facebook tracking Life Care Center of Charleston, N Charleston SC: CMS Ratings
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Life Care Center of Charleston

All states › South Carolina › N Charleston › Life Care Center of Charleston

2600 Elms Plantation Blvd N Charleston, SC 29406 · Charleston County

(843) 764-3500

Accepts Medicare Accepts Medicaid 148 certified beds For profit Continuing care retirement community

CMS certification number 425332 · 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 Charleston 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 Charleston as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the South Carolina average of 3.1. Inspectors issued 12 citations in the last three years. CMS imposed 1 penalty, including $16,801 in fines, in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 5 out of 5; for long-term residents, 5 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 3.67 hours per resident per day at Life Care Center of Charleston, about the same as the South Carolina median of 3.59 (US median: 3.72). About 0.36 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.29 hours, 10% below its all-week average. 39.6% of nursing staff left within a year (South Carolina median 45.7%).

Nursing care per resident per day 3.67 hours
Above the South Carolina median of 3.59 Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours 0.36 per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care 3.29 hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 39.6% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 47.1% 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 beds148
Residents per day 117 About 79% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipFor profit - Corporation
Payment acceptedMedicare and Medicaid
Certified sinceFebruary 1994
Part of a chainLife Care Centers of America
Legal business nameCHARLESTON MEDICAL INVESTORS, LLC

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

Life Care Center of Charleston 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 January 8, 2026 and found 4 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 12 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 12 citations at Life Care Center of Charleston across 3 inspection dates. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on December 20, 2024. The most common areas cited were pharmacy service (3) and nutrition and dietary (2). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level J, December 20, 2024). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.

January 8, 2026 · 4 citations

FProperly hold, secure, and manage each resident's personal money which is deposited with the nursing home.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0568 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 13, 2026)

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 (Feb 13, 2026)

DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0657 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 13, 2026)

DProvide appropriate colostomy, urostomy, or ileostomy care/services for a resident who requires such services.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0691 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Feb 13, 2026)

December 20, 2024 · 6 citations, includes immediate jeopardy

JEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Immediate jeopardy · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0689 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 24, 2025)

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 (Jan 24, 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 (Jan 24, 2025)

EEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0759 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 24, 2025)

EEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · Tag F0760 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 24, 2025)

DHonor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0557 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 24, 2025)

May 10, 2023 · 2 citations

EProcure 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 9, 2023)

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 9, 2023)

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

  1. Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on December 20, 2024 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 10, 2023. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
  3. Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
  4. 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

1 penalty in the last three years, including $16,801 in fines.

DateTypeAmount or length
Dec 20, 2024 Fine $16,801

Rating history

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

Hospitals near Life Care Center of Charleston

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

White Oak Manor - Charleston Charleston · 0.7 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 176 beds · Medicaid
The Reserve Healthcare and Rehabilitation Charleston · 2.8 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 5/5 · Staffing 3/5 135 beds · Medicaid
Hallmark Healthcare Center Summerville · 5.8 mi away ★★★★☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 2/5 88 beds · Medicaid
Oakbrook Health and Rehabilitation Center Summerville · 6.1 mi away ★☆☆☆☆ Inspection 1/5 · Staffing 1/5 88 beds · Medicaid
Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina-Summerv Summerville · 9.0 mi away ★★★★★ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 4/5 48 beds

More nursing homes near Life Care Center of Charleston ›   All nursing homes in N Charleston ›

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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/n-charleston/life-care-center-of-charleston/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.