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

Unsanitary, Damaged, and Non-Private Shower Rooms Affecting All Residents

Pine Crest Health CareHazel Crest, Illinois Survey Completed on 01-25-2026

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide a safe, functional, sanitary, and comfortable environment in the common shower rooms on both the first and second floors, affecting all residents. A resident, a 67-year-old female with multiple diagnoses including thyroid disorder, essential hypertension, paranoid schizophrenia, unspecified psychosis, thyrotoxicosis, mild dementia, mental disorder NOS, vitamin D deficiency, constipation, and spasmodic torticollis, was identified as the complainant through her Maximus case manager, but she was unavailable for interview. The case manager reported that during a visit in the fall, he observed the first-floor shower room next to the conference room and described it as horrible, with broken floor tiles, no privacy curtains, and mold throughout the bathroom. Surveyor observations on the first floor showed that the 400 hall shower room was locked and required the Maintenance Director to open it, as nursing and housekeeping staff did not have a key. Inside, the toilet bowl had dark brown stains and, when flushed, spewed dark brown water. Floor and wall tiles were chipped, some shower areas lacked curtains, assistive devices were stored in the room, and there were varying degrees of dark substance on the grout of walls and floors. The 200 hall shower room contained bath blankets on the floor, unflushed urine in the toilet, chipped 1x1 floor tiles and broken wall tiles, dark substances on floors and walls, and was also used for storage of assistive devices. There was no privacy curtain for the toilet, which was visible from the hallway when the door was open, and there was no lock on the door. The DON stated that most first-floor residents are more independent and shower without assistance, and the identified resident’s care plan indicated she requires assistance with ADLs. On the first floor, another shower room on the 500 hallway was entirely used for storage and not available for shower use. On the second floor, all shower rooms were observed to have crumbling tile, lack of privacy curtains, and varying levels of dark substances on floors and walls. A housekeeper reported that bathrooms are cleaned once per shift and upon request, while the Housekeeping Manager stated that she and housekeepers make rounds and clean when they determine it is needed. The Infection Preventionist stated she is mainly involved with antibiotics and not housekeeping and did not provide a policy for shower cleaning or remediation of the dark substance. There was no facility policy on housekeeping protocol for shower cleaning, no logs or scheduled cleaning records available for review, and resident council minutes documented at least three complaints about the shower rooms being filthy. Based on these observations, interviews, and record reviews, the facility did not provide a clean, safe, comfortable, and sanitary area for residents to shower, and a deficiency was cited.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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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

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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.
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