River Landing at Sandy Ridge

1575 John Knox Drive, Colfax, NC 27235 (336) 668-4900
Non profit - Corporation 60 Beds Independent Data: November 2025
Trust Grade
93/100
#54 of 417 in NC
Last Inspection: November 2024

Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.

Overview

River Landing at Sandy Ridge has received an impressive Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended and offers excellent care. It ranks #54 out of 417 facilities in North Carolina, placing it in the top half of the state, and #3 out of 20 in Guilford County, meaning only two other local options are better. The facility is new with its first inspection showing a stable trend and only one concern reported, which involved leaving a medication cart unlocked and unattended, potentially compromising medication security. Staffing is a strong point with a 5/5 rating, a turnover rate of only 26%, significantly lower than the state average, indicating that staff are likely to stay and build relationships with residents. Moreover, there have been no fines reported, suggesting a good compliance history, although RN coverage is average, which may require monitoring to ensure residents receive optimal care.

Trust Score
A
93/100
In North Carolina
#54/417
Top 12%
Safety Record
Low Risk
No red flags
Inspections
Too New
0 → 1 violations
Staff Stability
✓ Good
26% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 22 points below North Carolina's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
Penalties
✓ Good
No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most North Carolina facilities.
Skilled Nurses
✓ Good
Each resident gets 44 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for North Carolina. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
Violations
✓ Good
Only 1 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
★★★★★
5.0
Overall Rating
★★★★★
5.0
Staff Levels
★★★★☆
4.0
Care Quality
★★★★★
5.0
Inspection Score
Stable
: 0 issues
2024: 1 issues

The Good

  • 5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
  • 4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
  • Low Staff Turnover (26%) · Staff stability means consistent care
  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record
  • Staff turnover is low (26%)

    22 points below North Carolina average of 48%

Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.

The Bad

No Significant Concerns Identified

This facility shows no red flags. Among North Carolina's 100 nursing homes, only 1% achieve this.

The Ugly 1 deficiencies on record

Nov 2024 1 deficiency
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0761 (Tag F0761)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to secure resident medications left in an unattended medication cart for 1 of 3 medication carts (Hall 100 medication cart). The finding...

Read full inspector narrative →
Based on observations and staff interviews, the facility failed to secure resident medications left in an unattended medication cart for 1 of 3 medication carts (Hall 100 medication cart). The findings included: An continuous observation on 11/21/24 at 10:15 PM on the 100 hall revealed the medication cart was unlocked and unattended. The locking mechanism in the middle front of the medication cart was observed to be popped out in the unlocked position. Staff and residents were observed sitting near the unlocked medication cart during this time. During an interview on 11/21/24 at 10:19 AM, Nurse #1 returned to the medication cart and stated that sometimes the medication cart does not engage with the keypad lock and that was why the cart's mechanical front lock did not engage. When asked if the cart locked when pushed in manually, she indicated the cart did lock when she pushed in the center locking mechanism manually. During an interview on 11/21/24 at 10:54 AM, Nurse #2 indicated the keypad was not needed to secure the medication cart. The medication carts were secured by the mechanical lock. During an interview on 11/21/24 at 11:51 AM, the DON revealed that the 100 Hall and the 300 Hall medication cart keypads did not work. The Pharmacy was notified and the carts were locked with the center mechanical lock. The DON stated it was expected the center mechanical lock was pushed by the nurse to engage the medication cart lock.
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Life-Threatening (Immediate Jeopardy)
J - Isolated K - Pattern L - Widespread
Actual Harm
G - Isolated H - Pattern I - Widespread
Potential for Harm
D - Isolated E - Pattern F - Widespread
No Harm (Minor)
A - Isolated B - Pattern C - Widespread

Questions to Ask on Your Visit

  • "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
  • "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"

Our Honest Assessment

Strengths
  • • Grade A (93/100). Above average facility, better than most options in North Carolina.
  • • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
  • • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most North Carolina facilities.
  • • Only 1 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
Concerns
  • • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
Bottom line: Generally positive indicators. Standard due diligence and a personal visit recommended.

About This Facility

What is River Landing At Sandy Ridge's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns River Landing at Sandy Ridge an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within North Carolina, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.

How is River Landing At Sandy Ridge Staffed?

CMS rates River Landing at Sandy Ridge's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 26%, compared to the North Carolina average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.

What Have Inspectors Found at River Landing At Sandy Ridge?

State health inspectors documented 1 deficiencies at River Landing at Sandy Ridge during 2024. These included: 1 with potential for harm.

Who Owns and Operates River Landing At Sandy Ridge?

River Landing at Sandy Ridge is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 60 certified beds and approximately 53 residents (about 88% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Colfax, North Carolina.

How Does River Landing At Sandy Ridge Compare to Other North Carolina Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in North Carolina, River Landing at Sandy Ridge's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (26%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.

What Should Families Ask When Visiting River Landing At Sandy Ridge?

Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"

Is River Landing At Sandy Ridge Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, River Landing at Sandy Ridge has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in North Carolina. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.

Do Nurses at River Landing At Sandy Ridge Stick Around?

Staff at River Landing at Sandy Ridge tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 26%, the facility is 20 percentage points below the North Carolina average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly. Registered Nurse turnover is also low at 12%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.

Was River Landing At Sandy Ridge Ever Fined?

River Landing at Sandy Ridge has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.

Is River Landing At Sandy Ridge on Any Federal Watch List?

River Landing at Sandy Ridge is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.