Florence and Hartsville Care Facilities Shut Down Amidst Shocking Sanitation Issues
In a startling turn of events, several residential care facilities in Florence and Hartsville have been closed following a series of alarming inspections revealing deeply unsanitary conditions. It’s hard to believe that places meant to provide comfort and care could end up looking like scenes from a horror movie!
The Shocking Discoveries
According to state documents, bed bugs, flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and even a strong odor of urine were among the multitude of issues that led to the shutdown of these facilities. Imagine being a resident there, surrounded by such chaos, when all this should have been a place of safety and care.
All of this came to a head on November 18 when multiple sites, licensed to Greer-based Cunningham-Waters Construction Company, were abruptly closed. A total of 160 residents had to be relocated due to these appalling conditions. This wasn’t a simple matter of poor upkeep; it was a serious infringement of the standards meant to protect the health and safety of vulnerable individuals.
Inspection Reports Unleash the Horror
News13 recently obtained inspection reports that provide a deep dive into just how bad things really were. On January 17, inspectors visited the facility located at 739 S. Parker Drive. They uncovered a laundry list of issues, starting with medication records that weren’t properly maintained, which is a huge red flag in any care environment. And it gets worse: window blinds were literally lying on the floor, and astonishingly, there was no “no smoking” sign visible on a resident’s door, despite them being on oxygen treatment!
As if that wasn’t enough to raise eyebrows, inspections continued throughout the year—each revealing just how downhill things had gone. For instance, April saw another round of inspection revealing complaints of holes in floors, broken chairs, and toilets just not secured. And can you believe it? July rolled around, and the facility scored yet another 0.0 rating due to recurring maintenance problems, plus auditors discovered temperatures soaring as high as 84 degrees in the dining room! Talk about feeling uncomfortable!
Inspections continued to unravel the string of horrors; August brought with it even more dreadful findings. Imagine walking into a facility and noticing mold growing on a DVD player and a nightstand, plus the strong odor of urine and cigarette smoke lingering in the air. It’s shocking to think this was deemed acceptable for our loved ones!
Hartsville’s Heartbreaking Conditions
The situation in Hartsville was equally troubling. A report from May showed that plumbing regulations were barely being met, with hot water temperatures for resident access dropping as low as 80 degrees. Not to mention, two of the bathrooms had scalding water temperatures soaring to 133 degrees—definitely not safe for residents!
By the end of May, the facility was once again hit with a dismal score of 0. The report showed that 16 residential rooms were too hot, with temperatures reaching an unbearable 87 degrees. When inspectors returned in July, they found a grim reality: areas that were not free of vermin and had offensive odors were still patently evident.
A Call for Accountability
As the dust settles from these shocking revelations, one can’t help but wonder—what’s next for the residents, their families, and the facility operators? A corrective action plan is due by February 1, but how can we trust that the changes will actually be made? With so many red flags waving, it’s crucial that steps are taken to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved.
This is a developing situation that has many folks in Florence and Hartsville understandably upset. Community members are calling for greater accountability and stronger oversight. After all, when it comes to our loved ones, a clean, safe environment should be the bare minimum we strive for.
