F0924

E

Unsecured Corridor Handrails on Two Units

Homewood, Illinois Survey Completed on 01-15-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The facility failed to ensure that corridor handrails were firmly secured on the 300 and 400 units, potentially affecting all 32 residents residing on those units. Surveyors reviewed the facility census and observed that 12 residents lived on the 300 unit and 20 residents on the 400 unit. During an observation on the 300 unit, handrails outside several rooms were found to be loose and able to shift approximately 2 inches up or down, with one handrail shifting approximately 4 inches and showing visible loose screws coming out of the brackets. When light pulling pressure was applied to this handrail, it began to disconnect from the wall. The Maintenance Director observed these conditions, confirmed the findings, and stated that residents use the handrails for balance, safety, and to propel themselves down the hallway when in a wheelchair.

On the 400 unit, additional observations showed loose, unsecured handrails outside multiple rooms, including areas across from the nurse's station and between various room pairs and a janitor closet. In one location, a hole approximately 5 inches tall by 3 inches wide was observed where the handrail bracket should be secured to the wall, and screws attaching the bracket to the wall were protruding approximately 1 inch from the wall. The Administrator and Maintenance Director observed and confirmed these conditions. When questioned, the Administrator asked if all handrails had been checked after the loose handrails were identified on the 300 unit, and the Maintenance Director stated that only the 300 unit handrails had been checked and fixed. Record review of the facility’s preventative maintenance policy dated 5/2025 showed that inspections of the facility’s handrails were not included as part of the preventative maintenance program.