Wildewood Downs
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Wildewood Downs has a Trust Grade of B, indicating it is a good choice among nursing homes, though there is room for improvement. It ranks #67 out of 186 facilities in South Carolina, placing it in the top half, and #2 out of 14 in Richland County, suggesting it is one of the better options locally. The facility is improving, having reduced its issues from four in 2023 to three in 2024. Staffing is a strong point with a 5/5 star rating and more RN coverage than 91% of state facilities, ensuring high-quality care. However, the facility has faced some concerns, including improper storage and labeling of food items and medications, which could pose health risks. Additionally, the facility assessed $3,728 in fines, which is average, but still indicates some compliance issues that families should be aware of.
- Trust Score
- B
- In South Carolina
- #67/186
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 49% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ⚠ Watch
- $3,728 in fines. Higher than 86% of South Carolina facilities, suggesting repeated compliance issues.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 80 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of South Carolina nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 13 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Near South Carolina avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 13 deficiencies on record
Oct 2024
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, record review, and facility policy, the facility failed to ensure Resident (R)4 had adequate supervision to ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interviews, record review, and policy review, the facility failed to provide respiratory care in accordanc...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interview, and facility policy the facility failed to ensure that opened food items were properly labeled and stored, 2 of 2 kitchens reviewed.
Findings include:
Review of an und...
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May 2023
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interviews, record review, and facility policy review, the facility failed to review and revise a comprehensive person-centered care plan for 1 (Resident (R)17) of 10 residents whose comprehe...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on review of the facility policy titled, Storage of Medications, and Controlled Substances, observations, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure a small metal box containing narcotics was...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observations, interviews, and facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure food
was stored and labeled properly in the dry goods storage, walk-in fridge, and walk- in freezer to
pr...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Antibiotic Stewardship
(Tag F0881)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on review of facility policy, interview and record review, the facility failed to track and trend antibiotic usage, infections and perform infection surveillance for six of the twelve months rev...
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Dec 2021
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation and interview, the facility failed to ensure 1 of 1 (Resident (R) 2) had oxygen tubing and humidifier changed per physician orders.
Findings include:
Review of R2's Face Sheet da...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0697
(Tag F0697)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, and interviews, the facility failed to effectively manage and/or prevent a resident from pa...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and review of facility policy and procedure, the facility failed to ensure ongoing Covid-19 screening for visitors.
Findings include:
Review of facility policy title...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and review of manufacturer guidelines revealed the facility failed to ensure expired supplies w...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observations, interviews, and the review of facility policies, the facility failed to maintain the dishwasher, garbage disposal, ice machine, handwashing sink, bins, floors, and surface areas...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Room Equipment
(Tag F0908)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observations and interviews, the facility failed to maintain all mechanical, electrical, and patient care equipment in safe operating condition. Furthermore, the facility failed to maintain t...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • $3,728 in fines. Lower than most South Carolina facilities. Relatively clean record.
- • 13 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Wildewood Downs's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Wildewood Downs an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within South Carolina, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Wildewood Downs Staffed?
CMS rates Wildewood Downs's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 49%, compared to the South Carolina average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Wildewood Downs?
State health inspectors documented 13 deficiencies at Wildewood Downs during 2021 to 2024. These included: 13 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Wildewood Downs?
Wildewood Downs is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 32 certified beds and approximately 23 residents (about 72% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Columbia, South Carolina.
How Does Wildewood Downs Compare to Other South Carolina Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in South Carolina, Wildewood Downs's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (49%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (3 stars) is at the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Wildewood Downs?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Wildewood Downs Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Wildewood Downs has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in South Carolina. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Wildewood Downs Stick Around?
Wildewood Downs has a staff turnover rate of 49%, which is about average for South Carolina nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Wildewood Downs Ever Fined?
Wildewood Downs has been fined $3,728 across 1 penalty action. This is below the South Carolina average of $33,116. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Wildewood Downs on Any Federal Watch List?
Wildewood Downs is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.