All states › South Carolina › Myrtle Beach › Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center
171 Brightwater Drive Myrtle Beach, SC 29579 · Horry County
All 3 nursing homes in Myrtle Beach, SC (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 425395 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center 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 Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above the South Carolina average of 3.1.
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.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 5.64 hours per resident per day at Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center, above the South Carolina median of 3.59 (US median: 3.72). About 1.20 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 4.91 hours, 13% below its all-week average. 30.7% of nursing staff left within a year (South Carolina median 45.7%). That is lower than most homes in South Carolina, a sign of a steadier team.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center 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 August 5, 2026 and found 0 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 10 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 10 citations at Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center across 3 inspection dates, 2 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 10 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (2) and pharmacy service (2). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "administer the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently" (tag F0835, level F, December 2, 2025). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
December 2, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
FAdminister the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
April 30, 2025 · 6 citations
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
September 13, 2023 · 2 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Questions to ask on a tour of Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on December 2, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- 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 month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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1.4 mi
Grand Strand Reg Med Center Myrtle BeachEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 10m for patients treated and sent home
- 9.0 mi
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9.2 mi
Conway Medical Center ConwayEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 14m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center › All nursing homes in Myrtle Beach ›
Compare Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Other Senior Living Communities nursing homes in South Carolina
- Wildewood Downs · Columbia · 5 stars
- Lakes at Litchfield · Pawleys Island · 5 stars
- Linville Court at the Cascades Verdae · Greenville · 5 stars
- Summit Hills Skilled Nursing Facility · Spartanburg · 4 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 9 Senior Living Communities 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.