facebook tracking Life Care Center of Columbia, Columbia SC: CMS Ratings
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Life Care Center of Columbia

All states › South Carolina › Columbia › Life Care Center of Columbia

2514 Faraway Drive Columbia, SC 29223 · Richland County

(803) 865-1999

All 12 nursing homes in Columbia, SC (10 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 179 certified beds For profit

CMS certification number 425337 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Life Care Center of Columbia a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record

There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Life Care Center of Columbia as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below the South Carolina average of 3.1. Inspectors issued 15 citations in the last three years. CMS reports no fines or payment denials in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 4 out of 5; for long-term residents, 3 out of 5.

Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.

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Staffing

Nursing staff spend about 3.62 hours per resident per day at Life Care Center of Columbia, about the same as the South Carolina median of 3.59 (US median: 3.72). About 0.45 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.13 hours, 14% below its all-week average. 62.4% of nursing staff left within a year (South Carolina median 45.7%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.

Nursing care per resident per day 3.62 hours
About the South Carolina median Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.45 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.13 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 62.4% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 60% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left 0 in the past year Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds179
Residents per day 100 About 56% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Corporation
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceJuly 1994
Part of a chainLife Care Centers of America
Legal business nameRCM COLUMBIA

Paying for care at Life Care Center of Columbia: Medicare and Medicaid

Life Care Center of Columbia is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet South Carolina's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.

In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.

Health inspections

The most recent standard inspection was on June 19, 2025 and found 4 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 15 citations in the last three years.

Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.

What the inspections found

Over the last three years, inspectors issued 15 citations at Life Care Center of Columbia across 3 inspection dates, 1 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on March 30, 2022. The most common areas cited were resident assessment and care planning (4) and quality of life and care (3). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services" (tag F0697, level G, March 30, 2022). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.

June 19, 2025 · 4 citations

FEncode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0640 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 27, 2025)

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 20, 2025)

DAssess the resident when there is a significant change in condition

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0637 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 7, 2025)

DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0641 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 26, 2025)

May 9, 2024 · 8 citations · includes complaint inspection

FEnsure 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.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0761 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 16, 2024)

FKeep all essential equipment working safely.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Environmental Deficiencies · Tag F0908 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 8, 2024)

EProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0679 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 8, 2024)

DAllow resident to participate in the development and implementation of his or her person-centered plan of care.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0553 · Complaint inspection · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 8, 2024)

DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · Tag F0609 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 8, 2024)

DProvide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0623 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 8, 2024)

DNotify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0625 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 8, 2024)

DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0677 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 8, 2024)

March 30, 2022 · 3 citations, includes actual harm

GProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.

Actual harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0697 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 30, 2022)

DCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0655 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 30, 2022)

DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0758 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 30, 2022)

Questions to ask on a tour of Life Care Center of Columbia

  1. Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on March 30, 2022 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
  2. CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on May 9, 2024. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
  3. Nursing staff turnover was 62.4% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
  4. The home averages about 56% of its beds filled. Are any units closed?
  5. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  6. When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?

Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.

Fines and payment denials

CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 2/5 2/5 3/5 4/5
August 2026 2/5 2/5 3/5 4/5
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Location

Hospitals near Life Care Center of Columbia

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

Wildewood Downs Columbia · 2.0 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 5/5 32 beds
NHC Healthcare - Parklane Columbia · 2.8 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 5/5 · Staffing 4/5 106 beds · Medicaid
Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare Columbia · 4.1 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 4/5 80 beds
PruittHealth- Blythewood Columbia · 4.3 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 2/5 120 beds · Medicaid
White Oak Manor - Columbia Columbia · 5.4 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 4/5 120 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Life Care Center of Columbia ›   All nursing homes in Columbia ›

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Other Life Care Centers of America nursing homes in South Carolina

Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 194 Life Care Centers of America nursing homes ›

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/south-carolina/columbia/life-care-center-of-columbia/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.