F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
E

Deficiency in Shower Room Safety Measures

South Shore RehabilitationChicago, Illinois Survey Completed on 06-05-2024

Summary

The facility failed to maintain a safe and functional environment by not ensuring that the shower room floor tiles had non-skid tape attached, which is essential to prevent accidental hazards. This deficiency was observed in multiple areas, including the 3rd floor shower room where six floor tiles were missing non-skid grip tapes, and some were rolled up. The Maintenance Director, who was present during the observation, acknowledged the absence of non-skid tape and admitted to running out of supplies. Additionally, the 2nd floor shower room had a water puddle under the wash sink, and two shower stalls were missing non-skid tapes. On the 1st floor, the shower stall was observed to have peeling non-skid tape, and the Maintenance Director was unaware of these issues until they were pointed out by the surveyor. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the shower room floors should have non-skid surfaces to prevent slipping. Despite the facility's policy requiring staff to report maintenance issues via a log at the nurse's station, there was no work order available for the repair of the non-skid tapes as of the survey date. The Maintenance Director mentioned a transition from a maintenance book log to a computer form for tracking repairs, but this change had not yet been fully implemented. The facility's job description for the Director of Maintenance emphasizes the responsibility to maintain a safe and comfortable environment, including ensuring the availability of necessary supplies.

Penalty

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0921 citations
Unsafe and unsanitary resident rooms with clutter, uncovered food, and rodent activity
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsafe and unsanitary resident rooms were observed with clutter, uncovered food, and rodent activity. A resident with schizophrenia and depression had food crumbs and meat under the bed, while another resident reported mouse droppings and hoarded food in a crowded room. Other rooms had overflowing bins, bags of belongings, and uncovered food, and staff reported that some residents refused housekeeping access and that pest control service in resident rooms was inconsistent.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Strong urine odor in Hallway B
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Strong urine odor in Hallway B. Surveyors repeatedly observed a noticeable urine smell at the beginning of and down Hallway B, including near the entrance where multiple residents were sitting in the hall. CNA 1 and CNA 2 both confirmed the odor, and the DON acknowledged the facility was aware of the strong smell at the entrance of Hallway B and cited the facility policy that residents have the right to a clean and comfortable environment.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Maintain Homelike and Well-Maintained Resident Rooms
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Multiple rooms on one unit were found with environmental deficiencies, including broken and unsecured electrical outlets, damaged and stained walls and ceilings, improvised extensions on light cords using a plastic bag and a washcloth, dripping and constantly running sink faucets with discolored grout, and a strong urine odor in one room. A review of work orders and an interview with the Facilities Director showed that only two work orders had been submitted for this unit, both generated after surveyor observations, indicating that unit staff had not routinely initiated maintenance requests for these conditions.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Maintain Resident Rooms and Hallway Flooring in Safe, Homelike Condition
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

The facility did not maintain a safe, comfortable, and homelike environment, as evidenced by two residents with dementia and other comorbidities living in rooms with multiple wall holes, chipped drywall, missing paint, and water-stained ceilings, and by extensive uneven flooring in two main halls. Observations showed numerous divots, chipped areas around drainage covers, and partially filled floor defects near the nurses' station and along the East and South halls. A resident reported wheelchairs becoming stuck in these floor ruts, and maintenance staff confirmed both the room damage and the lack of flush flooring around drains, as well as the absence of a current repair plan.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Clogged Janitor Room Floor Drain and Black Water Overflow
F
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

A clogged floor drain sink in a janitor room led to black, dirty water accumulating in the drain and overflowing into a hallway. A housekeeper reported that the drain, used for disposing of mop water and cleaning chemicals, had been clogged for some time and that she had informed her supervisor. The housekeeping supervisor stated she had submitted several work orders and that housekeeping staff had been attempting to unclog the drain themselves for months, while the maintenance director reported having no active work orders for the issue and indicated that such black water can carry harmful microorganisms. The administrator stated he expects staff to submit work orders and report issues promptly.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Maintain Safe and Well-Repaired Ceilings and Plumbing
F
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

The facility did not maintain ceiling structures and plumbing in a safe and clean condition, resulting in long‑standing stained and bulging ceiling tiles above the nurses’ station and an actively leaking pipe in the ice machine/vending area. Surveyors observed missing ceiling tiles exposing insulation, wiring, and water pipes, standing water collected in a trash can, and soaked blankets and towels on the floor. An RN and an LPN reported that the ceiling tiles above the nurses’ station had been stained for months or longer, and that the ceiling had been leaking in the ice machine area for several days, where the ice machine is used for all residents. The Regional Maintenance Director confirmed the stained tiles and the leaking pipe and acknowledged that the tiles had not yet been replaced.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Citation search

Search every citation & Plan of Correction

Go to search
Citation watch

Track new serious citations across Illinois

Get a heads-up on the newest immediate-jeopardy (J–L) citations in Illinois — where surveyors are focused right now.

Free · about one email a month

Trusted data from CMS and state health departments

Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release August 26, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.

In your survey window? See what surveyors are citing.

The Survey-Prep Report maps your facility's risk from 12 months of CMS and state citation data — what's being cited around you and what to check first. $129 one-time.

Get the Survey-Prep Report
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙

Connection lost — reconnecting… We couldn't reconnect automatically. Please reload the page to continue.