SC Officials Suspend License of Assisted Living Facility
In July, the South Carolina Department of Public Health issued an emergency license suspension for the J C Laraes Southwinds Assisted Living Community. This suspension followed an on-site inspection that revealed multiple infractions compromising the residents’ safety, which necessitated their relocation.
If you own or operate an assisted living, healthcare, or daycare facility, you too can be at risk if one of your employees fails to properly carry out their duties. The moment you learn that the health and safety of individuals under your care have been put at risk, contact the Professional License Defense Team from the LLF National Law Firm. We can help achieve the best possible outcome for your livelihood, and you can reach us by calling 888-535-3686 or using our online contact form.
What Happened During the Inspection?
On July 15, 2025, South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) officials conducted a site inspection of the Southwinds facility. Upon arrival, they discovered five residents locked in one building with no staff supervision. Another three residents were found in a second locked building with no staff present.
The buildings were set up so that they couldn’t be opened from the inside, effectively trapping anyone who entered (including DPH officials). Only because the opening of one of the doors triggered an alarm did someone arrive to check on the residents.
Upon further investigation, DPH officials learned that the three residents in the second building had gone at least 24 hours without any supervision. They also found that at least one resident seemed to need a level of care that went beyond the scope of what the Southwinds facility could provide.
In addition to the clear safety issues, another problem was that the Southwinds facility was only licensed to care for up to five residents in one building. However, the inspection confirmed that two buildings were being used to house eight residents.
The same day as the inspection, the DPH, along with several other state agencies, relocated all residents to other locations for assisted living care.
The news report isn’t clear if the July 15th inspection was the result of a formal complaint or if it was part of a regularly scheduled review of licensed facilities.
Professional License Defense for Assisted Living Facilities
Families trust that their loved ones will be protected when placed in the care of a nursing home or other assisted living facility. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen, which is why state agencies like the South Carolina Department of Public Health exist and conduct site inspections.
In many cases, these inspections reveal violations that facility owners aren’t aware of and are the fault of one or more employees. Yet these findings can potentially put owners out of business. Contact the LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Defense Team the moment you learn of a problem with your facility. Call 888-535-3686 or submit our online contact form to schedule a consultation as soon as possible. The sooner we can help, the sooner you can fix the problem and resume operations.