Home / South Carolina / N Charleston
Life Care Center of Charleston
2600 Elms Plantation Blvd, N Charleston, SC 29406 · Charleston County · (843) 764-3500
148 certified beds, about 117 residents a day · For profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 1994
Part of a continuing care retirement community Certified for Medicaid Certified for Medicare
Overall
3 of 5
Health inspections
2 of 5
Staffing
3 of 5
Quality measures
5 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 425332 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on January 8, 2026, inspectors cited 4 health deficiencies (the South Carolina average is 3.7, the national average 9.2).
Of 13 health citations since May 2023, 2 were rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents (2 immediate jeopardy).
CMS lists 1 fine totaling $16,801 in the last three years; the largest was $16,801, and the latest is dated December 20, 2024.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 3.54 hours per resident per day, against 3.84 across South Carolina and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.44 of those hours.
42.7% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (South Carolina average 45.9%).
CMS links it to Life Care Centers of America, an affiliated group of 194 nursing homes.
Health inspections
Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.
Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.
205/23
109/23
612/24
401/26
Potential for minimal harm Potential for more than minimal harm Actual harm Immediate jeopardy Found on a complaint visit
Where its citations fall on CMS's grid
CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 13 health citations on file.
Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
2J
0K
0L
Actual harm
0G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
5D
3E
3F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
January 8, 2026Standard inspection · 4 citations
- F Properly hold, secure, and manage each resident's personal money which is deposited with the nursing home.
Inspectors wroteBased on a review of facility policy, observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to send quarterly statements to the resident and the resident's representative for Residents (R)42, R78, R118, R101, and R120.
- D Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition
Inspectors wroteBased on review of facility policy, record review, and interview, the facility failed to initiate a Significant Change of Status Minimum Data Set (MDS) to reflect Resident (R)88's election for Hospice Services, for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for Hospice.
- D Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of the facility policy, record review, observations, and staff interviews, the facility failed to identify, assess, and implement appropriate care-planned interventions to address 1 of 1 resident's known behavior of manipulating prescribed oxygen flow rates. This failure placed the resident at risk for receiving oxygen inconsistent with physician orders, and increased the risk for potential respiratory complications, including but not limited to oxygen toxicity or masking of changes in the resident's condition.
- D Provide appropriate colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy care/services for a resident who requires such services.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of the facility's policy, observations, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to ensure ostomy care was provided in accordance with professional standards, as no physician order for ostomy care was in place for 1 of 1 resident. Findings Include: Review of the policy titled, Colostomy and Ileostomy Care last revised on 09/20/2021 and reviewed on 09/04/2025 revealed on page 1 of 12 that, A physician's order will be obtained for ostomy care to include specific physician preference regarding appliance, skin barrier, and skin care. Record review of R129's Face Sheet revealed he was admitted on [DATE] with the diagnoses including but not limited to congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, dementia, insomnia, hyperlipidemia, colostomy, and need for assistance with personal care. [...]
December 20, 2024Standard inspection · 6 citations
- J Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, record review, and interviews, the facility failed to provide proper supervision for Resident (R)97, resulting in R97 eloping from the facility. Specifically, a resident pulled a fire alarm, resulting in R97 evacuating the facility alone, without staff knowledge. This resulted in R97 falling, while in the facility's unsecured courtyard, and suffering a fractured clavical. On 12/19/24 at 12:45 PM, the survey team provided the Administrator with a copy of the CMS Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) Template and informed the facility IJ existed as of 10/05/24. The IJ was related to 42 CFR 483.25 - Quality of Care. On 12/19/24 at 5:00 PM, the facility provided an acceptable IJ Removal Plan. On 12/20/24, the survey team, validated the facility's corrective actions and removed the IJ, as of 12/20/24. The facility remained out of compliance at F689 at a lower scope and severity of D. [...]
- F Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Inspectors wroteBased on the facility policy, observations and interviews, the facility failed to ensure expired, outdated or discontinued medications were removed and not stored with resident medications in use in 3 of 5 medication carts and 1 of 1 treatment carts. The facility additionally failed to ensure a medication cart was locked, and medications were not left on top of the med cart unattended on Morning Star Unit, medication cart #2.
- F Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteFindings include: Review of the facility's policy Hand Hygiene, revised 06/13/2023 showed Procedure: 2. Associates perform hand hygiene (even if gloves are used) in the following situations. a. Before and after contact with a resident; c. After contact with objects and surfaces in the resident's environment; During a dining observation on the Pebble Creek unit on 12/17/24 at 12:09 PM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)7 came from behind the desk and pulled a tray from the food cart without performing proper hand hygiene. LPN7 placed the tray on top of the food cart. While speaking with a resident representative, LPN7 touched her face, the hand rail, and her hair before removing the tray from the top of the food cart and putting the tray back inside the cart. [...]
- E Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Inspectors wroteBased on the facility policy, observations and interviews, the facility failed to ensure a medication administration error rate of less than 5 percent to include 4 of out 26 opportunities for error. The facility additionally failed to ensure an ordered medication for Resident (R)39 was administered timely. The medication administration error rate is 15.38 percent.
- E Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Inspectors wroteBased on the facility policy, observations, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure the proper priming of insulin pens, and correct administration on insulin via an insulin pen, therefore could not ensure 3 of 3 residents (R) received the correct dosage of insulin.
- D Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
Inspectors wroteBased on the facility policy, observations, record reviews and interviews, the facility failed to maintain dignity for Resident (R)39 during the administration of an insulin injection for 1 of 3 residents observed receiving an insulin injection.
September 1, 2023Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- J Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on review of facility policy, record review and interviews, the facility failed to prevent accidents/hazards for 1 of 3 Residents (R)1 reviewed. Specifically, on 8/30/23, R1 had a successful elopement from the facility. R1 was placed at an increased risk of serious harm with the potential of being struck by a vehicle and/or suffering a heat related illness. On 08/31/23 at 3:35 PM the State Agency (SA) determined that the facility's non-compliance with one or more federal health, safety, and/or quality regulations has caused or was likely to cause serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment, or death. On 08/31/23 at 3:35 PM, the Administrator was notified that the failure to protect Resident (R)1 from having a successful elopement from the facility constituted Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) at F689. [...]
May 10, 2023Standard inspection · 2 citations
- E Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observations, interviews, and facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure that food was protected from contamination during delivery to resident rooms. Specifically, the facility failed to ensure that food was covered during delivery to 1 (Morning Star Unit) of 3 nursing units. This deficient practice has the potential to affect 31 residents who occasionally or regularly ate in their rooms on the Morning Star Unit.
- D Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review, document review, facility policy review, and interviews, the facility failed to timely report an allegation of abuse for 1 (Resident (R)217) of 1 resident reviewed for abuse.
Fire safety inspections
1 fire safety citation on file: 1 on December 20, 2024.
Every fire safety citation1 citation
- D Establish an Emergency Preparedness Program (EP).
Fines and payment denials
| Date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| December 20, 2024 | Fine | $16,801 |
A payment denial means Medicare and Medicaid stopped paying for new admissions for that period.
Staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.
| Measure | This home | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 3.54 | 3.84 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.44 | 0.63 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 3.10 | 3.33 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.05 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 1.05 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 42.7% | 45.9% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 53.3% | 42.1% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.55 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.
Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records
Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 3.72 on weekdays and 3.10 on weekends, 17% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 0.0% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 3.23 in April to June 2025 to 3.54 in January to March 2026.
| Quarter | All nursing staff | Registered nurses | Weekdays | Weekends | Contract staff share | Days with no RN hours | Residents a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.54 | 0.44 | 3.72 | 3.10 | 0.0% | 0 of 90 | 117 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 3.31 | 0.45 | 3.44 | 2.98 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 115 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.37 | 0.51 | 3.50 | 3.05 | 0.0% | 0 of 92 | 108 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 3.23 | 0.40 | 3.42 | 2.74 | 0.0% | 0 of 91 | 112 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| South Carolina, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.62 | 0.53 | 3.81 | 3.13 | 7.2% | 0.3% of days |
Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | South Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 8.6 | 11.9 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 8.4 | 12.7 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 3.8 | 5.1 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 5.2 | 15.3 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 27.4 | 24.3 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 13.6 | 13.9 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: CHARLESTON MEDICAL INVESTORS, LLC. CMS links this home to Life Care Centers of America, a group of 194 nursing homes averaging 3.4 stars overall.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developers Investment Company Inc | Direct ownership interest | Organization | 08/10/2004 | |
| Preston, Forrest | Indirect ownership interest | Individual | 08/10/2004 | |
| Lewis, Collin | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 06/23/2020 | |
| Saunders, Shari | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 10/22/2018 | |
| Solomon, Jennifer | Managing control - governing body | Individual | 05/01/2019 | |
| Cross, Cindy | Corporate officer | Individual | 10/22/2004 | |
| Henry, Terry | Corporate officer | Individual | 10/22/2004 | |
| Lay, Lisa | Corporate officer | Individual | 02/09/2018 | |
| Swanker, Richard | Corporate officer | Individual | 04/01/2011 | |
| Thurmond, Joan | Corporate officer | Individual | 10/22/2004 | |
| Charleston Medical Investors, LLC | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 12/01/2004 | |
| Developers Investment Company Inc | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 08/10/2004 | |
| Life Care Centers of America, Inc. | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 10/22/2004 | |
| Fletcher, Todd | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 12/13/2024 | |
| Hanna, Donald | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 06/23/2020 | |
| Lewis, Collin | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 06/23/2020 | |
| Preston, Aubrey | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 12/13/2024 | |
| Saunders, Shari | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 06/22/2018 | |
| Solomon, Jennifer | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 05/01/2019 | |
| Ziegler, James | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 12/13/2024 | |
| Charleston Medical Investors, LLC | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 12/16/2011 | |
| Life Care Centers of America, Inc. | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 03/05/2025 | |
| Hanna, Donald | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 03/27/2025 | |
| Lewis, Collin | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 03/05/2025 | |
| Preston, Forrest | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 12/01/2004 |
As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.
Questions to ask on a visit
Chosen from this home's own inspection record.
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on January 8, 2026: "Provide appropriate colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy care/services for a resident who requires such services."
- How are medications reviewed, and how often are antipsychotic or sedating drugs used?Inspectors cited 3 problems in this area, most recently on December 20, 2024: "Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs."
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on January 8, 2026: "Properly hold, secure, and manage each resident's personal money which is deposited with the nursing home."
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on January 8, 2026: "Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition"
- Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 3.10 hours per resident per day, below the South Carolina average of 3.33.
Other nursing homes nearby
- White Oak Manor - Charleston Charleston, 0.7 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 6 citations
- The Reserve Healthcare and Rehabilitation Charleston, 2.8 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 0 citations
- Hallmark Healthcare Center Summerville, 5.8 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 18 citations
- Oakbrook Health and Rehabilitation Center Summerville, 6.1 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 13 citations
- Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina-Summerv Summerville, 9 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 2 citations
- Riverside Health and Rehab Charleston, 9.4 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 22 citations
- NHC Healthcare - Charleston Charleston, 11.5 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 9 citations
- Retreat at Wellmore of Daniel Island Charleston, 11.7 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 17 citations
South Carolina contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in South Carolina. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: South Carolina Department of Public Health, Healthcare Quality, Nursing Homes, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, Department on Aging, 1-800-868-9095. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
- State inspection reports: SC Survey and Certification Public CMS-2567 Search, where South Carolina publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Life Care Center of Charleston's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Life Care Center of Charleston 3 out of 5 stars overall, with 2 for health inspections, 3 for staffing and 5 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Life Care Center of Charleston get at its last inspection?
- 4 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on January 8, 2026. The South Carolina average is 3.7.
- Has Life Care Center of Charleston been fined?
- Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $16,801 in the last three years.
- Does Life Care Center of Charleston accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns Life Care Center of Charleston?
- CMS lists 25 owners and managers, and links the home to Life Care Centers of America. Legal business name: CHARLESTON MEDICAL INVESTORS, LLC.
Sources
- Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
- Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
- Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
- Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
- Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
- Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
- Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
- NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.