South Carolina at a Glance

The Department of Public Health (formerly DHEC) licenses and inspects South Carolina nursing homes and runs the facility complaint program.

• Licenses and inspects South Carolina nursing homes
• Runs the complaint hotline: 1-800-922-6735 (online form available)
• Residents’ bill of rights appears at S.C. Code § 44-81-10 et seq.

Visit the state agency site →

Families can speak with a South Carolina nursing home lawyer to understand if rights may have been violated.

South Carolina resident rights include:

• Right to written notice of all their rights at admission
• Right to be treated with dignity and to live with as much personal freedom as possible
• Right to participate in care planning and refuse treatment
• Right to privacy and confidential records
• Right to voice grievances through required, annually reviewed facility grievance procedures
• Right to be free from abuse and improper restraints
• Right to visits from family, relatives, and legal guardians
• Right to hire outside sitter services if they choose
• Right to 30 days’ notice before discharge, except for welfare or safety reasons
• Right to be free from retaliation — facilities may not punish, coerce, or threaten residents for exercising rights (§ 44-81-70)

Source: S.C. Code § 44-81-10 et seq. (Bill of Rights for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities)

Phone: 1-800-868-9095
Website: https://aging.sc.gov/programs-initiatives/long-term-care-ombudsman

Learn more about nursing home ombudsmen →

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. To report nursing home abuse or neglect in South Carolina, contact the Department of Public Health.

Families can:

• Call the DPH complaint hotline at 1-800-922-6735 or file the online Health Facility Complaint Form
• Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-868-9095
• Report suspected crimes to local law enforcement

Include the facility name, resident name, dates, injuries, witnesses, and photos if available.

Full reporting guide →

Families may be able to sue a South Carolina nursing home when poor care caused injury or death. Medical-care claims require advance notice with an expert’s statement before filing.

Common claims include:

• Personal injury: The resident was harmed by neglect or abuse.
• Wrongful death: Poor care contributed to the resident’s death.

South Carolina has strict legal deadlines, so families should speak with a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible. Don’t wait — get started right now.

Free case review →

Nursing home settlements and trial verdicts in South Carolina can vary depending on the situation. Some cases have resulted in payouts of more than $1 million.

See nursing home settlement amounts in South Carolina →