Oakhaven Nursing Center

123 Oak Street, Darlington, SC 29532 (843) 398-7041
For profit - Corporation 88 Beds Independent Data: November 2025
Trust Grade
90/100
#17 of 186 in SC
Last Inspection: October 2024

Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.

Overview

Oakhaven Nursing Center in Darlington, South Carolina has received an impressive Trust Grade of A, indicating it is an excellent choice for care, highly recommended based on its performance. Ranking #17 out of 186 facilities in South Carolina places it in the top half, while being #1 of 4 in Darlington County means it is the best local option. The facility is new and has no trend data yet, but it has a good staffing rating with a turnover rate of 37%, which is lower than the state average of 46%. While there are no fines on record, which is a positive sign, the center does have less RN coverage than 93% of South Carolina facilities, which could be a concern for some families. An inspector found that the facility failed to ensure that a resident's advance directive information was consistently recorded, which could lead to not honoring the resident's wishes in critical situations. Overall, while the nursing center has strong ratings in many areas, families should consider the implications of the staffing coverage and the noted deficiency.

Trust Score
A
90/100
In South Carolina
#17/186
Top 9%
Safety Record
Low Risk
No red flags
Inspections
Too New
0 → 1 violations
Staff Stability
○ Average
37% turnover. Near South Carolina's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
Penalties
✓ Good
No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most South Carolina facilities.
Skilled Nurses
⚠ Watch
Each resident gets only 19 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for South Carolina. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
Violations
✓ Good
Only 1 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
★★★★★
5.0
Overall Rating
★★★★☆
4.0
Staff Levels
★★★☆☆
3.0
Care Quality
★★★★★
5.0
Inspection Score
Stable
: 0 issues
2024: 1 issues

The Good

  • 4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record
  • Staff turnover below average (37%)

    11 points below South Carolina average of 48%

Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.

The Bad

Staff Turnover: 37%

Near South Carolina avg (46%)

Typical for the industry

The Ugly 1 deficiencies on record

Oct 2024 1 deficiency
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0578 (Tag F0578)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of the facility policy, record review, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that the advance directive ...

Read full inspector narrative →
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of the facility policy, record review, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that the advance directive information kept in the electronic health record (EHR) and hard chart reflected the same advance directive decision for Resident (R)48. This has the potential to allow the facility to not be able to carry out the resident's correct advance directive decision. Findings Include: Review of facility's policy titled, Advance Directive with a revision date of 01/24 revealed, Each resident shall be deemed a Full Code until we have the appropriate DNR documents signed by the resident or responsible party and physician. Review of R48's Facesheet revealed, R48 was admitted into the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to, congestive heart failure, hemiplegia, cerebral ischemic attack, hypertension, depression, edema, anemia, and muscle weakness. Review of R48's Annual Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 09/12/24 revealed, a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15, indicating resident is cognitively intact. Further review of the MDS revealed, R48 needs partial assistance from another person to complete any activity. Review of a document titled, Use of Resuscitation Procedures dated 06/07/24 revealed a request that if R48 has a sudden failure of vital function, that no emergency medical measure be used to restore this function. Review of an Emergency Medical Services Do Not Resuscitate Order dated 06/07/24 revealed the document contained R48's and physician signatures. During review of R48's medical record on 10/01/24 at 4:05 PM revealed a discrepancy with the advance directive. The hard chart had an advance directive of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) and the EHR had a full code status. During an interview on 10/03/24 at 8:44 AM with Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)1 revealed, the social worker put the advance directives in the charts and if the advance directives are in the wrong place, the unit secretary will put it in the right place. The unit secretary does packets to send residents out. If there are discrepancies in the EHR and hard chart, the unit secretary will let the unit manager know or the appropriate department. During an interview on 10/03/24 at 8:52 AM with the Unit Manager (UM) revealed, whenever a resident comes in, they are automatically a full code. They are asked and if they desire to become a DNR, they can once the order is signed by a physician. The unit manager writes the telephone order for the physician to sign. The social worker sends a ghost buster and order to the physician for a signature. For discrepancies, they look to make sure the physician has signed the order and if not they are still a full code. In case of an emergency the UM stated, she would go to the chart first and look at face sheet, then have a second person to check other source. During an interview on 10/03/24 at approximately 2:57 PM with the Director of Nursing (DON) revealed, The advance directives are handled by social services. Social services rounds to see if any changes need to be made and carried out.
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Life-Threatening (Immediate Jeopardy)
J - Isolated K - Pattern L - Widespread
Actual Harm
G - Isolated H - Pattern I - Widespread
Potential for Harm
D - Isolated E - Pattern F - Widespread
No Harm (Minor)
A - Isolated B - Pattern C - Widespread

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

Strengths
  • • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in South Carolina.
  • • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
  • • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most South Carolina facilities.
  • • Only 1 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
Concerns
  • • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
Bottom line: Generally positive indicators. Standard due diligence and a personal visit recommended.

About This Facility

What is Oakhaven Nursing Center's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns Oakhaven Nursing Center an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much 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 Oakhaven Nursing Center Staffed?

CMS rates Oakhaven Nursing Center's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 37%, compared to the South Carolina average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.

What Have Inspectors Found at Oakhaven Nursing Center?

State health inspectors documented 1 deficiencies at Oakhaven Nursing Center during 2024. These included: 1 with potential for harm.

Who Owns and Operates Oakhaven Nursing Center?

Oakhaven Nursing Center is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 88 certified beds and approximately 83 residents (about 94% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Darlington, South Carolina.

How Does Oakhaven Nursing Center Compare to Other South Carolina Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in South Carolina, Oakhaven Nursing Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (37%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.

What Should Families Ask When Visiting Oakhaven Nursing Center?

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 Oakhaven Nursing Center Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, Oakhaven Nursing Center 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 5-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 Oakhaven Nursing Center Stick Around?

Oakhaven Nursing Center has a staff turnover rate of 37%, 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 Oakhaven Nursing Center Ever Fined?

Oakhaven Nursing Center has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.

Is Oakhaven Nursing Center on Any Federal Watch List?

Oakhaven Nursing Center 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.