SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Masonic Home in Sullivan has been fined $10,000 (Statement of Violation) by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to provide adequate supervision to prevent a resident from leaving the facility. The 254-bed intermediate and sheltered care facility is located at One Masonic Way in Sullivan.

Responding to an incident report, Department surveyors learned an 83-year-old resident left the facility unnoticed and later fell, sustaining a fractured arm. The resident, who had been identified as an elopement risk and had been fitted with an ankle monitor, wandered to an unoccupied part of the building that has no alarmed external doors. She was later found on a gravel road beyond two ponds that are on the property.

Per staff interviews, surveyors learned the resident was not found until nearly an hourand a half after leaving the facility. The dining room was unsupervised at the time the resident wandered off, because a staff member on duty had left to assist another resident.

Through a review of the records, investigators determined a door alarm in the dining – more – add 1 room did sound, but a secondary system that announces a specific door opened did not. An employee said the system ceased working about five days prior to the incident and the facility was trying to find a part needed to fix the system.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to ensure all resident-accessible exterior doors are equipped with functional alarms; to advise staff of their duties when alarm sounds; and to adequately staff resident care areas to ensure residents are properly supervised.

Illinois Masonic Home has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.