Sunny Hill Administrator Defends Private Room Model Amidst Capacity Discussions

Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | January 7, 2026

Article Summary: During the January 7, 2026, meeting, Sunny Hill Nursing Home Administrator Maggie McDowell reported a strong census but pushed back against suggestions to convert private rooms into double-occupancy rooms to increase revenue. McDowell cited consumer preference for privacy and licensure hurdles as primary reasons for maintaining the current model.

Sunny Hill Nursing Home Key Points:

• Census Data: The facility is currently at a census of approximately 153 residents, near its 156-bed capacity.

• Room Debate: Board Member Jim Richmond suggested converting rooms to double occupancy to create a “queue” for private rooms and increase access for residents.

• Administrator Stance: Administrator Maggie McDowell called returning to double rooms a “retrograde step,” noting that modern consumers demand privacy.

• Waitlist Dynamics: Despite having a waiting list, processing times for admissions mean the facility rarely stays at 100% capacity daily.

JOLIET, Ill. — Will County Board Member Jim Richmond (R-Mokena) questioned Sunny Hill Nursing Home administration on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, regarding the potential to expand capacity by utilizing double-occupancy rooms. The discussion occurred during the Public Health and Safety Committee meeting following a status report on the county-owned facility.

Administrator Maggie McDowell reported that the nursing home is currently serving approximately 153 residents, close to its licensed capacity of 156. Despite a waiting list, turnover and processing times prevent the facility from being full every day.

Richmond asked if the facility could modify licensure to allow more double-occupancy rooms, suggesting this could maximize revenue and allow more Will County residents access to the five-star facility.

“If we were to open up some of those rooms to double rooms… what you’re doing is you’re creating a queue so that this way people can move in,” Richmond said. He argued that residents might accept a shared room temporarily if they knew they were in line for a private room.

McDowell strongly advised against the move, citing her 40 years of experience in the field. She explained that the industry has shifted toward private rooms because that is what families and residents demand.

“I think it would be a very retrograde step,” McDowell said. “We have had people decline to come because… once they hear that they have to share a room with somebody potentially, they’re not coming.”

McDowell noted that the facility’s rooms are small—approximately 10 by 10 feet—making shared living arrangements difficult, particularly for residents requiring equipment like Hoyer lifts. She emphasized that while increasing the bed count is theoretically possible, the associated costs for staffing and the potential loss of competitive advantage made it an unwise strategy.

McDowell agreed to have the facility’s finance director attend a future meeting to discuss other revenue-generating strategies, such as managing insurance reimbursements more effectively.