BISHOPVILLE, S.C. (WIS) – On Thursday, the South Carolina Department of Public Health ordered a Bishopville nursing home to close by the end of October, citing multiple violations.
DPH said in its order that it had conducted nine routine or follow-up inspections and investigations at Cottonwood Villas, finding several violations in each one concerning food, safety, staffing and resident care, among other things.
The full list of violations can be found below.
The department also said that the facility had not been paying its utility bills, with the City of Bishopville threatening to cut off all water and sewer services if the total is not paid by Sept. 20. They also said that it was never notified that there was a change in ownership, and the business license was out of date.
WIS spoke to one of the owners of Cottonwood Villas, Dirk Heiser, who said that DPH’s findings were not accurate and that he and his wife, Marie, the other owner, have hired a lawyer and plan to appeal the department’s order.
Family members with loved ones at the home, however, say they are frustrated and afraid following the decision by the Department of Public Health.
Mamie Shumpert, whose sister has lived at Cottonwood Villas for the past six years, said she is “shocked” by DPH’s findings, saying that her sister has received quality care there.
But, she said, if there are issues, she wants them fixed.
“I would like for them to fix everything up to date, what’s supposed to be done. Would hate to see them close because of that, but if that’s the facts,” she said.
She said it’s “been like pulling teeth” to find out what’s actually going on.
“I tried to get a hold of people in charge, and they told me they’re not gonna close it down. Came down here to see what was going on,” Shumpert said.
Dirk Heiser told WIS that they have evidence that proves that some of the issues DPH noted have been fixed.
DPH says, however, that the facility’s efforts to comply and fix the violations have been “minimal”.
If Cottonwood Villas shuts down, DPH said they would assist the South Carolina Department of Social Services, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies with relocating the residents who currently live there.
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