Sunny Hill Nursing: 42 Infected, Staff Skip Masks - IL
The patient was on contact and droplet precautions at Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County, where a respiratory outbreak had already infected 42 residents and sent 19 to the hospital. Federal inspectors found staff routinely ignoring safety protocols designed to contain the spread.
On August 22, a rehabilitation nurse walked through the wing where most infected residents lived without wearing any mask at all. Later that morning, she remained maskless on a different wing. When inspectors approached a licensed practical nurse passing medications without a mask, she slowly put one on mid-conversation.
Residents weren't masked either. Inspectors watched as patients were brought to the main dining room for activities with no face coverings, despite the ongoing outbreak.
The first case appeared July 14. By the time federal inspectors arrived August 21, the facility was still getting new cases daily. One resident developed symptoms August 20. Another showed signs of infection the day inspectors interviewed nursing leadership.
Will County health officials had recommended "universal source control" on July 25 — meaning masks for all residents, visitors and staff. Three weeks later, the facility still wasn't following that guidance.
"Since the etiology of the outbreak is unknown, the facility should have started universal source control," the state's regional infection control coordinator told inspectors. The county communicable disease investigator confirmed she had made the masking recommendation nearly a month earlier.
The facility's director of nursing acknowledged that "appropriate PPE to be worn in a contact and droplet isolation room is gown, face mask, face shield, and gloves." She said all staff should wear face masks in all care areas.
But the administrator admitted enforcement was lacking. She told inspectors that "infection has been an ongoing issue" and said visitor masking was only encouraged, not required. Resident masking "has not been enforced and is hard to enforce because of resident illness and cognitive function," she said.
The nursing assistant who entered the isolation room improperly told inspectors she would only wear a gown "if she provides care." Serving lunch to an isolated patient apparently didn't count as care requiring full protection.
Federal inspectors noted the facility's infection control policy hadn't been updated since April 2020 and contained "no information on following guidance from the State and local health department to stop the spread of infection."
The outbreak's cause remains unknown. With 19 hospitalizations among 42 cases, more than 45 percent of infected residents required emergency medical care. The facility houses 142 residents total, meaning nearly 30 percent of the population contracted the respiratory infection.
Inspectors observed these violations across multiple days and shifts, suggesting the lapses weren't isolated incidents but reflected systematic failure to implement basic infection control measures during an active outbreak.
The facility is disputing the federal citation. But the inspection documented specific instances of staff moving freely between infected and clean areas without proper protection, potentially spreading the respiratory illness to vulnerable residents throughout the 142-bed facility.
County and state health officials had provided clear guidance weeks before the inspection. The facility's own policies required masks in care areas. Yet staff continued working without basic protections as the outbreak continued claiming new victims daily.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County from 2025-08-23 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
SUNNY HILL NURSING HOME OF WILL COUNTY in JOLIET, IL was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 23, 2025.
Federal inspectors found staff routinely ignoring safety protocols designed to contain the spread.
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.