Below average — CMS composite of the measures below.
A standard survey is most likely before around October 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 Hilton Head during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility failed to protect residents from all forms of abuse and neglect, including physical, mental, and sexual abuse, as well as physical punishment, by any individual.
The facility did not promptly report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft, nor did it communicate the results of its investigation to the proper authorities as required.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment had a documented DNR status, but their care plan inaccurately listed them as Full Code. Despite multiple documents confirming the DNR status, the care plan was not updated immediately, as acknowledged by the DON and RN MDS Coordinator. This discrepancy highlights a failure in following the facility's policy on advance directives documentation.
A resident with dementia and other conditions was not having her care plan updated to reflect her refusal of ADL care. Despite the care plan stating she should be up and dressed daily, she was often found in bed. Staff interviews revealed a lack of documentation for refusals and unawareness of care plan requirements. The DON stated that changes should be documented within 48 hours, but this was not done for the resident.
A resident with moderate cognitive impairment was not provided with necessary grooming care, specifically facial hair trimming, despite facility policy. Observations over several days noted the resident with facial hair, and interviews revealed that CNAs are responsible for such care but did not perform it due to the resident's resistance. The lack of a system for documenting refusals contributed to the deficiency.
A resident's medications were improperly stored in unsecured plastic bins above a wardrobe closet, contrary to the facility's policy requiring locked storage. The medications, delivered by the resident's son, included various prescription drugs not listed in the self-administration agreement. Staff interviews revealed awareness of the situation but failed to ensure compliance with storage policies.
A resident with a pressure ulcer on the right heel did not receive adequate physician supervision, as the physician's focus was primarily on other wounds. Despite regular wound observations, the right heel ulcer was not consistently documented or treated, leading to a deficiency. The physician acknowledged being informed about the heel wound only recently, indicating a delay in addressing the issue.
A resident with a pressure ulcer on the right heel received a dressing change where the LPN failed to perform hand hygiene after removing soiled gloves, contrary to facility policy. The LPN proceeded with the dressing change without sanitizing hands, which was later confirmed as a breach of protocol by the DON.
Failure to Protect Residents from Abuse and Neglect
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified regarding the facility's failure to protect each resident from all types of abuse, including physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by any individual. The report notes that residents were not adequately safeguarded from these forms of mistreatment, indicating lapses in the facility's responsibility to ensure resident safety and well-being. No specific details about the residents involved, their medical history, or their condition at the time of the deficiency are provided in the report.
Failure to Timely Report Suspected Abuse, Neglect, or Theft
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and did not report the results of the investigation to the proper authorities. This deficiency was identified based on the facility's lack of prompt action in notifying the appropriate agencies when an incident of suspected abuse, neglect, or theft occurred. The report indicates that the required notifications and investigation results were not communicated as mandated.
Failure to Accurately Document Advance Directives
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accurately document a resident's advance directives, leading to a discrepancy between the resident's documented wishes and their care plan. The resident, who had severe cognitive impairment due to dementia, had multiple documents indicating a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) status, including physician orders and emergency medical services documentation. However, the resident's care plan inaccurately documented them as Full Code, which contradicted the resident's and their family's expressed wishes for DNR/Comfort Measures Only. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of immediate updating of the care plan to reflect the verified DNR status. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that the care plan should have been updated immediately upon verification of the DNR status, and the Registered Nurse MDS Coordinator admitted to the oversight. The facility's policy requires that advance directives be accurately documented in the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and incorporated into the resident's care plan, which was not followed in this case.
Failure to Revise Care Plan for Resident Refusing ADL Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to revise the care plan for a resident, identified as R4, in a timely manner to reflect her refusal of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) care. R4, who was admitted with diagnoses including dementia with psychotic disturbance, muscle weakness, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, was observed multiple times over several days in bed, in a nightgown, and with facial hair on her upper lip. Despite the care plan stating that R4 should be up and dressed in her wheelchair for two hours daily after lunch, she was often found asleep in bed during the day. Interviews with staff revealed that R4 frequently refused to get out of bed and was resistive to care, and there was no system in place for CNAs to document refusals of care such as shaving. The Director of Nursing (DON) stated that staff are required to update changes in a resident's condition within 7 days after a comprehensive assessment and document refusals in the electronic medical record (EMR) within 48 hours. However, the care plan for R4 was not updated to reflect her refusal behaviors, and the CNAs were unaware of the specific care plan requirements. The facility's policy requires that care plans be reviewed and revised by an interdisciplinary team and involve the resident and their representative, but this was not done in a timely manner for R4.
Failure to Provide ADL Care for Resident's Grooming Needs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary Activities of Daily Living (ADL) care for a resident, specifically related to grooming and facial hair management. The resident, who has moderate cognitive impairment and is dependent on staff for ADL care, was observed multiple times over several days with facial hair on her upper lip. Despite the facility's policy requiring assistance with ADLs to maintain grooming and hygiene, the resident was not offered or provided with facial hair trimming, which is part of the grooming care expected. Interviews with staff revealed that Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) are responsible for trimming facial hair on an as-needed basis, typically during shower days. However, the resident's assigned CNA did not offer to trim the facial hair due to the resident's agitation and resistance to care, although the CNA did inform the nursing staff. The Director of Nursing confirmed that CNAs should offer grooming services at least twice a week and document any refusals, but there was no system in place for CNAs to document refusals specifically related to shaving, leading to a lapse in care documentation.
Improper Storage of Medications for a Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that medications were properly stored and secured for a resident, identified as R15. According to the facility's policy, medications should be stored in a locked cabinet or compartment that is inaccessible to residents and visitors. However, during an observation, it was found that R15's room contained two plastic bins with medications stored above a wardrobe closet, which were not locked or secured. The medications included various prescription drugs and were not part of the self-administration agreement, which only listed a few over-the-counter medications. R15 mentioned that there was not enough room in the drawer to keep all the medications, so they were stored in the bins. Interviews with the Director of Nursing (DON) and other staff revealed that R15's son, who is a physician, delivered the medications to the facility, and they were stored in the room for about eight months. The DON acknowledged that the medications should have been stored in a secured location, but they were kept up high and clipped shut due to R15's anxiety and the special circumstances of her case. Staff members, including an LPN and a CNA, were aware of the medications being brought in by R15's son but did not ensure they were stored according to the facility's policy.
Inadequate Physician Supervision of Pressure Ulcer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate physician supervision for a resident's pressure ulcer on the right foot. The resident, who was admitted with multiple diagnoses including a hip fracture and an unstageable pressure ulcer on the right heel, did not receive consistent medical oversight for the pressure ulcer. The wound was initially documented as having 75% necrotic tissue, and over time, it was noted to have varying degrees of necrotic tissue and slough, indicating a lack of consistent treatment and monitoring. Despite the presence of a wound care nurse and regular wound observations, the physician's progress notes primarily focused on the resident's sacral decubitus ulcer and cellulitis of the left buttock. There was a notable absence of documentation regarding the right heel ulcer in the physician's notes, suggesting that the physician's attention was not adequately directed towards this particular wound. The physician admitted to not having documented the heel wound, as their focus was on the sacral wound, which may have contributed to the oversight. The deficiency was further highlighted during an observation where the right heel wound was found to have 60% necrotic tissue, contrary to previous assessments that indicated improvement. The physician acknowledged being informed about the heel wound only a week prior to the interview, indicating a delay in addressing the issue. This lack of timely and focused physician supervision on the right heel ulcer led to the deficiency identified by the surveyors.
Infection Control Breach During Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to infection control standards during a wound care procedure for a resident with a pressure ulcer. The resident, admitted with diagnoses including a hip fracture and an unstageable pressure ulcer on the right heel, was observed during a dressing change. The LPN responsible for the procedure did not perform hand hygiene after removing the soiled dressing and before donning a new pair of gloves, which is a deviation from the facility's policy. The policy requires hand hygiene to be performed after removing gloves and before putting on a new pair. During the dressing change, the LPN removed the soiled dressing, discarded the gloves, and donned a new pair without washing or sanitizing her hands. The wound was described as having thick black eschar and inflammation, but no odor was present. The LPN continued with the dressing change, applying various treatments and dressings to the wound. In an interview, the LPN could not recall if she sanitized her hands after removing the soiled dressing. The Director of Nursing confirmed the correct procedure should include hand sanitization after removing gloves and before putting on a new pair.
What surveyors are citing around you — mapped
All 10 risk areas, ranked with evidence
Repeat citations, what's rising near you, and quality measures — ranked so department heads know exactly where to look first.
Illustrative
What surveyors actually found near you
We read the 28 citations issued within 25 miles in the last 12 months — including the 3 immediate-jeopardy cases — and tell you exactly what happened, in plain English, matched to your record.
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.
Illustrative
A prioritized, do-first checklist
Every risk area becomes concrete audit steps drawn from real citations at facilities like yours — run them this week, before your window opens.
Illustrative
Risk indicators are statistical estimates from public CMS data — not predictions, findings, or compliance advice.
Nursing homes near Hilton Head Island
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Preston Health Center | 1.3 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Broad Creek Care Center | 5 mi | ★★★★★ | 1 | 1 |
| Fraser Health Center | 5.8 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Sprenger Health Care Of Port Royal | 11.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 5 | 1 |
| Resorts At Beaufort | 12.7 mi | ★★★★★ | 7 | 0 |
Every risk area ranked, a do-first checklist, and your local survey patterns
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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.