Willows Health Center

Name: Willows Health Center
Address: 4054 ALBRIGHT LANE, Rockford, IL, 61103, US
Telephone: 8153161500

4054 Albright Lane, Rockford, IL 61103 · Winnebago County · 50 certified beds · avg 30 residents/day · certified since Apr 1, 2006 · Medicare and Medicaid certified

Certified for both programmes. Certification means the facility can bill Medicaid — it does not mean a Medicaid-funded bed is free right now, so ask directly. Who pays for nursing home care →

3/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

$12,909

Fines, last 3 years

5.31

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)

Health inspection rating: ★★★☆☆3/5 · CMS overall rating: 3/5

The health inspection star above is graded on a curve within each state — a set share of each state's facilities gets each star level — so a facility can have few citations and still rate 2–3 stars if others in its state did even better. The overall rating combines that inspection score with staffing and self-reported quality measures.

Most serious findings (actual harm or immediate jeopardy)

▲ Actual harm, one-off · Nov 25, 2025 · F-0689

The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.

Why it matters: This is one of the most common citations and directly relates to falls and injuries, which can be devastating for older adults.

Severity (G): One or a few residents were actually harmed — physically or emotionally — though not put in immediate danger of serious injury or death.

Corrected: Dec 12, 2025 (Deficient, Provider has date of correction)

All citations in the current public record (26)

CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed.

Date	Severity	What the facility was cited for
Jan 26, 2026	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	The facility employed staff who were not licensed, certified, or registered as required by state law. · from a complaint
Dec 16, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving. · from a complaint
Nov 25, 2025	▲ G · Actual harm, one-off	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.
Nov 25, 2025	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards.
Nov 25, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide activities that meet residents' needs and interests. Nursing homes must offer meaningful activity programs, not just leave residents idle.
Nov 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility gave residents unnecessary mind-altering (psychotropic) medications, or used drugs in a way that restrained residents by dulling their ability to think, move, or function.
Nov 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide the help residents need with basic daily activities — like bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom — for residents who cannot do these things on their own.
Nov 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide enough food and fluids to keep residents healthy, such as preventing unplanned weight loss or dehydration.
Nov 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide pharmacy services that meet each resident's needs, or did not employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist.
Nov 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide.
Nov 25, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures for offering residents flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Nov 15, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not protect residents from misuse of their belongings or money — this is called misappropriation, and it includes theft or improper use of a resident's property or funds. · from a complaint
Nov 15, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide pharmacy services that meet each resident's needs, or did not employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist. · from a complaint
Jan 28, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not respond appropriately to alleged violations, such as reports of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment. Facilities must investigate every allegation and protect residents while they do. · from a complaint
Jan 28, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide pharmacy services that meet each resident's needs, or did not employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist. · from a complaint
Sep 24, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls. · from a complaint
Aug 22, 2024	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide.
Aug 22, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not treat residents with dignity and respect, or did not honor their rights to make their own decisions and communicate freely. This is one of the most fundamental resident rights.
Aug 22, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide proper care for pressure ulcers (bedsores) or did not do enough to prevent new ones from forming. Bedsores develop when residents stay in one position too long without help moving.
Aug 22, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide appropriate care related to bladder and bowel needs — including care for residents who use catheters and steps to prevent urinary tract infections.
Sep 21, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not treat residents with dignity and respect, or did not honor their rights to make their own decisions and communicate freely. This is one of the most fundamental resident rights.
Sep 21, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide the help residents need with basic daily activities — like bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom — for residents who cannot do these things on their own.
Sep 21, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.
Sep 21, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.
Sep 21, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe and appropriate pain management for a resident who needed it.
Sep 21, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide pharmacy services that meet each resident's needs, or did not employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections increased between the last two inspection cycles (4 → 9).

Year	Citations	Serious (G–L)	Worst severity that year
2023	6	0	D
2024	5	0	F
2025	14	1	G ▲
2026	1	0	F

Counts reflect the current CMS public record (~3 inspection cycles plus complaint investigations); years with no surveys show no row. Inspection frequency varies, so compare severity as well as counts.

Fines and enforcement (last 3 years)

1 fine totaling $12,909, plus 1 Medicare payment denial period.

Date	Type	Amount / length
Nov 15, 2025	Payment Denial	15 days from Dec 18, 2025
Dec 11, 2023	Fine	$12,909

Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)

Measure	This facility	Illinois avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	5.31	2.99	3.95	top 4% in Illinois; top 9% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	1.63	0.63	0.69	top 5% in Illinois; top 4% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	4.40	2.67	3.50	top 8% in Illinois; top 14% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.85	0.56	0.48	top 15% in Illinois; top 9% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	0.0	44.5	45.8	—
RN turnover (%)	0.0	41.8	42.9	—

Hours are per resident per day, case-mix adjusted by CMS so facilities caring for sicker residents can be compared fairly (same basis as the CMS staffing star). "Top X%" means better than most facilities: more staffing hours, or lower turnover. Raw (unadjusted) reported hours: total 5.21, RN 1.60, weekend 4.31. Staffing rating: 4/5.

Self-reported quality measures

Note: these ratings are based on data the facility reports about itself to CMS. They are not independently verified by inspectors, and can look better than inspection findings. Give more weight to the inspection results above.

Quality measures rating: 4/5 · long-stay residents: 5/5 · short-stay residents: 3/5

Who owns this facility

Non profit - Corporation

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Dittmer, Helen	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	07/01/2021
Dittmer, Helen	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	07/01/2021
Nelson, Brett	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	07/01/2021
Salinas, Frances	Individual	W-2 Managing Employee	NOT APPLICABLE	07/01/2022
Salinas, Frances	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	07/01/2022

Questions to ask on your visit

Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.

"What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
"How do you verify licenses and certifications for every caregiver before they start, and how often do you recheck them?"
"How do you prevent bedsores for residents who can't move themselves, and how often are at-risk residents repositioned?"
"What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
"Can I see this month's activities calendar, and what do you offer residents who can't leave their rooms?"
"What percentage of your residents are on antipsychotic or sedating medications, and how do you work to reduce that?"
"How many aides are on each shift, and how do you make sure every resident gets timely help with bathing, dressing, and meals?"
"How do you monitor residents' weight and eating, and what happens when someone starts losing weight?"
"What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
"Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)

Facility	Distance	City	Overall	Inspection	Flags
River Bluff Nursing Home	0.9 mi	Rockford, IL	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Rock River Health Care	1.2 mi	Rockford, IL	★★★☆☆	3/5
Avira Health Pavilion	1.3 mi	Loves Park, IL	★★★★☆	4/5
Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital -SNF	1.5 mi	Rockford, IL	★★★★☆	5/5
Amberwood Care Centre	1.5 mi	Rockford, IL	★★★☆☆	4/5
Pa Peterson at the Citadel	3.2 mi	Rockford, IL	★☆☆☆☆	2/5	abuse
Alpine Fireside Health Center	3.3 mi	Rockford, IL	★★★☆☆	3/5
Fairhaven Christian Ret Center	3.4 mi	Rockford, IL	★★★☆☆	3/5
The Citadel at Saint Anne Place	4.0 mi	Rockford, IL	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Alden Park Strathmoor	5.7 mi	Rockford, IL	★☆☆☆☆	2/5
Forest City Rehab & Nrsg Ctr	5.8 mi	Rockford, IL	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Alden Debes Rehab & HCC	6.2 mi	Rockford, IL	★☆☆☆☆	2/5	abuse

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Rockford →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 146101.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Willows Health Center

4054 Albright Lane, Rockford, IL 61103 · 8153161500

Health inspection rating 3/5 · CMS overall 3/5· Fines (3y): $12,909

Most serious findings on record:

▲ Nov 25, 2025 (F-0689, Actual harm, one-off): The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
☐ "How do you verify licenses and certifications for every caregiver before they start, and how often do you recheck them?"
☐ "How do you prevent bedsores for residents who can't move themselves, and how often are at-risk residents repositioned?"
☐ "What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
☐ "Can I see this month's activities calendar, and what do you offer residents who can't leave their rooms?"
☐ "What percentage of your residents are on antipsychotic or sedating medications, and how do you work to reduce that?"
☐ "How many aides are on each shift, and how do you make sure every resident gets timely help with bathing, dressing, and meals?"
☐ "How do you monitor residents' weight and eating, and what happens when someone starts losing weight?"
☐ "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
☐ "Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

While you're there, notice:

☐ Smell and cleanliness in hallways, not just the lobby
☐ How staff speak to residents; call lights answered promptly
☐ Residents up, dressed, and engaged (visit mealtimes and a weekend if you can)

Data: CMS Provider Data Catalog, version 2026-08-01 · CCN 146101 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)