Average — CMS composite of the measures below.
The next survey window likely opens around December 2026
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of July 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Life Care Center Of Charleston during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Failure to send quarterly personal funds statements to residents and RRs. Several residents, including cognitively intact residents, stated they did not receive account statements, and one RR reported not receiving quarterly statements. The BOM stated some alert and oriented residents do not get their statements, there was no proof of statements sent, and no log was kept of mailings.
Failure to Complete Significant Change MDS for Hospice Election: The facility did not complete a significant change MDS when a resident elected hospice services. The resident had Alzheimer’s disease and severe cognitive impairment, and the record showed a hospice referral, hospice election, and later care plan documentation for hospice, but the MDS assessments did not reflect hospice status. The MDS Director said the case was probably missed, and the Administrator and DON cited a lack of communication.
Failure to care-plan oxygen flow manipulation: A resident with CHF, COPD, and respiratory therapy needs was observed using a portable O2 tank set at 3 L/min despite an active order for 2 L/min via NC. The resident stated she preferred the higher setting and reported her tank had run out of O2, while an LPN said the resident had been told to keep oxygen at the ordered level but remained non-compliant. The care plan addressed respiratory status and COPD, but did not specifically identify or manage the resident’s manipulation of the prescribed O2 flow rate.
A resident with a colostomy, dementia, and other chronic conditions did not have a verified physician order for ostomy care. Staff observed the resident's appliance leaking, and both LPNs, the DON, and the WOCN were unable to locate an ostomy care order in the chart. The MAR/TAR showed only limited ostomy-related references, with no clear order in place at the time of review.
A resident with a history of falls and cognitive deficits eloped from the facility during a fire alarm when staff left their posts to manage the situation. The resident exited through an unsecured door and fell in the courtyard, resulting in a fractured clavicle. Staff interviews revealed a lack of headcount and preassigned door assignments during the alarm.
The facility failed to remove expired and discontinued medications from medication carts and did not secure a medication cart on the Morning Star Unit, leaving it unlocked and unattended with resident medications and private information exposed. These deficiencies were confirmed by nursing staff.
The facility failed to ensure proper kitchen sanitation and hand hygiene, affecting 119 residents. Observations revealed expired and unlabeled food items, unsanitary kitchen equipment, and CNAs not performing hand hygiene during meal service. The Dietary Manager confirmed the issues, and the DON expressed surprise at the findings, given the Registered Dietician's mock surveys.
The facility reported a medication administration error rate of 15.38%, exceeding the acceptable threshold. Errors included improper insulin pen priming by multiple LPNs and a failure to administer a resident's Sertraline dose on time, despite its availability in the facility's pyxis.
The facility failed to ensure proper insulin administration for three residents, as LPNs did not follow the correct procedure for priming insulin pens. One LPN administered insulin without priming the pen, while two others primed the pens incorrectly, leading to uncertainty about the correct dosage being delivered.
A facility failed to maintain dignity for a resident during an insulin injection. The resident, with diabetes and other conditions, was not provided privacy or a blanket despite requests. The LPN administered the injection with the room door open and the resident's roommate present, violating the facility's dignity policy.
Failure to Send Quarterly Personal Funds Statements
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to send quarterly statements for residents' personal money accounts to the resident and the resident's representative for R42, R78, R118, R101, and R120. The facility policy titled, Personal Needs Account, stated that residents who participate in the account are to receive an account summary on a quarterly basis or more frequently upon request. During interviews, R42, who had a BIMS score of 15/15 and was cognitively intact, stated that he did not receive any statements of funds and knew he received $30 that went to his bill. R78's representative stated they were not receiving quarterly statements of personal funds, and R120, who had a BIMS score of 14/15, stated they did not think they had any money at the facility. Additional interviews showed R96 stated they did not receive any statements, and R101, who had a BIMS score of 15/15, stated they did not receive any quarterly statements for their account. The Business Office Manager stated the resident representative gets the quarterly statement, and if residents are alert and oriented, the residents get their statements, but some alert and oriented residents do not get their statement. The BOM also stated there was no proof of the quarterly statements sent and no log was kept of the statements sent to the resident representative. The Administrator stated they anticipated keeping a log of the quarterly statements going forward and that corporate education would occur.
Failure to Complete Significant Change MDS for Hospice Election
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to initiate a Significant Change of Status MDS for Resident R88 after the resident elected Hospice Services. Facility policy stated that MDS assessments are completed at admission, quarterly, annually, and with a significant change in patient status, and CMS RAI guidance stated that a significant change assessment is required when a terminally ill resident enrolls in a hospice program, with the ARD within 14 days of the effective date of the hospice election. R88’s record showed a hospice referral order and a hospice election effective 07/30/24, and the care plan later documented that the resident had a terminal prognosis and received hospice services through Interim. R88’s face sheet listed diagnoses including Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, purulent endophthalmitis bilaterally, pseudobulbar affect, and gross hematuria. Review of the annual and quarterly MDS assessments did not indicate that R88 was receiving hospice services, including the annual MDS with a BIMS score of 00 out of 15 showing severe cognitive impairment. During interview, the MDS Director stated that when notified, the facility opens a significant change MDS for a resident going on hospice and that this one was probably missed. The Administrator and DON stated there was a lack of communication during that time frame.
Failure to Care-Plan Oxygen Flow Manipulation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to identify, assess, and implement appropriate care-planned interventions for a resident who was known to manipulate prescribed oxygen flow rates. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, had a BIMS score of 14 out of 15, and received respiratory therapy as a special treatment. During interviews, the resident stated that her oxygen concentrator in the room was malfunctioning and that the facility had provided a portable tank; a portable tank was observed on the back of her wheelchair with the regulator set at 3 L/min. The resident also stated that her tank had run out of oxygen and that staff had to increase her oxygen level to more than she needed to make her comfortable. The resident later stated that her oxygen level was 3 L and that she preferred it that way, and when informed that her physician order was for 2 L, she made no further comment. The portable tank was again observed set at 3 L/min, while the oxygen concentrator with a humidifier bottle was at the bedside. An LPN stated that the resident had been told to keep oxygen at the ordered level but had not cooperated and remained non-compliant. The resident’s care plan included respiratory-related interventions and noted oxygen settings as oxygen via nasal cannula as ordered, while the active physician order was for oxygen continuously at 2 L/min via nasal cannula; an updated active order later listed oxygen at 3 L/min continuously via nasal cannula.
Missing Physician Order for Ostomy Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure ostomy care was provided in accordance with professional standards for 1 resident with a colostomy. The facility policy titled, Colostomy and Ileostomy Care, stated that a physician's order would be obtained for ostomy care, including specific physician preference regarding appliance, skin barrier, and skin care. Review of the resident's record showed the resident was admitted with diagnoses including congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, dementia, insomnia, hyperlipidemia, colostomy, and need for assistance with personal care. The resident's MDS showed a BIMS score of 12 out of 15 and indicated the resident was admitted with an ostomy appliance. During observation and interview, the resident was lying in bed with no apparent distress and stated that the ostomy was not understood and that the staff member who attempted to change it did not know exactly how to manage it. Staff interviews revealed that the resident was receiving ostomy care, but no one could locate a physician order for ostomy care. An LPN stated the resident's stool was very loose and the appliance was leaking at the bottom. The DON was unable to verify a physician's order for ostomy care, and the WOCN also stated, "I don't see orders." The MAR/TAR contained only references to ostomy care and an enhanced barrier precautions diagnosis, with no ostomy care order identified until an order dated 01/07/2026 for colostomy every shift.
Resident Elopes During Fire Alarm Due to Inadequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide proper supervision for a resident, identified as R97, which resulted in the resident eloping from the facility. During a fire alarm, a resident on another hall pulled the alarm, causing all doors to open. Staff left their assigned areas to manage the situation, leaving R97 unsupervised. Consequently, R97 exited the facility through a secured door that became unsecured due to the alarm and ended up in the courtyard, where they fell and sustained a fractured clavicle. R97 was admitted to the facility with multiple diagnoses, including metabolic encephalopathy, vascular dementia with mood disturbance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, unsteadiness on feet, history of falling, and cognitive communication deficit. The resident's medical history indicated a high risk for falls, which was not adequately addressed during the incident. The lack of supervision during the fire alarm led to R97's unsupervised exit and subsequent fall in the courtyard. Interviews with staff revealed that during the fire alarm, there was a failure to conduct a headcount of residents, and staff were not preassigned to specific doors, leading to confusion and inadequate supervision. The Maintenance Director confirmed that the courtyard gates were not secured, and the fire alarm system allowed doors to become unsecured, contributing to the resident's ability to leave the facility unnoticed.
Medication Storage and Security Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that expired, outdated, or discontinued medications were removed and not stored with resident medications in use. This deficiency was observed in three out of five medication carts and one treatment cart. Specific instances included the storage of discontinued Risperidone and expired Acetaminophen on the Dayspring Unit's medication cart, expired Elder Tonic on the Meadow Ridge medication cart, and expired Hemorrhoidal Ointment on the Meadow Ridge treatment cart. Additionally, expired Vitamin E and discontinued Oxycodone were found on the Rosewood medication cart. These expired and discontinued medications were confirmed and removed by the respective nursing staff. Furthermore, the facility failed to secure a medication cart on the Morning Star Unit. The cart was found unlocked and unattended in the hallway, with a stack of a resident's medication blister packs on top and the computer screen open to a resident's private information. This was confirmed by an LPN who admitted to leaving the cart unattended while attending to a resident in a nearby room. The facility's drug storage guide did not adequately address the storage of expired or discontinued medications, nor did it ensure the security of medication carts when unattended.
Deficiencies in Kitchen Sanitation and Hand Hygiene
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper sanitization of kitchen equipment and management of food items, which could potentially affect 119 residents. During an initial walk-through of the facility kitchen, it was observed that there were expired foods in the main cooler and unlabeled items in the freezer. Specifically, two stainless steel pans containing puree eggs and bread had no preparation dates, and frozen dough and rolls in the freezer were not labeled with open or use-by dates. Additionally, the kitchen equipment, including the industrial stove, hotbox, and deep fryer, had significant accumulations of old food, grease, and grime. Ceiling fans in the kitchen also had dust buildup. The Dietary Manager confirmed these findings and stated that cleaning tasks are assigned and monitored, but was unable to provide documentation of cleaning logs. The facility also failed to ensure that CNAs performed proper hand hygiene during meal service. Observations during a dining session revealed that an LPN handled food trays without performing hand hygiene before or after contact with the trays and residents. The LPN was seen touching her face, hair, and other surfaces before handling food trays, which is against the facility's hand hygiene policy. Interviews with the LPN and the Infection Preventionist confirmed that hand hygiene training is conducted annually, and CNAs are expected to sanitize their hands before and between serving each resident. The Director of Nursing expressed expectations for no expired food in the kitchen and for dietary staff to conduct deep cleaning of kitchen equipment. Despite these expectations, the facility's Registered Dietician's mock surveys did not identify these issues, which were surprising to the DON. The lack of proper food management and hand hygiene practices indicates a failure to adhere to the facility's policies and procedures, potentially compromising resident safety.
Medication Administration Errors and Insulin Pen Misuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a medication administration error rate of less than 5 percent, resulting in a rate of 15.38 percent. This deficiency involved multiple instances of improper insulin pen usage and a failure to administer a prescribed medication on time. Specifically, an LPN administered 10 units of Glargine Insulin to a resident without priming the insulin pen, as required by the facility's policy. Additionally, the same LPN did not administer a 9:00 AM dose of Sertraline 100 mg because it was not in the medication cart, despite the medication being available in the facility's pyxis. Further observations revealed that two other LPNs also failed to follow proper insulin pen priming procedures. One LPN primed the pen horizontally with the needle cap on, while another LPN did the same and did not hold the needle in place for the required 6 to 10 seconds after injection. These actions led to uncertainty about whether the correct insulin dose was administered. The Director of Nursing confirmed the availability of the Sertraline in the facility, indicating a lapse in medication administration protocol adherence.
Failure to Properly Administer Insulin via Insulin Pens
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the proper administration of insulin via insulin pens, resulting in significant medication errors for three residents. The facility's policy on insulin pen administration, revised in August 2023, requires that insulin pens be primed before each use to prevent air from collecting in the insulin reservoir. However, during a medication pass, an LPN administered 10 units of Glargine Insulin to a resident without priming the pen, and admitted to being unaware of the need to prime the pen, thus being unable to confirm the correct dosage was administered. Further observations revealed additional errors in insulin administration. Another LPN primed an insulin pen while holding it horizontally with the needle cap on, before administering 23 units of insulin to a second resident, and could not confirm the correct dosage was delivered. Similarly, a third LPN attempted to prime an insulin pen horizontally with the needle cap still on, before administering insulin to a third resident. This LPN also failed to ensure the correct dosage was administered, as the needle was removed immediately after the injection without verifying the complete delivery of insulin.
Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Insulin Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain dignity for Resident 39 during the administration of an insulin injection. The resident, who was admitted with diagnoses including diabetes mellitus type 2, morbid obesity, and long-term use of insulin, was observed during an insulin administration procedure. During the observation, the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) assisted the resident onto the bed without providing a blanket or privacy, despite the resident's repeated requests for a blanket. The room door was open, and the resident's roommate was present, facing the resident. The LPN proceeded to pull up the resident's dress, unfasten her brief, and administer the insulin injection into her abdomen without providing any form of cover or privacy, thus failing to maintain the resident's dignity and respect as per the facility's policy.
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Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
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Nursing homes near N Charleston
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Oak Manor - Charleston | 0.7 mi | ★★★★★ | 1 | 0 |
| The Reserve Healthcare And Rehabilitation | 2.8 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Hallmark Healthcare Center | 5.8 mi | ★★★★★ | 2 | 0 |
| Oakbrook Health And Rehabilitation Center | 6.1 mi | ★★★★★ | 4 | 0 |
| Presbyterian Communities Of South Carolina-summerv | 9 mi | ★★★★★ | 2 | 0 |
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Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release July 2026) and official state health department websites.