3.6(148 ratings)· Frederick average: 4.3
Part of Autumn Lake Healthcare · 47 communities · 4.2★ average
1 / 5CMS Care Compare
Reviews of Autumn Lake Healthcare At Ballenger Creek are sharply mixed, with some families praising the rehab therapy team and short-stay outcomes, while multiple others describe serious lapses in basic care, hygiene, and communication. Complaints about being left in soiled beds, slow response to call bells, cold or incorrect food, and poor staff responsiveness appear repeatedly across several reviews.
AI-generated from reviews and community data.
Autumn Lake Healthcare At Ballenger Creek is a senior living community in Frederick, Maryland offering Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care. Amenities include Restaurant style Dining Room, Outdoor Patio and Gathering / Activity Spaces. Families rate it 3.6 out of 5 across 148 reviews.
Autumn Lake Healthcare At Ballenger Creek is a skilled nursing facility in Frederick, Maryland, offering sub-acute rehabilitation and long-term care with round-the-clock skilled nursing for complex medical conditions.
The facility provides rehabilitative therapy seven days a week in an energetic environment where each resident receives an individualized recovery plan. A multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and therapists employs hands-on rehabilitation techniques to help restore strength, mobility, and independence. The state-of-the-art gym features top-of-the-line rehabilitative equipment used by dedicated therapists.
Advanced care programs for complex medical conditions are overseen by in-house, board-certified specialists. The facility emphasizes creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that merges expert medical care with quality of life.
Located in a quiet, residential neighborhood in western Maryland's suburban greenery with mountainous views, the facility offers many home comforts including delicious meals and warm accommodations. A daily schedule packed with activities, indoor and outdoor spaces for socializing, and a proactive approach to health and wellness allow residents to maintain an active lifestyle. Family members and friends are welcome to visit.
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Help Me Choose3.6overall · 148 ratings combined
3.6★ on Google (148)
Laura A Valdes-Borsum
Jun 2026
The staff at Autumn Lake was phenomenal in caring for my mother Olga E Valdes, during her stay of over one month while she rehabilitated after her right hip replacement surgery. We cannot thank you enough for your attentive, gentle, and specialized care! We have referred a friend of ours who is currently at your place for rehab after his back surgery, and we will continue to refer everyone we know who is looking for the excellent services that you provide.
Tiffany Bivens
Mar 2026
My mom was a resident there a few months ago ! Some of the staff I noticed really liked their job and a few that doesn’t some sit in the rooms on there phones , they have earbuds in, the DON. I have to positive words for her! I’m not a fan of HCSG either, they take advantage of the manager real bad like that have something personal against her, but I know they don’t care as long as they can use you til you leave, pt was good and I thank them!
Lisa F
Jan 2026
This Nursing home/Rehab is terrible. Lets first talk about the care my mom has received. She entered this place needing assistance with regaining strength for walking. The faculty was aware the first night she arrived she would be needing assistance to the restroom and dressing and bathing. There was no bathroom schedule as promised matter of fact she is peeing in a depends other than when we the family are the to assist her to the bathroom. Often we arrive to find the bed soiled with urine drying and her clothing she is wearing smells and feels of wet pee. Only to receive excuses by the staff. That brings me to the staff, the most unfriendly group of people with attitudes. Why are you there if you don't want to work with the elderly? The lack of communication that is given. I have reached out many times with voicemails to go un answered. If my mom had fallen or anything else it be 4 hours later they would notify us. We have been given no information on her status as she has dementia so its sometimes difficult to get from her. We were not advised of her care plan or anything even after it was requested. Although my mother has Dementia she is still able to tell us when she is being treated mean or rough. The food comes pretty late in the evening for elderly around 6:20 for dinner and 1:20 lunch. It arrives cold and half filled cups of liquids. There chopped diet is not chopped at all it is baby food. There is a difference between chopped an pureed. I have had to go to the desk to make request as to a sheet change and often either ignored or rolled eyes at or snickered behind my back all for asking for is human care what we are paying them to provide. It has been a miserable experience for my mom and the family. I would like to add that the auto generated response from this owner is a complete joke. If you had read my concerns in the review I HAVE REACHED OUT AND NO ONE RESPONDS!! SO .. you have no interest in hearing or doing anything you claim! Your number one concern are dollars in your pocket.
Dawn Vargas
Dec 2025
Unfortunately, my mother experienced some of the same issues having to pull her out of this facility after only a week here. She fell from a ladder hanging decorations. She was in good shape physically and mentally, but fractured her pelvis. We were limited because of other facilities being full so we had her transported from the hospital to Autumn Lake Heath Care having a positive attitude hoping she wouldn’t experience any issues, but we did starting with the very first day. They wanted to put my mother in depends. I told them no as well as my mother. She was able to go to the bathroom with assistance as she did while at the hospital, but the aid and RN argued in front of us about it and then from then on, the food was always cold, bringing the wrong food at times, having to wait for an aid for over 30 minutes to go to the bathroom, to leaving my mom for 20 minutes holding herself up over the bedpan almost in tears when my sister found her this way. She complained to the facility hoping to hear from someone higher up but nothing. We made the decision this place was not a place to keep our mother after the week of bad experiences. We went to the administrators to complain and heard nothing until the day she was being discharged to take her mom to pay for 24hr home care. The PT & OT are great, but they are contractors. Some of the aids are good, but there are more bad ones that make it difficult. The RN’s are ok. They are short staffed and the ones there are probably overworked and probably underpaid. The director really needs to pay attention to theses reviews and complaints and try and fix these issues asap..
Kim Grant
Sep 2025
EDITING: Since I've now had my lady out of there i can assure you that this place is without a doubt the WORST facility I've ever encountered! I would not put a stray dog under the care of this facility! The care became sub-par at very best after my lady had been there maybe 3 days. Medications were consistently incorrect doses and never at the same times. Meals?? If you really want to try to call what they put on the plates 'food'. One meal consisted of a square of lasagna that was not even 2"x2" and was dried and burnt. Another dinner, on a separate day, was brought in and the entire 'meal' was 2 slices of plain white bread-literally nothing else! When I went down the hall and raised questions a chef salad was brought in about 40 minutes later. Thanksgiving dinner was supposed to be a family event with residents in the main dining areas with their loved ones. We came in to find my lady in her room, in bed, alone, with a plate of something that loosely resembled a turkey dinner, it was cold. I found one of the unit managers who put our family into an area, they had to find chairs for us, and brought my lady a dinner plate that was 'ham'. The ham was odd looking and my SIL checked it before we let our lady take even one bite. The 'ham' was rotten. Care and compassion is nil. My lady has an incontinence issue. More time than I can count I'd find her sitting in a saturated bed, having been there for what she said had been a few hours. When brought to the attention of the nurses i was told they were very busy and were getting to her as soon as they could. My lady fell in the bathroom late one night. The call cord was pulled yet she stayed on the floor waiting for a very long, unknown amount of time before an aide finally came in. Another occasion when her bed had been soiled, the aide assigned to her yanked her arm with such force that it remained sore for a few months. There's more but honestly don't feel adding everything is even necessary. What i saw was well more than enough! I requested to have her transferred to another facility immediately, unfortunately there were no beds available right away, so i requested that they discharge her to go home. I was told that they felt she needed to be there another 6 weeks. I was told if i insisted, i'd have to sign an AMA form (against medical advice). I find it incredible that this facility is even permitted to take on the care of any living being! If I didn't make sure to be there every single day and bring every meal, there's no telling what would have happened Initial experience with the staff when my elderly lady was taken in today was positive, and the nurses were very sweet and genuinely listened to my conversation and concerns. As evening came and my elderly lady, who was taken there for rehabilitation and who is still experiencing some bouts of confusion due to a very bad UTI, had made repeated calls to me about lack of care, lack of staff presence, not being fed after being there for 7 hours, and some other issues, I called into the facility. I was put on the phone with a supervisor, Catherine, who was very abrupt and dismissive toward me, told me she was very busy and had not been in to assess the patient yet. I told her that my lady said she'd not even been fed yet, her comment was that a dinner tray had just been taken in. It is 7:05pm, so that means this lady hadn't had a meal since breakfast, as lunch was not provided to her prior to her transfer in. I told Catherine I'd be making an in-person visit the next day. She said, 'fine', and abruptly ended the call. When a caregiver and friend calls to express concern about a confused and upset elderly person, the first response met should not be dismissive with an aire of uncare, and one that shows no compassion, and definitely should not be coming from one that is supposed to be a supervisor at a 'care' facility. This does not give a caring and compassionate vibe. As this is literally only the first 7 hours of the very first day there. I will update my comment and opinion, should there be any changes.
4 inspection visits in the last three years, 78 citations on file. Inspections are conducted by state agencies on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Jan 16, 2026
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Jan 16, 2026
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Jan 16, 2026
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Jan 16, 2026
Address patient/client population and determine types of services needed.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 29, 2025
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.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 29, 2025
Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 29, 2025
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Have proper medical gas storage and administration areas.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 29, 2025
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 29, 2025
Ensure that corridors are separated from use areas by walls constructed to limit the passage of smoke.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 29, 2025
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Keep all essential equipment working safely.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
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.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Meet other general requirements.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 29, 2025
Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Aug 1, 2025
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Severity J of L: immediate jeopardy, isolatedCorrected Jun 15, 2022
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Severity G of L: actual harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Observe each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Feb 16, 2023
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Feb 16, 2023
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Ensure the activities program is directed by a qualified professional.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Ensure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
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.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Develop and maintain an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP).
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Dec 15, 2022
Construct fire resistant interior walls.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Dec 15, 2022
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Dec 15, 2022
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Dec 15, 2022
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Dec 15, 2022
Post nurse staffing information every day.
Severity C of L: potential for minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Severity C of L: potential for minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Dec 15, 2022
Install an approved automatic sprinkler system.
Severity C of L: potential for minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Dec 15, 2022
Let each resident or the resident's legal representative access or purchase copies of all the resident's records.
Severity B of L: potential for minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 16, 2023
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 2, 2019
Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 2, 2019
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 2, 2019
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 2, 2019
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 2, 2019
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 2, 2019
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 2, 2019
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 2, 2019
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.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 2, 2019
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 2, 2019
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Severity B of L: potential for minimal harm, patternCorrected Nov 30, 2018
Source: CMS Care Compare, public federal data covering certified nursing facilities, refreshed monthly. Citations range from A (least serious) to L (most serious) on the federal scope and severity scale. Most citations are corrected quickly; review the details and ask the community about anything that concerns you.
Autumn Lake Healthcare At Ballenger Creek offers Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care.
Autumn Lake Healthcare At Ballenger Creek is located at 347 Ballenger Drive in Frederick, Maryland.
Reviews of Autumn Lake Healthcare At Ballenger Creek are sharply mixed, with some families praising the rehab therapy team and short-stay outcomes, while multiple others describe serious lapses in basic care, hygiene, and communication. Complaints about being left in soiled beds, slow response to call bells, cold or incorrect food, and poor staff responsiveness appear repeatedly across several reviews.
Autumn Lake Healthcare At Ballenger Creek had 4 government inspection visits in the last three years, with 78 citations on file according to CMS Care Compare data. The full history, including what each citation was for and whether it was corrected, is in the inspection section on this page.
Submit the Request Information form on this page to connect with Autumn Lake Healthcare At Ballenger Creek and arrange a tour. Sharing your timeline and care needs up front helps the community prepare for your visit.
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