Stephenson Nursing Center
2946 SOUTH WALNUT ROAD, Freeport, IL 61032
Freeport, Illinois · CMS verdict
Stephenson Nursing Center's CMS overall star rating stands at 3 of 5, in line with the Illinois state average (2.5) and reflecting average quality by the federal five-star measure.
The rating and the PlainElderCare Index below summarize federal inspection, staffing, and outcome data, they measure specific, documented dimensions of this facility, not a holistic verdict on the care your family member would receive. Visit in person, talk with staff and current residents' families, and weigh your family member's specific needs before choosing.
Stephenson Nursing Center in Freeport, Illinois holds a CMS overall rating of 3 of 5 stars and a PlainElderCare Quality & Compliance Index of 46 of 100 (grade F). The 148-bed facility operates where a semi-private nursing-home room in Illinois runs a median of $8,304 per month. Figures are from CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Quality & Compliance Index (heavier deficiency book)
With 36 CMS deficiencies on file, this facility sits in the heavier U.S. deficiency tercile (>31). A transparent composite of this facility's CMS Care Compare sub-ratings and its federal inspection record. It complements, and does not replace, the official CMS overall rating of 3 of 5 stars. How this is calculated.
How the 46 is built
Each segment is a dimension's weighted points toward the score, summing to 46.
Weights: health inspections 30%, staffing 25%, quality measures 25%, inspection record 20%; any dimension CMS has not published drops out and its weight redistributes (no silent deflation). Inspection record is benchmarked against all rated US nursing homes. Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Stephenson Nursing Center's heavier CMS deficiency book
Quality ratings
On Care Compare (data as of April 2026), Stephenson Nursing Center carries an overall CMS quality rating of 3 out of 5 stars. That figure rolls up three sub-ratings tracked separately: health inspection (3/5), staffing (3/5), and quality measures (3/5).
What each sub-rating measures
The health inspection rating reflects on-site surveyor findings from the last three cycles. The staffing rating compares case-mix-adjusted nurse hours per resident day to national benchmarks, and quality measures aggregate 15 clinical indicators including pressure ulcers, falls with injury, and long-stay antipsychotic use.
Size and setting
Located in Freeport, Illinois, this facility operates 148 certified beds with an average daily census of roughly 48 residents - an occupancy rate of about 32%. The facility is classified under government - county ownership, a designation that can influence staffing patterns, reinvestment decisions, and admissions policy. At roughly 32% occupancy, this facility is running well below its certified bed capacity, worth asking why directly.
Inspection record
On the regulatory side, federal and state surveyors have documented multiple deficiencies at this facility (36 total). CMS has levied no enforcement penalties over the equivalent window. This is a high deficiency count relative to most facilities; requesting the full survey report directly is the only way to see whether these are concentrated in one area or spread across the facility's operations.
Where these figures come from
Figures above come from CMS Nursing Home Compare (Care Compare, data as of April 2026) with state cost medians from the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey. See our methodology for vintage.
How Stephenson Nursing Center compares to Illinois
CMS five-star sub-ratings (0–5) for this facility against the Illinois facility-weighted average. Source: CMS Care Compare.
Bar = this facility's rating · vertical marker = Illinois state average. Higher is better on all four CMS measures.
Where Stephenson Nursing Center ranks in Illinois
Among the 665 CMS-rated nursing homes in Illinois, Stephenson Nursing Center’s 3-star overall rating is higher than 54% of them. The bars show how all Illinois homes spread across the CMS 1-to-5 scale; this facility’s band is highlighted.
110 Illinois homes share this 3-star rating. Source: CMS Nursing Home Compare.
Facility details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Beds | 148 |
| Residents | 48 |
| Ownership | Government - County |
| County | Stephenson |
| Penalties | 0 |
| Deficiencies | 36 |
Source: CMS Care Compare Nursing Homes (data as of April 2026)
What families ask about Stephenson Nursing Center's inspection record
What is the quality rating for Stephenson Nursing Center? ▾
3 out of 5 stars is Stephenson Nursing Center's current CMS overall rating, built from a health inspection rating of 3/5, a staffing rating of 3/5, and a quality measures rating of 3/5.
How much does a nursing home cost per month in Illinois? ▾
In Illinois, a semi-private nursing home room runs a median $8,304/month ($99,645/year) per the CareScout 2025 survey; private rooms average $9,216/month.
What services does Stephenson Nursing Center offer? ▾
Stephenson Nursing Center is a skilled nursing facility with 148 beds with approximately 48 current residents. It operates under government - county ownership. The facility has recorded 36 deficiencies and 0 penalties in CMS inspections.
Does Stephenson Nursing Center have any deficiencies or penalties? ▾
Stephenson Nursing Center has multiple deficiencies (36 total) and 0 penalties recorded by CMS. A count this high is above what most facilities post; ask the facility directly for its plan of correction on the largest findings.
What are the alternatives to a nursing home in Illinois? ▾
In Illinois, alternatives include assisted living ($6,219/mo), home health aides ($6,864/mo), and adult day care ($1,977/mo).
Keep reading
Also see the Illinois elder-care overview and highest-rated states. Provider ID: 145895.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.