Recent emergency evacuations and license suspensions at four South Carolina assisted living communities over accusation of “squalid conditions” and neglect have led one state organization to call for increased oversight of assisted living.
AARP South Carolina, describing the violations and conditions — including lack of food, no staffing, no heat, unsanitary conditions and medication errors — as “unacceptable,” called on state lawmakers to “respond immediately to the clear and dire need to improve oversight of assisted living and other long-term care facilities, and expand care options that make it possible for more seniors to age in their own homes.”
Kassie South, CEO of LeadngAge South Carolina, told McKnight’s Senior Livingthat many providers have been in operation for decades, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to meeting — and exceeding — care standards.
“We do not tolerate poor care,” South said, adding that it supports the state’s investigation and is eager to address longstanding support for aging services in South Carolina.
She said quality of care and staffing work hand-in-hand, and neither can be achieved without sufficient funding.
“The federal government and its state partners share the responsibility for inadequate funding, low staff wages, and failure to measure and improve quality using the most robust evidence,” she said, adding that funding and career support including training, are necessary to ensure quality care.
Late last month, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control made a determination that the conditions and practices at four community residential care facilities posed an immediate threat to the health, safety and welfare of residents.
The DHEC issued emergency suspension orders against Reese’s Community Care home No. 1 and No. 2, both located in Columbia, after it said that inspections uncovered insect infestations, failure of staff to properly administer residents’ medications, insufficient food and unsanitary kitchens.
Calling the conditions “deplorable,” the state said that the facilities were negligent in providing care to residents and that staff members had received inadequate training.
The state took similar action against Bowles Community Care Home No. 1 and No. 2, both located in McClellanville, after it said that inspections found no staff members present for extended periods of time, a padlocked kitchen restricting residents’ food supply, and problems with medication storage and distribution. One facility also did not have heat, withindoor temperatures registering between 50 and 60 degrees, according to the department.
The state indicated in its emergency suspension order that residents were deprived of services, care and supervision, and that residents were unable to confirm whether medications were administered and meals were served.
Local and state authorities helped relocate the residents.
The AARP state chapter said that the violations left “too many lives at risk” and called on state lawmakers to take the cases personally and push for “immediate long-term care reform in South Carolina.”
“For many South Carolinians, these cases bring to mind a long history of abuse, neglect and poor care in far too many of the state’s long-term care facilities — a situation made worse by the pandemic,” AARP South Carolina stated in a news release. “We will continue to push for process improvements, protections, additional funding and concrete solutions to make assisted living facilities and other long-term care settings safer and more accountable, while protecting the dignity and well-being of older adults.”
