Nursing Homes in Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with 264 beds. The city average CMS rating is 4.3 stars, which is above South Carolina's state average of 2.8 stars. 3 facilities earn a B grade or better and are recommended for family consideration.
Compare 3 nursing homes · data
See all 3 recommended nursing homesWorth Considering
3
Facilities graded A or B that meet our quality standards
City Average
+1.49 vs state
Total Beds
264
across 3 facilities
High Risk Facilities
0
0 under CMS review
0 with abuse citations
Nurse Availability
27 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Well Staffed
2
exceed staffing threshold
67% of facilities
Zero Fines
passed all inspections
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Trend
0
improved vs last year
0 declined
Top Rated in Darlington
Oakhaven Nursing Center
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Oakhaven Nursing Center
★★★★★ · 90/100 · 88 beds
Medford Nursing Center
★★★★★ · 80/100 · 88 beds
Bethea Baptist Healthcare Center
★★★★★ · 75/100 · 88 beds
Showing 1–3 of 3 facilities
All 3 Nursing Homes in Darlington
A-ZWant to learn more about nursing home care in Darlington?
Fines · Deficiencies · Ownership Data · Quality Comparisons
About Nursing Home Care in Darlington
The nursing home market in Darlington, SC is favorable for families seeking care for their loved ones. The standout is Oakhaven Nursing Center, boasting a Grade A and a stellar 5-star CMS rating. With all three facilities in the area meeting our standards and having clean records—zero fines—families can feel confident in their options. However, the limited number of choices means you’ll need to be selective.
Two facilities worth visiting in Darlington are Oakhaven Nursing Center and Bethea Baptist Healthcare Center. Oakhaven Nursing Center excels with its perfect score of 90, indicating top-notch care and services. Meanwhile, Bethea Baptist Healthcare Center offers a solid Grade B and a 4-star CMS rating, making it another viable option for families. Both facilities are well-staffed, which is crucial for quality care.
There are no facilities in Darlington to outright avoid, as none have major red flags. However, always be vigilant during your visits. Pay attention to the staff-to-resident interaction and cleanliness, as these factors can reflect a facility's overall quality. When visiting any facility, ask about staff retention rates and how they handle emergencies—this can give you insight into their operational standards.
Darlington at a Glance
Good News
- • 3 facilities with clean records—no fines in 3 years
- • Darlington rates better than most South Carolina cities
- • 1 community-run facility (non-profit)
- • 2 facilities have more nurses than required
Be Aware
- • Some facilities have less nurse time than recommended
What's Changing
- → 3 facilities stayed the same
- ★ Overall: Darlington is stable
Questions Darlington Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?
CMS recommends 0.75 hrs; Darlington avg is 0.45 hrs (27 min)
Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?
3 of 3 Darlington facilities have zero fines
What were your most recent inspection findings?
Ask for specifics—0 local facilities have serious deficiencies
What is your staff-to-resident ratio on weekends?
Weekend staffing often differs from weekday levels
Finding Quality Nursing Home Care in Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington, South Carolina's Darlington County seat, has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with approximately 264 beds. Families have good options, with many facilities exceeding state averages.
Darlington vs. South Carolina: Above Average Quality
Darlington nursing homes outperform the state average on key quality metrics. The city's average CMS rating of 4.33 stars exceeds South Carolina's statewide average of 2.84 stars by 1.5 stars—a meaningful difference that suggests stronger local standards.
3 of 3 facilities earn a B grade or better, giving families good options. While quality is generally high, the overall picture is positive for Darlington families.
Understanding Our Trust Score System
The Trust Score is a 0-100 rating calculated from CMS's official nursing home database. The score combines five data categories:
- Health Inspection Results — Recent deficiencies, their severity, and patterns over time
- Staffing Levels — RN hours, total nursing hours, and weekend staffing
- Quality Measures — Clinical outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, and rehospitalizations
- Penalties — Fines, payment denials, and enforcement actions
- Complaints — Substantiated complaints and their severity
In Darlington, 3 facilities score a B grade or better, indicating they meet quality benchmarks across these categories. We recommend families prioritize these facilities and carefully research any facility rated C or below before visiting.
Staffing: A Significant Concern in Darlington
Staffing levels are among the most important predictors of nursing home quality. Research consistently shows that facilities with more nursing staff—especially registered nurses—have better outcomes for residents.
Darlington facilities average 0.45 RN hours per resident day, which falls below the CMS-recommended threshold of 0.75 hours. The typical Darlington resident receives approximately 27 minutes of RN attention daily—compared to the 45 minutes experts recommend.
2 Darlington facilities exceed CMS staffing recommendations. Families prioritizing staffing should look for facilities with the "Top Staffing" badge and ask specifically about RN hours during facility visits.
Ownership: Mix of For-Profit and Non-Profit
Darlington has 1 non-profit nursing homes and 2 for-profit facilities. 0 of 3 facilities are chain-owned, with the remainder independently operated.
Research suggests non-profit facilities often have higher staffing levels and fewer deficiencies on average, though ownership type alone does not guarantee quality. Families should evaluate each facility individually using inspection data, staffing levels, and recent deficiency reports.
Nearby Alternatives Worth Considering
Families may also want to consider nearby South Carolina cities for additional options. The following South Carolina cities offer multiple nursing home options:
- Greenville — 12 facilities
- Columbia — 12 facilities
- Spartanburg — 9 facilities
- Charleston — 8 facilities
- Florence — 8 facilities
- Inman — 5 facilities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes are in Darlington, South Carolina?
Darlington has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with a total of 264 beds. The city average CMS rating is 4.3 stars, which is above South Carolina's state average of 2.8 stars.
What are the best nursing homes in Darlington?
Based on our Trust Score analysis of CMS inspection data, the top-rated nursing homes in Darlington include:
- • Oakhaven Nursing Center — Grade A, 90/100 Trust Score
- • Medford Nursing Center — Grade B+, 80/100 Trust Score
- • Bethea Baptist Healthcare Center — Grade B, 75/100 Trust Score
These facilities have strong inspection records and staffing levels.
Which Darlington nursing homes should I avoid?
We flag 0 facilities in Darlington as high-risk based on patterns of serious deficiencies, substantial fines, or placement on CMS's Special Focus Facility list. These facilities are marked with warning indicators in our listings above.
We recommend avoiding facilities with: Grade D or F, recent "Immediate Jeopardy" citations (indicating serious harm or risk to residents), or those on CMS's Special Focus Facility list.
The Bottom Line on Darlington Nursing Homes
Darlington offers above-average nursing home options compared to the rest of the state. Focus your search on the 3 facilities graded A or B, particularly those with zero fines and strong staffing.