Southside Care Center: Cramped Privacy Violations - MN
R6 at Southside Care Center lived in what federal inspectors measured as 30.67 square feet of curtained space that included only his twin bed and an adjacent dresser. The privacy barrier started at a closet above the foot of his bed, encompassed an 18-by-30-inch dresser, then ran parallel against his bed to the headboard.
"My area is the smallest [in the facility]," R6 told inspectors in March. "Curtain goes around my bed and that is all."
The resident, who had intact cognition and managed most of his personal care independently, shared the two-person room with his bed positioned just inside the doorway against the north wall. A closet extending 20 inches from the wall blocked access at the foot of his bed.
R6 said he wanted his bedroom space "to be much bigger but there ain't a bigger space so I have to deal with this."
When inspectors measured the curtained area on April 2, the administrator confirmed their findings. The curtain "wrapped around the bed with no floor space to stand or move unless [R6] was outside the curtained area," the administrator acknowledged.
The director of nursing examined R6's room during the inspection and stated "that is not enough room to move around privately." She added there was "barely any floor to walk on inside the privacy curtain."
The facility's co-owner admitted the arrangement fell short of basic standards. The personal space provided by R6's privacy curtain was "much tighter than I would like in my room," the co-owner said. "I did not take into account the usable square foot for [R6]."
R6 had diagnoses of depression, diabetes, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite his mental health conditions, he maintained independence with personal care tasks that the cramped quarters made nearly impossible to perform privately.
The co-owner acknowledged broader space constraints at the 17-bed facility, stating there were "concerns that the rooms are tight." But R6's situation represented an extreme case where basic human dignity requirements weren't met.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to reasonably accommodate residents' preferences for private, usable space. The inspection found Southside Care Center failed this standard by confining R6 to an area where he couldn't stand, dress, or access his belongings without compromising his privacy.
The facility's own staff recognized the inadequacy. When the director of nursing observed R6's living situation firsthand, she immediately acknowledged the space was insufficient for basic movement and privacy needs.
R6's bed measured 46 inches by 96 inches, consuming nearly all of his allocated privacy area. The remaining space was occupied by the dresser, leaving zero square footage for the resident to occupy while standing.
The co-owner's admission that usable square footage wasn't considered when designing R6's space highlighted a fundamental failure in accommodation planning. A resident with intact cognition and independent care abilities was forced to surrender basic privacy for routine daily activities.
During the inspection period, R6 remained confined to this inadequate arrangement. The facility provided no alternative solutions despite multiple staff members acknowledging the space was unsuitable for human habitation.
The violation affected R6's ability to maintain dignity while dressing, accessing personal belongings, or simply standing within his designated private area. His comment about dealing with the inadequate space because no bigger option existed captured the resignation of someone whose basic needs weren't being met.
R6 continued living in the cramped curtained area, unable to perform basic personal care tasks privately in what the facility's own co-owner described as much tighter than acceptable standards.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Southside Care Center from 2026-04-06 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
Southside Care Center in MINNEAPOLIS, MN was cited for violations during a health inspection on April 6, 2026.
The privacy barrier started at a closet above the foot of his bed, encompassed an 18-by-30-inch dresser, then ran parallel against his bed to the headboard.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.