Palmetto Patriots
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Palmetto Patriots in Gaffney, South Carolina, holds a Trust Grade of B+, which indicates it is above average and recommended for families seeking care. It ranks #18 out of 186 facilities in the state, placing it in the top half, and is the best option among the three facilities in Cherokee County. The facility is newly opened, with no past inspection records, suggesting that there are no trends of improvement or decline yet. Staffing is a strong point, with a 0% turnover rate, which is well below the state average of 46%, indicating that the staff are likely familiar with the residents and their needs. While there are no specific incidents reported and the facility has not faced any deficiencies, the fines of $30,147 raised concerns as they are higher than 87% of South Carolina facilities, suggesting potential compliance issues that families should be aware of.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In South Carolina
- #18/186
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Too New
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- Turnover data not reported for this facility.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $30,147 in fines. Lower than most South Carolina facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 43 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for South Carolina. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ✓ Good
- No deficiencies on record. Exceptional compliance history. Very rare.
The Good
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
Below median ($33,413)
Moderate penalties - review what triggered them
The Ugly 0 deficiencies on record
Clean Inspection Record
This facility has zero deficiencies on record - the average nursing home has 7. Only 1% of facilities nationally achieve a completely clean inspection record.
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
- • Grade B+ (85/100). 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 deficiencies on record. Exceptional compliance history. Very rare.
- • $30,147 in fines. Higher than 94% of South Carolina facilities, suggesting repeated compliance issues.
About This Facility
What is Palmetto Patriots's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Palmetto Patriots 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 Palmetto Patriots Staffed?
CMS rates Palmetto Patriots's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes.
What Have Inspectors Found at Palmetto Patriots?
Based on CMS data, Palmetto Patriots has no deficiency citations on record during the current review period. This is relatively uncommon - most facilities receive at least some citations during routine inspections.
Who Owns and Operates Palmetto Patriots?
Palmetto Patriots is owned by a government entity. Government-operated facilities are typically run by state, county, or municipal agencies. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 52 certified beds and approximately 51 residents (about 98% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Gaffney, South Carolina.
How Does Palmetto Patriots Compare to Other South Carolina Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in South Carolina, Palmetto Patriots's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.9 and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Palmetto Patriots?
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 Palmetto Patriots Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Palmetto Patriots 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 Palmetto Patriots Stick Around?
Palmetto Patriots has not reported staff turnover data to CMS. Staff turnover matters because consistent caregivers learn residents' individual needs, medications, and preferences. When staff frequently change, this institutional knowledge is lost. Families should ask the facility directly about their staff retention rates and average employee tenure.
Was Palmetto Patriots Ever Fined?
Palmetto Patriots has been fined $30,147 across 9 penalty actions. This is below the South Carolina average of $33,380. 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 Palmetto Patriots on Any Federal Watch List?
Palmetto Patriots 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.