HIGHLAND SPRINGS, VA — Henrico Health and Rehabilitation Center, a 120-bed nursing facility in eastern Henrico County, is accruing daily federal fines of $1,940 after state health inspectors determined that a staff member sexually abused two residents and two coworkers, according to reporting by CBS 6 in Richmond. The enforcement action, communicated in a late June letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, represents the latest in a cascade of regulatory failures at a facility already designated as one of the worst-performing nursing homes in the country.
Pattern of Sexual Abuse
The most recent violations stem from a May inspection by the Virginia Department of Health, which cited the facility for failing to protect two residents from sexual abuse — the most serious category of deficiency in which actual harm to residents was identified, as reported by WTVR.
According to the VDH inspection report, a receptionist at the facility made sexual comments to one resident in February 2025 and showed the resident an explicit photograph. The following month, the same employee allegedly made sexual gestures toward the resident, leaving the individual feeling humiliated and angry, the report states. In a separate incident in April, the receptionist allegedly entered another resident's room and propositioned him for a sexual act, according to the inspection findings.
The same staff member was also reported to have behaved inappropriately toward two employees — a nurse aide and a transportation driver — during the month of March, as documented in the inspection records. While the facility ultimately terminated the employee and contacted law enforcement, the Virginia Department of Health still cited the home for failing to report the abuse allegations to the appropriate agencies within the federally required two-hour window, according to the CBS 6 report.
These incidents are not isolated. As WTVR reported, the facility has been linked to at least six sexual abuse incidents dating back to 2023. In earlier cases, a nurse aide was alleged to have performed unauthorized and degrading acts on residents, according to a Virginia Board of Nursing case file referenced in the reporting.
Additional Violations
The sexual abuse findings were compounded by a series of other serious deficiencies identified during inspections earlier this year. A February 2025 VDH inspection found that the facility placed a resident in an unfinished room with no proper flooring and cold air blowing through exposed openings, according to the inspection report. When inspectors questioned the administrator about the conditions, she reportedly refused to answer and stated she did not agree with the findings.
Inspectors also found that staff failed to remove a midline catheter from a discharged resident, increasing the risk of complications and infection, the report states. In another case, the facility allegedly neglected to properly monitor a morbidly obese, immobile, diabetic resident — omitting medications for approximately two and a half months while the resident experienced dangerously elevated blood sugar readings, according to the VDH findings. The inspection report noted that the resident's weight checks appeared to have been skipped for staff convenience.
A subsequent May inspection revealed an additional incident in which a staff member improperly operated a Hoyer Lift alone — a device that typically requires two people to use safely — resulting in a resident being struck in the head by a sling bar and sustaining an injury, as reported by WTVR.
CMS Inspection History
Federal data paints a stark picture of systemic failure at Henrico Health and Rehabilitation Center. According to CMS records, the facility holds an overall rating of zero out of five stars — the lowest possible designation — across all three measured categories: health inspections, staffing, and quality of care. The home has accumulated 104 total deficiencies across 13 recorded inspections in the CMS database.
The facility was placed on the CMS Special Focus Facility program earlier this year, a designation reserved for nursing homes with a persistent history of serious quality failures that, according to the federal agency, "rarely address underlying systemic problems." Under this program, the facility faces heightened scrutiny, escalating penalties, and the potential termination of its Medicare and Medicaid provider agreement.
Among the deficiencies documented during the most recent CMS inspection in February 2025, the facility was cited for failing to fully inform residents about their health status and treatment, failing to provide a safe and homelike environment, failing to deliver appropriate care consistent with physician orders and resident preferences, and failing to maintain adequate nursing staff levels to meet resident needs. The staffing deficiency carried an elevated severity rating, indicating a pattern affecting multiple residents.
A December 2023 inspection had previously cited the facility for failing to meet professional standards of quality in its nursing services, according to CMS records.
Ownership & Operations
Henrico Health and Rehabilitation Center is classified as a non-profit corporation in CMS records. The facility operates 120 certified beds in Highland Springs, Virginia. The combination of zero-star ratings across every CMS metric, Special Focus Facility designation, and ongoing daily fines places the home among the most heavily penalized nursing facilities currently operating in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Federal regulations allow CMS to ultimately terminate a facility's Medicare and Medicaid participation if it fails to achieve and sustain compliance during its time in the Special Focus Facility program.
Resources for Families
Families with loved ones residing at Henrico Health and Rehabilitation Center — or any Virginia long-term care facility — who have concerns about the quality of care or suspect abuse or neglect should contact the following resources:
- Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: 1-800-552-3402 — Ombudsman advocates work to resolve complaints and protect the rights of residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the state. - National Elder Abuse Hotline: 1-800-677-1116 — Operated by the Administration for Community Living, this hotline connects callers to local services and can help coordinate responses to reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. - Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center: https://ltcombudsman.org — Provides information on residents' rights, how to file complaints, and how to locate your local ombudsman program.
Federal law requires nursing facilities to report allegations of abuse to both the state survey agency and local law enforcement within two hours of the allegation being made. Families who believe a report has not been properly filed may contact the Virginia Department of Health directly or reach out to the ombudsman for assistance navigating the complaint process.
💬 Join the Discussion
Comments are moderated. Please keep discussions respectful and relevant to nursing home care quality.