F 0689
Level of Harm - Immediate
jeopardy to resident health or
safety
Residents Affected - Few
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to
prevent accidents.
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on
observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to ensure the memory care unit exit doors and
bracelet alarms were loud and widespread enough to alert staff when activated. The facility failed to identify
and investigate incidents of elopement, revise a care plan, and implement interventions for a resident who
eloped from the facility. The facility failed to follow facility elopement policies and failed to provide adequate
supervision for one of three residents (R1) reviewed for elopement in the sample of three. These failures
resulted in a cognitively impaired resident (R1) who resides in the facility's locked memory care unit, exiting
the facility without staff knowledge and being found soaking wet, laying on the parking lot pavement with
facial and head trauma accompanied with excessive bleeding, approximately 50 to 70 feet from the exit
doors. R1 was found at approximately 5:45pm and the weather was pouring down rain and cool. R1 was
transferred to the local emergency room and later transferred to a tertiary (higher level) hospital where he
was admitted to an intensive care unit for treatment of facial and cervical spine fractures.
These failures resulted in an Immediate Jeopardy.
Findings include:
The Immediate Jeopardy began on 5/10/24 when R1 left the building unsupervised. V1 (Administrator) was
notified of the Immediate Jeopardy on 6/4/24 at 9:20 AM. On 6/5/24 the state surveying agency accepted a
plan of correction submitted in regard to Elopement management. While the immediacy was removed on
6/5/24, the facility remains out of compliance at a severity Level II as additional time is needed to evaluate
the implementation and effectiveness of their removal plan and quality assurance program.
The facility's Wandering and Elopement policy, dated 8/24/20, documents All residents in this facility shall
be assessed for risk of elopement/unsafe wandering, utilizing the Elopement Risk Assessment tool.
Procedure: Elopement is defined as a wandering resident who is assessed as being cognitively impaired,
who is not capable of protecting him/herself from harm who has left the building unsupervised. If the
resident is considered to have eloped, the incident must be reported to (the State Agency). This facility will
complete assessment upon admission, readmission, quarterly, significant change and upon an attempt of
elopement, each resident will be assessed for their risk assessment utilizing the Elopement Risk
Assessment tool. This policy also documents An accident/incident report must be done by the charge
nurse. All incidents of elopement must be investigated by nursing administration and reported to the facility
administrator. The administrator of his designee must report every incident of elopement to the (State
Agency). All incidents of elopement must result in comprehensive care plan review/revision.
(continued on next page)
Any deficiency statement ending with an asterisk (*) denotes a deficiency which the institution may be excused from correcting providing it is determined that other
safeguards provide sufficient protection to the patients. (See instructions.) Except for nursing homes, the findings stated above are disclosable 90 days following the
date of survey whether or not a plan of correction is provided. For nursing homes, the above findings and plans of correction are disclosable 14 days following the date
these documents are made available to the facility. If deficiencies are cited, an approved plan of correction is requisite to continued program participation.
LABORATORY DIRECTOR'S OR PROVIDER/SUPPLIER
REPRESENTATIVE'S SIGNATURE
TITLE
(X6) DATE
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Facility ID:
If continuation sheet
Page 1 of 5
Event ID:
146138
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
146138
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
06/06/2024
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Mercer Manor Rehabilitation
309 N W 9th Avenue
Aledo, IL 61231
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0689
Level of Harm - Immediate
jeopardy to resident health or
safety
Residents Affected - Few
The facility's Fall Reduction policy, dated 11/5/19, documents Purpose: To provide an environment that
remains as free of accident hazards as possible. To identify residents who are at risk for falling and to
develop appropriate interventions to provide supervision and assistive devices to prevent or minimize fall
related injuries. To promotes a systematic approach and monitoring process for the care of residents who
have fallen and/or those who are determined to be at risk.
R1's current electronic Care Plan, printed on 5/29/24, documents R1 has diagnoses of Unspecified
Dementia, Psychotic Disturbance, Mood Disorder, Anxiety, Epilepsy and recurrent Seizures, Repeated
Falls, Muscle Weakness, Abnormalities of Gait and Mobility, Lack of Coordination, Muscle Wasting and
Atrophy. This care plan documents My current risk for Wandering /Elopement is high risk and my safety will
be monitored every shift by all staff. This care plan was implemented on 5/25/23 and has no updated
intervention since 2023. This same Care Plan documents I currently have an alteration in my behavior
status related to exit seeking, insomnia, aggression towards staff, yelling/screaming, rejection of care. This
care plan was last updated/revised on 4/30/24. This same Care Plan documents I am currently a High Risk
for falls. Cognitive Deficit, Vision Impairment, Poor balance. This care plan was last updated on 1/25/24.
R1's Minimum Data Set assessment, dated 4/12/24, documents R1's mental cognition is severely impaired.
R1's Behavior Note, dated 5/10/24 at 1:55 PM, documents Resident reached door to 400 hall, alarm (ankle
bracelet) sounded. Staff followed behind and was able to redirect (R1) back inside. (V2 Director of Nursing)
aware.
R1's Behavior Note, dated 5/14/24 at 8:57 PM, documents (R1 is) antsy, wandering this shift. Becoming
slightly aggressive when staff tries to redirect him. Aide was able to get him to the restroom and changed
and ready for bed. Currently resting in bed with eyes closed and breathing even and unlabored.
R1's Nursing Progress Note, dated 5/24/24 at 6:00 PM, and completed by V2 (Director of Nursing)
documents Late Entry: Note Text: Nurse observed resident (R1) on the ground around 5:45 PM, resident
noted to have injuries to face, knees, and arms. 911 (Emergency Services) called. Nurse then requested
supplies to help stop bleeding. Ambulance arrived and transported resident (R1) to hospital.
R1's Wandering/Elopement Risk Assessment, dated 4/4/24, documents R1 was assessed to be at a high
risk of elopement.
R1's Wandering/Elopement Risk Assessment, dated 5/27/24, documents R1 has No history of escape or
elopement.
The facility's incident report to the State Agency, dated 5/25/24, documents 5/24/24: (R1) is [AGE] years old
with diagnoses of Unspecified Dementia, Severe without Behavioral Disturbance, Psychotic Disturbance,
Mood Disturbance, Anxiety, Muscle wasting and Atrophy, was observed on the ground by nurse. Resident
ambulating self without walker. EMS (Emergency Medical Services) called and transferred to the
Emergency Room.
On 5/29/24 at 10:24 AM, V6 (Local emergency room Registered Nurse) stated I was (R1's) nurse in the
emergency room. From my understanding staff saw the resident outside (the facility) and called 911.
Emergency Medical Services reported they got the call that (R1) was found outside on the ground
(continued on next page)
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
146138
If continuation sheet
Page 2 of 5
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
146138
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
06/06/2024
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Mercer Manor Rehabilitation
309 N W 9th Avenue
Aledo, IL 61231
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0689
Level of Harm - Immediate
jeopardy to resident health or
safety
Residents Affected - Few
with facial trauma. (R1) had an ankle bracelet on and there was a facility staff member (V15 Certified
Nursing Assistant/CNA) who came with the resident. (V15) told me who he was and that he was a resident
in the facility's memory care unit. (R1) had facial injuries but also had further testing and his injuries were
pretty significant. (R1) arrived in the emergency room at 6:06 PM and was discharged to (tertiary hospital)
at 8:48 PM, due to his injuries.
On 5/29/24 at 12:00 PM, V11 (Certified Nursing Assistant/CNA) stated (R1) typically is an exit seeker.
Especially lately, he didn't want to take his Ativan (anti-anxiety medication) and he would become more
anxious. (R1) was aggressive that morning (5/24). We (staff) would sit with him and that would help him
stay calm. (R1) required a lot of one-on-one attention. When (R1) would exit seek, he would always go to
the end of the hall exit door. That is the exit I believe he used that day (5/24). I am not sure if it alarmed or
not. You may not hear it if you were further up the hall because it's not a loud alarm noise. (R1) has gotten
outside before this incident. Maybe about a month ago (R1) got out into the facility parking lot.
On 5/29/24 at 2:20 PM, V8 (CNA) stated I was working that day (5/24) in (R1's) unit. I had taken him to the
bathroom probably 10-15 minutes prior to when he was found. I went to the linen closet and took (R3) into
their room. Once I got done in (R3's) room I was going out and the other CNA (V14) was coming back from
break, and she notified me of (R1) being outside. I went down to see if they (staff) needed help. Sometimes
(R1) does just tend to get up and walk. He uses a walker to get around. When I was in (R3's) room I didn't
hear any alarms with the door closed but once I opened the door, I could hear an alarm sounding down the
hall. The (ankle bracelet) and the door alarm were all going off. (V7 Licensed Practical Nurse/LPN) was the
nurse for the memory care unit that day, she was also in another room with a resident.
On 5/29/24 at 2:40 PM, V13 (CNA) stated I was taking my linen out just before 6:00 PM (on 5/24). I noticed
there was an oncoming nurse (V9 LPN) banging on the door outside of the 300 hall exit door. She was
hollering for help. (V15 CNA) and I both went to (R1) and then I called (V2 Director of Nursing), (V15) called
911, we both saw (V9) at the same time. Employees enter that way which is how (V9) saw him. (R1) was
laying partially on his butt also trying to push himself up. Once he saw help, we had control of him. The
weather was pouring down rain that day, not super cold, maybe high 60's (degree Fahrenheit) temperature.
To me it looked like (R1) fell face first in the parking lot. That's where he was when we got to him. It would
have taken him a good ten minutes at least to get from where he exited the locked unit door to where we
found him. There is some grass out there and also pavement. I entered back into the locked unit. I could
hear the locked unit alarm going off from outside the doors. I couldn't hear any alarms inside the building
from the 300 hall. I do know that (R1) has gotten out before. I am actually the one who found him that time.
(R1) was holding onto one of the signs out there. A male was outside mowing and banged on the door (of
the 300 hall) from the outside. He was alerting us that we had a resident outside. I can't remember if the
alarm was going off that day. I just remember the adrenaline of it all and getting him back inside the
building. That time he was maybe 10 feet away from the building, closer than he was this last time (5/24).
On 5/30/24 at 11:05 AM, V15 (CNA) walked down the 300 hall and outside to the employee parking lot. V15
pointed to a lined area of parking lot pavement and stated (R1) was lying here in a rain puddle, and you
could see his blood mixed in the water. Who knows how long he was laying there or how long before he had
fallen once he got out. (V9) was coming into work this way, and she is the one who found him.
V9's (LPN) written statement, dated 5/24/24, documents I arrived at (the facility) on May 24th for
(continued on next page)
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
146138
If continuation sheet
Page 3 of 5
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
146138
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
06/06/2024
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Mercer Manor Rehabilitation
309 N W 9th Avenue
Aledo, IL 61231
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0689
Level of Harm - Immediate
jeopardy to resident health or
safety
Residents Affected - Few
my 12 hour shift (around 5:45 PM). Upon entering the facility's back parking lot, I saw an individual lying on
the ground, in a puddle, unable to get up. I ran to the 300 hall door and knocked for assistance. I requested
gauze to apply to the resident's face to stop the bleeding. (R1) was taken by ambulance for injuries.
On 6/3/24 at 10:00 AM, V7 (LPN) confirmed she was working in the memory care unit on 5/24/24 when R1
got outside of the building unattended. V7 stated (V14 CNA) was on break. (V8 CNA) was in a resident's
room (R3) by the nurse's station with the door closed. I was in another resident's room (R2), trying to get
him calmed down. I came out the get (V8) to help me with (R2) and that is when I heard the alarm. At that
time there was already several staff outside with the resident and so I started getting paperwork ready to be
sent to the hospital. (V8) and I couldn't hear the alarms when in resident rooms. (R1) is a known wanderer
and has gotten out from time to time. He is usually re-directable when he is walking. During the time that
(R1) was outside it was pouring down rain.
On 5/29/24 at 2:19 PM, V1 confirmed the facility did not report R1's elopement on 5/24/24 to the State
Agency. V1 stated We reported the fall with injury to (the State Agency). We did not report the elopement
because (R1) was still on the property. (R1) was outside but not off property and that is what I was told to
do.
On 5/30/24 at 10:15 AM, V1 activated the locked memory care unit's ankle bracelet alarm and confirmed
that when you are up the hall or if inside a resident's room it may not be audible. V1 then activated the exit
door alarm that R1 exited on 5/24/24. The alarm was much louder but only alarmed at the exit doorway. V1
confirmed there is no speaker for this alarm up the hallway, at the nurse's station or anywhere else in the
facility outside of the locked memory care unit. V1 confirmed that R1 has had another incident of getting out
prior to this one and believes the date was 5/10/24.
On 5/30/24 at 11:24 AM, V18 (Social Services Director) stated I do a wandering/elopement assessment in
the computer quarterly, annually and with significant change. If there is an incident, we make sure alarms
are working, care plan updated and see if assessment needs updated. On May 10th, (R1) breeched the
door on 400 hall (in the memory care unit). What was reported to me is that he breeched the door and was
brought back in by a CNA. After the 5/10/24 incident of getting out of the building, I reviewed the care plan,
and we checked that alarms were sounding. I also checked to make sure they were doing 15-minute checks
on (R1) and they were. So, I didn't have any new form or any care plan update to complete.
On 6/3/24 at 10:30 AM, V1 (Administrator) stated Upon further investigating the incident where (R1) was
found in the parking lot before the 5/24/24 incident was on 5/10/24. I think the reason it didn't get reported
as an elopement is because our maintenance man (V20) was outside mowing, and he saw (R1) and they
got him back into the building. So (R1) didn't go far. I didn't know he got outside at all during that incident
until last week when you asked. It was never relayed to me.
On 6/3/24 at 12:55 PM, V2 (Director of Nursing) stated I was not here that day (5/24), but I went in and
made the notes in the resident's record once I read (employee) statements. On 5/10/24 I saw an CNA (V19)
walking by quickly and so I followed her into the memory unit and then we went down by the (exit) doors.
The alarm was going off, but the aids (V10 and V11 CNAs) were in the 500 hall (past the memory care
nurse's station) and they thought it was the other door to go into the facility, due to it not being super loud.
So, I went down to the end of the hall and when we went to open the door (V13 CNA) was coming in with
(R1). I didn't do an investigation or an incident report. They (V13 and V20) had seen him right around the
corner and so I didn't see it as an elopement. (V16 LPN) was
(continued on next page)
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
146138
If continuation sheet
Page 4 of 5
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
146138
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
06/06/2024
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Mercer Manor Rehabilitation
309 N W 9th Avenue
Aledo, IL 61231
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0689
Level of Harm - Immediate
jeopardy to resident health or
safety
Residents Affected - Few
the nurse that day and when I went back up the hall, she was behind the nurse's station. (V16) said she
was in the medication room and didn't hear the alarm sounding.
R1's Emergency Physician Note, dated 5/24/24, documents (R1) was found on the ground bleeding from
the mouth. According to staff member at (facility) I spoke to, the Certified Nursing Assistant said she saw
(R1) ten minutes prior to him being discovered down. Unknown loss of consciousness. Patient with history
of Dementia, unable to contribute to history. Noted facial/mouth bleeding and deformity. Abrasions to
bilateral knees. These Physician Notes also document Impression and Plan: Fall, Fracture of Thoracic
Spine, Cervical Spine Fracture, Bilateral Mandibular (lower jaw) Fracture, Closed Maxillary (upper jaw)
fracture. Transfer to (tertiary hospital) on 5/24/24 at 8:40 PM.
R1's (tertiary hospital) emergency room to admission notes, dated 5/25/24, documents R1 was admitted to
the Cardiac Intensive Care unit on 5/25/24. This note documents R1 underwent a T10-T11 (thoracic spine)
Open Reduction Internal Fixation with Percutaneous screws on 5/26/24 and was transferred to the
hospital's Neuroscience Critical Care unit on 5/27/24.
On 6/3/24 at 2:30 PM, V1 confirmed R1 remains hospitalized .
On 6/6/24 the surveyor confirmed through observation, interview, and record review that the facility took the
following actions to remove the immediacy.
1. An audit of the memory care unit's alarms was conducted and determined that all exit alarms are
functioning and audible, including behind closed doors. All 17 rooms (100%) were audited on the unit,
including the room furthest from the exit. 5/5/24 & 6/4/24
2. All nursing staff present were in-serviced on: May 25, 2024
-Proper monitoring and supervision of residents at risk for elopement
-The definition of elopement
-Review of the facility's elopement detection and prevention systems
-The need to reassess and review a resident's plan of care after an elopement. 5/25/24
3. All residents at high risk for elopement have been reviewed and no instances of exiting the building
unattended have been identified. 5/28/24
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
146138
If continuation sheet
Page 5 of 5