CMS F-tag

F689: Quality of life & care

The facility must be free of accident hazards and provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents. Cited 21,405 times at 10,041 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#2 of 242 tags33% caused harm51 statesLatest survey Jan 20, 2026

How F689 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF689#2 of 242 tagsAmong the most cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K · L12.8%2,733
  • Actual harmG · H20.4%4,372
  • No actual harmD · E · F66.8%14,290
  • Minimal harmB · C0%10

33% of F689 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 21,405Citations
  • 10,041Facilities cited69% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20172
  • 2018166
  • 2019627
  • 2020220
  • 2021680
  • 20221,615
  • 20235,678
  • 20246,607
  • 20255,796
  • 202614

Partial years reflect the rolling three-cycle window, not a change in enforcement.

Where F689 is cited most

Survey agencies differ in what they emphasize, so compare a facility with its own state. Shares are the portion of each state’s rated nursing homes with at least one F689 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California80% of homes2,663 citations · 924 of 1,154 facilities
  • Illinois92% of homes2,401 citations · 614 of 665 facilities
  • Texas69% of homes1,589 citations · 806 of 1,167 facilities
  • Ohio78% of homes1,474 citations · 707 of 911 facilities
  • Pennsylvania67% of homes970 citations · 437 of 653 facilities
  • Michigan85% of homes867 citations · 359 of 420 facilities
  • Missouri76% of homes823 citations · 366 of 479 facilities
  • Indiana67% of homes648 citations · 340 of 504 facilities
  • Kansas90% of homes600 citations · 266 of 294 facilities
  • New York58% of homes569 citations · 345 of 593 facilities

Top 10 of 51 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Aperion Care Forest ParkForest Park, IL · Report card14 F6898 with harm
  2. California TerraceChicago, IL · Report card14 F6897 with harm
  3. Santa Anita Convalescent HospitalTemple City, CA · Report card14 F6894 with harm
  4. Goldwater Care BloomingtonBloomington, IL · Report card13 F6895 with harm
  5. Mirage Post AcuteLancaster, CA · Report card13 F6891 with harm
  6. Pleasant Meadows Senior LivingChrisman, IL · Report card12 F6898 with harm
  7. Chicago Ridge SNFChicago Ridge, IL · Report card12 F6897 with harm
  8. Lutheran Home for the AgedArlington Hts, IL · Report card12 F6897 with harm
  9. The Haven of ParisParis, IL · Report card12 F6896 with harm
  10. LA Bella of WoodstockWoodstock, IL · Report card12 F6895 with harm
  11. Morgan Park HealthcareChicago, IL · Report card12 F6894 with harm
  12. Continental Nursing & Rehab CenterChicago, IL · Report card12 F6892 with harm
  13. California Nursing & Rehabilitation CenterPalm Springs, CA · Report card12 F6891 with harm
  14. Oak Grove Post AcuteStockton, CA · Report card12 F689No harm
  15. Avantara Evergreen ParkEvergreen Park, IL · Report card11 F6896 with harm

What to ask a facility about a F689 citation

  1. What exactly did the surveyor find, and on what date? The report card shows the date and the severity letter.
  2. What was the plan of correction, and was it accepted by the state on the first submission?
  3. Has the same tag been cited in more than one cycle? Repeat citations matter more than a single one.
  4. If the letter was G or higher: what happened to the resident, and what changed in staffing or process?

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, Nursing Home Health Citations, current three inspection cycles, most recent survey Jan 20, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F689 in a nursing home inspection?
F689 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents." (Quality of life & care). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F689?
F689 was cited 21,405 times at 10,041 facilities (69% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #2 of 242 tags. 7,105 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F689 citation mean the facility is unsafe?
Not on its own. Read the scope and severity letter: D through F means no actual harm was found, G through I means a resident was harmed, and J through L means immediate jeopardy. Ask the facility what was cited, what was corrected, and when.

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