Little Sisters of the Poor
601 Maiden Choice Lane, Baltimore, MD 21228 · Baltimore County · (410) 744-9367
20 certified beds, about 17 residents a day · For profit - Individual · Medicare and Medicaid since 2010
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 215354 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on June 25, 2025, inspectors cited 1 health deficiency (the Maryland average is 17, the national average 9.2).
None of its 25 health citations since January 2019 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
CMS lists no fines against this home in the last three years.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 7.25 hours per resident per day, against 3.87 across Maryland and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 1.69 of those hours.
33.3% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Maryland average 40.2%).
Health inspections
Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.
Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.
Where its citations fall on CMS's grid
CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 25 health citations on file.
June 25, 2025Standard inspection · 1 citation
- D Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation and interview with facility staff, it was determined that the facility failed to protect the dignity of a resident with urine bag. The deficient practice was found evident for 1 resident (Resident #11) out of 1 resident observed with urine bag during the facility's Medicare/Medicaid recertification survey.
March 30, 2023Standard inspection · 22 citations
- F Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
Inspectors wroteBased on staff interview it was determined the facility failed to have a full time certified dietary manager to oversee the operations in the dietary department. This was evident during a tour of the kitchen during the annual survey and had the potential to affect all residents.
- F Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Inspectors wroteBased on documentation review and interview, it was determined the facility failed to have a quality assurance policy that had written procedures for quality assurance activities. This was evident during the annual survey and had the potential to affect all residents.
- E Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to: 1) orient, prepare, and document a resident's preparation for a transfer to the hospital and 2) document that information was provided to the acute care facility when a resident was transferred there emergently. This was identified for 3 (Resident #9, #16, #4) of 3 residents reviewed for hospitalization during the annual survey.
- E Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview and medical record review, it was determined the facility staff failed to ensure Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments were accurately coded. This was evident for 4 (#3, #6, #9, #2) of 14 records reviewed during the annual survey.
- E Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, medical record review, and staff interview it was determined that facility staff failed to develop and initiate comprehensive, resident centered care plans for residents residing in the facility. This was evident for 6 (Resident #3, #4, #5, #6, #9, #10) of 14 residents reviewed during the annual survey.
- E Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview and medical record review, it was determined the facility staff failed to evaluate and revise resident care plans to reflect accurate and current interventions. This was evident for 5 (Resident #3, #5, #1, #2, #12) of 14 residents reviewed during the annual survey.
- E Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of resident medical records and interview with facility staff, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure that residents had only one Maryland Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) form in their paper medical record. This was evident for 4 (Residents #14, #1, #16, and #4) of all 17 residents present in the facility at the time of the survey.
- E Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review and staff interview it was determined the facility failed to 1) keep the pharmacy reviews with recommendations that identified irregularities in the resident's medical record and 2) report that a physician ordered parameter was not being monitored. This was evident for 4 (#4, #5, #10, #9) of 6 residents reviewed for unnecessary medications.
- E Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation and staff interview, it was determined that the facility staff failed to: 1) discard expired food items, 2) label food items when opened, and 3) discard damaged food items. This was evident during an inspection of the kitchen, dry storage room, and kitchenette on the unit during the annual survey.
- E Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review and interview, it was determined the facility failed to maintain complete and accurate medical records in accordance with accepted professional standards. This was evident for 6 (#4, #5, #10, #13, #2, #12) of 14 residents reviewed during the annual survey.
- D Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of medical records and staff interview, it was determined that facility staff failed to notify a resident's physician when a resident displayed changes in their baseline condition. This was evident for 1 (Resident #4) of 4 residents reviewed for accidents during the annual survey.
- D Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Inspectors wroteBased on resident and staff interview and policy review, it was determined that facility staff failed to report missing jewelry to the Administrator when first notified by the resident. This was evident for 1 (Residents #9) of 6 residents reviewed for missing personal items during the annual survey.
- D Prepare residents for a safe transfer or discharge from the nursing home.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to orient, prepare, and document a resident's preparation for a transfer to the hospital. This was identified for 1 (Resident #16) of 3 residents reviewed for hospitalization during the annual survey.
- D Obtain a doctor's order to admit a resident and ensure the resident is under a doctor's care.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of resident medical records and interview with facility staff, it was determined that a resident's attending physician failed to supervise and respond to abnormal laboratory test results. This was evident for 1 (Resident #2) of 6 residents reviewed for unnecessary medication.
- D Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review and staff interview it was determined the facility failed to keep a resident's drug regimen free from unnecessary drugs by failing to monitor the heart rate prior to administering a blood pressure medication per physician's orders. This was evident for 1 (Resident #9) of 6 residents reviewed for unnecessary drugs during the annual survey.
- D Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review and staff interview, it was determined that facility staff failed to ensure residents were free from significant medication errors as evidenced by failing to follow a physician's order related to holding blood pressure medications and administering insulin if outside of physician ordered parameters. This was evident for 3 (Resident #4, #10, #2) of 6 residents reviewed for unnecessary medications during the annual survey.
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview and medical record review, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure that humidified bottles for oxygen delivery were discarded in a timeframe for good infection control practice. This was evident for 1 (Resident #14) of 1 resident reviewed for respiratory care.
- D Keep all essential equipment working safely.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation and interview with facility staff, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure that resident's mattresses were sized to securely fit the bed frames. This was evident for 1 (Resident #5) of 17 resident beds observed during the survey.
- C Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of resident records and interview with facility staff, it was determined that the facility failed to provide the Skilled Nursing Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice (SNF ABN) to residents who were discharged from medicare with days remaining and intended to remain at the facility receiving non-skilled care. This was evident for all medicare discharges that occurred in the past six months in which residents remained in the facility.
- C Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Inspectors wroteBased on resident interview, medical record review, and staff interview, it was determined the facility failed to notify the resident/resident representative in writing of a transfer/discharge of a resident along with the reason for the transfer. This was evident for 3 (Resident #9, #16, #4) of 3 residents reviewed for hospitalization during the annual survey.
- C Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review and staff interview it was determined the facility failed to notify the resident/resident representative in writing of the bed hold policy upon transfer of a resident to an acute care facility. This was evident for 3 (#9, #16, #4) of 3 residents reviewed for hospitalization during the annual survey.
- C Post nurse staffing information every day.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, review of posted staffing sheets, and staff interview it was determined that the facility failed to post, the total number and actual hours worked by categories of Registered nurses, Licensed practical nurses, and Certified nursing assistants. This was evident for 7 of 7 days of the annual survey.
January 4, 2019Standard inspection · 2 citations
- D Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review and staff interview it was determined the facility staff failed to ensure that the information used to complete the Minimum Data Set (MDS) comprehensive assessments was accurate for: 1) the use of restraints for Resident #7; and 2) skin conditions for Resident #27. This was evident for 2 of 3 residents reviewed for MDS accuracy during this complaint revisit survey. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) is a comprehensive assessment of the resident completed by the facility staff. The MDS is a multi-disciplinarian tool that allows many facets of the resident's care [cognition, behavior, mobility, activities of daily living, accidents, activities, weight, pain and medications to name a few] to be addressed. The MDS assessment is part of a broader RAI (Resident Assessment Instrument) process. [...]
- D Implement 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.
Inspectors wroteBased on medical record review and staff interview it was determined the facility staff failed to provide evidence of ongoing monitoring and documentation of target symptoms for the administration of psychotropic medications to determine the efficacy and necessity of these medications for Residents #7 and #5. This was evident for 2 of 3 residents reviewed for unnecessary medications during this survey. MDS or Minimum Data Set Coordinators are nurses that are tasked to ensure that patient servicing is well documented especially during the assessment phase in facilities that are accredited or offer Medicaid or Medicare services.
Fire safety inspections
13 fire safety citations on file: 5 on June 25, 2025, 5 on March 30, 2023, 3 on January 4, 2019.
Every fire safety citation13 citations
- F Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
- F To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
- F Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- D Establish roles under a Waiver declared by secretary.
- D Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
- E Meet requirements for the use of electrical equipment.
- D Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- D Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- D Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- D Have posted "No-smoking" signs in areas where smoking is not permitted or ashtrays provided where smoking was allowed.
- F Meet other general requirements.
- F Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- F Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Fines and payment denials
CMS lists no fines or payment denials against this home in the last three years. The national average is 0.9 fines per home.
Staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.
| Measure | This home | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 7.25 | 3.87 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 1.69 | 0.84 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 6.42 | 3.47 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 4.14 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 1.42 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 33.3% | 40.2% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 25.0% | 38.7% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.10 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.
Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records
Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 7.59 on weekdays and 6.42 on weekends, 15% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 9.6% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 6.81 in April to June 2025 to 7.25 in January to March 2026.
| Quarter | All nursing staff | Registered nurses | Weekdays | Weekends | Contract staff share | Days with no RN hours | Residents a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 7.25 | 1.69 | 7.59 | 6.42 | 9.6% | 0 of 90 | 17 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 7.30 | 1.65 | 7.65 | 6.42 | 14.4% | 0 of 92 | 17 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 7.17 | 1.60 | 7.48 | 6.40 | 13.5% | 0 of 92 | 17 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 6.81 | 1.59 | 7.18 | 5.88 | 11.8% | 0 of 91 | 17 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Maryland, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.73 | 0.74 | 3.88 | 3.34 | 8.0% | 0.1% of days |
Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | Maryland | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 31.8 | 20.4 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 10.4 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 21.1 | 22.2 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 8.7 | 5.9 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 35.4 | 13.8 | 15.4 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR BALTIMORE INC.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brusche, Deborah | Corporate officer | Individual | 07/01/2021 | |
| Kleibusch, Lois | Corporate officer | Individual | 07/01/2024 | |
| Piche, Marie | Corporate officer | Individual | 07/01/2021 | |
| Pocock, Barbara | Corporate officer | Individual | 07/01/2021 | |
| Brusche, Deborah | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 07/01/2021 | |
| Kleibusch, Lois | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 07/01/2024 | |
| Piche, Marie | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 07/01/2021 | |
| Pocock, Barbara | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 07/01/2021 |
As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.
Questions to ask on a visit
Chosen from this home's own inspection record.
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 7 problems in this area, most recently on June 25, 2025: "Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights."
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 5 problems in this area, most recently on March 30, 2023: "Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment."
- How are medications reviewed, and how often are antipsychotic or sedating drugs used?Inspectors cited 4 problems in this area, most recently on March 30, 2023: "Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures."
- Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on March 30, 2023: "Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician."
Other nursing homes nearby
- Charlestown Community Inc Catonsville, 0.1 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 42 citations
- Ridgeway Rehab Center Catonsville, 1 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 53 citations
- Westgate Hills Rehab & Healthcare Ctr Baltimore, 1.1 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 82 citations
- Future Care Irvington Baltimore, 1.4 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 44 citations
- Frederick Villa Healthcare Catonsville, 1.5 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 69 citations
- Autumn Lake Healthcare at Catonsville Catonsville, 1.5 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 82 citations
- Forest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Ctr Catonsville, 1.6 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 82 citations
- Carroll Park Healthcare Baltimore, 1.8 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 81 citations
Maryland contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Maryland. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Maryland Department of Health, Office of Health Care Quality, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Maryland Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Maryland Department of Aging, 800-243-3425. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
- State inspection reports: Maryland Health Care Commission, Maryland Quality Reporting, Nursing Homes, where Maryland publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Little Sisters of the Poor's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Little Sisters of the Poor 4 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 5 for staffing and 1 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Little Sisters of the Poor get at its last inspection?
- 1 health deficiency at the standard inspection on June 25, 2025. The Maryland average is 17.
- Has Little Sisters of the Poor been fined?
- CMS lists no fines in the last three years.
- Does Little Sisters of the Poor accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns Little Sisters of the Poor?
- CMS lists 8 owners and managers. Legal business name: LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR BALTIMORE INC.
Sources
- Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
- Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
- Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
- Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
- Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
- Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
- Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
- NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.