the have any deficiencies or penalties? ▾
Citadel of Sterling,the has multiple deficiencies (25 total) and 4 penalties recorded by CMS. A count this high is above what most facilities post; ask the facility directly for its plan of correction on the largest findings.
What are the alternatives to a nursing home in Illinois? ▾
In Illinois, alternatives include assisted living ($6,219/mo), home health aides ($6,864/mo), and adult day care ($1,977/mo).
Keep reading
Also see the Illinois elder-care overview and highest-rated states. Provider ID: 145278.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.