Life Care Center of Charleston

The Post and Courier reported that the North Charleston police department is investigating Life Care Center of Charleston on Elms Plantation Boulevard, after the family of a vulnerable adult found their loved one with serious injuries they were told resulted from a fall. However, the injuries are consistent with an assault, not a fall. The woman suffered a black eye, bruised elbow, and swollen knee on July 23. A police officer noted that the resident’s injuries were “substantial” and “clearly required medical attention.” As of July 30, no charges have been filed in this case.

The facility did not report the incident nor treat her until July 25. After the family learned of the incident two days later, her loved ones shared their concerns with the facility’s leadership and police officers, as they believe “foul play” may be involved due to the lack of communication.

The resident’s relatives alleged that this is “not the first instance” where something of this nature has occurred throughout the last four years she’s been at the facility. Life Care Center has been involved in 18 medical malpractice lawsuits since 2015, according to Charleston County Circuit Court records. All the cases remain open. Five of these complaints were filed this year, while records are sealed in one case. Two of them allege that residents suffered from falls similar to the July 25 incident.

One woman sued the facility after she said she fell while recovering from a hip replacement in April 2024. Another resident fractured her femur in a June 2024 fall. Both of these lawsuits allege that the facility “failed to hire, train, and supervise sufficient and qualified staff who could deliver the proper standard of care.” Two other cases filed this year include allegations of staffing failure in monitoring residents or not providing them with the proper care needed to prevent their conditions from worsening.

This 148-bed care facility, owned by Life Care Centers of America, had a “below average” rating on Medicare.gov.