2026 Deficiency-Free Survey

Cornerstone Special Care, a HutsonWood Community and a leading residential community providing specialized care for medically complex and developmentally disabled individuals, is proud to announce it has completed its first probationary licensure survey at its new Sterling facility with a deficiency-free result from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

A probationary licensure survey is required within the first year of operating a newly licensed facility. Cornerstone Special Care moved into its new 45,000-square-foot, purpose-built home at 815 W. 23rd Street in October 2025, and this survey marked the first full IDPH inspection of the new building. A deficiency-free result means surveyors found zero violations or areas requiring correction, a distinction earned by only a small percentage of long-term care providers in the state.

“Completing our first survey in this new building with zero deficiencies is a powerful validation of everything our team has built here,” said Melissa Francque, Executive Director at Cornerstone Special Care. “This result reflects the discipline and care our staff carried with them through the move, and it confirms that the systems and standards that made Cornerstone strong on Woodlawn Road are just as strong in our new home.”

The IDPH survey process is rigorous and includes a thorough review of clinical care, safety protocols, staff training, documentation, resident rights, and overall facility operations. For a first survey following a move to a new physical location, surveyors also evaluate whether the new environment continues to meet residents' medical, safety, and quality-of-life needs.

Cornerstone Special Care serves individuals with a wide range of medical complexities and developmental disabilities, offering tailored care plans, skilled nursing services, and a supportive environment that encourages independence, growth, and dignity. The new facility, built at a cost of more than $25 million, sits on 25 acres and can accommodate 84 residents across four households, with sensory spaces, therapeutic activity rooms, and a family lounge designed to support both care and connection.

“Our residents deserve nothing less than the very best, and this survey result is a testament to the daily efforts of our nurses, caregivers, therapists, and support staff, both before and after our move,” added Mrs. Francque.