All states › Illinois › Rockford › River Bluff Nursing Home
4401 North Main Street Rockford, IL 61103 · Winnebago County
All 12 nursing homes in Rockford, IL (11 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 145771 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is River Bluff Nursing Home a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for River Bluff Nursing Home as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 1 out of 5 stars overall, below the Illinois average of 2.6.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 4.14 hours per resident per day at River Bluff Nursing Home, above the Illinois median of 3.33 (US median: 3.72). About 0.86 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.81 hours, 8% below its all-week average. 38.9% of nursing staff left within a year (Illinois median 43.5%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at River Bluff Nursing Home: Medicare and Medicaid
River Bluff Nursing Home is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Illinois's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on June 24, 2026 and found 11 deficiencies, plus 7 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 38 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 38 citations at River Bluff Nursing Home across 13 inspection dates, 15 of them from complaint investigations. 6 were at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on June 24, 2026. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (20) and pharmacy service (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health" (tag F0692, level G, June 24, 2026). 3 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
June 24, 2026 · 12 citations · includes complaint inspection
GProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with dementia.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
DEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
May 26, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
May 13, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
April 22, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
February 5, 2026 · 3 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
GProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide timely, approved x-ray services, or have an agreement with an approved provider to obtain them.
July 17, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DMake sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
April 10, 2025 · 7 citations
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
December 23, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
November 13, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
June 20, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
May 14, 2024 · 2 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide timely, approved x-ray services, or have an agreement with an approved provider to obtain them.
March 7, 2024 · 6 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
GProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
October 16, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Questions to ask on a tour of River Bluff Nursing Home
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on June 24, 2026 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on June 24, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 1 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- The home averages about 49% of its beds filled. Are any units closed?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
3 penalties in the last three years, including $48,629 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 24, 2026 | Fine | $38,430 |
| May 14, 2024 | Fine | $10,199 |
| Mar 7, 2024 | Payment Denial | 21 days of payments denied |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near River Bluff Nursing Home
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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2.1 mi
Javon Bea Hospital RockfordEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 4h 18m for patients treated and sent home
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4.0 mi
UW Health Swedishamerican Hospital RockfordEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 37m for patients treated and sent home
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5.1 mi
Saint Anthony Medical Center RockfordEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 43m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near River Bluff Nursing Home › All nursing homes in Rockford ›
Compare River Bluff Nursing Home with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Avira Health Pavilion · Loves Park · 4 stars · 0.6 mi
- Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital -SNF · Rockford · 4 stars · 2.1 mi
- Amberwood Care Centre · Rockford · 4 stars · 2.1 mi
- Rock River Health Care · Rockford · 3 stars · 0.6 mi
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.