BISHOPVILLE, S.C. (WIS) – Over 30 health code violations have caused a Bishopville assisted living facility to close within 45 days.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health said it issued an order to Cottonwood Villas on Tuesday after multiple violations concerning staffing, food, maintenance and safety.
DPH said it conducted nine routine and follow-up inspections at Cottonwood Villas throughout the year, finding violations during all but one of them:
JANUARY 31
Eight staff members were on duty for 68 residents during peak hours on Jan. 18, Jan. 19, Jan. 25 and Jan. 26
Black residue and debris were found in the pantry’s ice machine. Rodent droppings were also found in the pantry next to the canned goods.
Boxes of produce were found to be covered in a mold-like substance
A cluster of live bedbug-like insects was found on a resident’s sheets
A brown sticky substance was found in multiple bedrooms and bathrooms
APRIL 11
Four staff members were on duty for 67 residents during peak hours on Feb. 4
Multiple rooms had brown stains on the bedsheets and visible dead insects throughout.
APRIL 15
Five staff members were in the building for 61 residents.
Fire alarm and sprinkler systems were not compliant with the South Carolina Fire Code
No fire extinguishers complied with the fire code.
MAY 20
Failed to take precautions for residents with special conditions, including dementia
A resident was found lying in a ditch away from the facility, as proper precautions to prevent the resident from leaving were not taken
Multiple bedrooms had visible rodent droppings. A resident also stated that they had observed live rodents in their room.
MAY 29
The ice machine had an accumulation of a black mold-like substance
Residents said the food was “not seasoned, lacked flavor, was overcooked and tasted like rubber.” The administrator said she was aware of the resident’s issues with the food.
Multiple rooms did not have their air-conditioning units properly mounted.
Three bedrooms were reported to have mold-like substances, and nearly all bedrooms had brown and black stains throughout them.
JUNE 6
The fire alarm system still did not meet the fire code
The sprinkler system’s May inspection indicated deficiencies in the system that had not been fixed.
AUGUST 13
The fire alarm system was still not in compliance with the fire code
The issues in the sprinkler system had not been fixed since the May inspection.
The department also said it found during an Aug. 28 visit that the facility had failed to pay its water and sewer bill. The city threatened to shut off those utility services if the full balance was not paid by Sept. 20.
DPH also noted during this visit that the facility could not produce a business license. The agency said it instead provided an application for a license dated Aug. 28
During its July 28 investigation, the department found that it had not been notified of the facility’s change in ownership. The owner was listed as Lakefield Properties LLC, which was dissolved on March 16, 2020, according to the South Carolina Secretary of State website.
The full list of violations can be found below.
South Carolina Department of Public Health’s Director of Healthcare Quality, Gwen Thompson, said it is the responsibility of all residential care facilities to comply with established laws.
“Our ultimate goal is for all of our state’s community residential care facilities to operate in accordance with these laws, which exist to establish standards for protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the residents they care for. If a facility creates a dangerous living condition, we will take actions to protect residents, who are always our top priority,” she said in a statement.
The facility can appeal DPH’s decision in accordance with applicable laws. It could also be eligible for additional punishment from other state and federal laws.
More information about care facility regulations can be found here. Public records for care facilities, including enforcement actions taken by DPH, can be found here.
The department encourages the public to use an online complaint form found here if they suspect any wrongdoing or unsafe conditions.
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