Greenville Senior AdvisorHow do I file a complaint against a Greenville assisted living facility or nursing home?
File it with the S.C. Department of Public Health's Healthcare Quality office, either through the online complaint portal DPH launched in March 2026 or by calling 1-800-922-6735 and asking to file a complaint about a health facility; DPH can investigate any licensed CRCF, nursing home, hospice, home health agency or adult day center.
The portal walks complainants through guided questions and fills in the facility's license details automatically. Be specific: dates, times, names of staff on duty, what happened and who saw it. A complaint investigation can lead to cited violations, a required plan of correction and, for serious or repeated problems, an enforcement order that will appear in DPH's monthly report.
Who investigates abuse of a resident in a South Carolina facility?
Under the Omnibus Adult Protection Act (S.C. Code 43-35-5 and following), reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of residents in most long-term care facilities go to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, while SLED's Vulnerable Adults Investigations Unit handles state-operated facilities; for Greenville, Anderson and Pickens counties the regional ombudsman is at the Appalachian Council of Governments (864-242-9733), and for Laurens County at Upper Savannah COG ((864) 941-8070).
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911 first. Staff of facilities are mandated reporters under the act, and so are many health professionals. Families do not need proof to report; describe what you saw or were told and let the investigators do their work.
Who investigates abuse of an older adult living at home in South Carolina?
The S.C. Department of Social Services' Adult Protective Services investigates abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults in the community; call 1-888-227-3487 (1-888-CARE4US) or make a report online.
APS covers self-neglect as well as harm by others, so a call is appropriate when an older adult living alone can no longer manage safely and refuses help. Financial exploitation by a relative, caregiver or scammer is also reportable. Local law enforcement should be called when a crime is in progress.
What does the long-term care ombudsman do beyond abuse cases?
South Carolina's regional long-term care ombudsmen are free, independent advocates for residents of CRCFs and nursing homes who investigate and help resolve complaints about care, rights, discharges and quality of life, with the resident's permission.
An ombudsman can help with a disputed discharge, a fee increase without the required 30 days' notice, problems with personal funds, or a resident's right to visitors. The Appalachian COG program covers Greenville, Anderson, Pickens and three more Upstate counties; the Upper Savannah program covers Laurens County. Both also train volunteer ombudsmen who visit facilities regularly.
Must a facility report serious incidents to the state?
Yes. A South Carolina CRCF must report serious accidents and incidents involving residents to DPH by telephone, email or fax within 24 hours and submit a written report of its investigation within five days (Regulation 60-84, Section 601).
DPH's enforcement reports show that failing to make those reports on time is one of the violations it cites. Families can ask a facility whether an incident involving their relative was reported to DPH and request a copy of the facility's investigation. Facilities and providers can also use DPH's online portal to make those required reports.
At a glance
| Call this agency | For this kind of problem | |
|---|---|---|
| DPH Healthcare Quality, 1-800-922-6735 | Licensing violations, care quality, unlicensed homes | — |
| Long Term Care Ombudsman | Abuse or rights problems for facility residents | — |
| DSS Adult Protective Services, 1-888-227-3487 | Abuse, neglect or exploitation at home | — |
| 911 | Anyone in immediate danger | — |
Sources include S.C. Code Regs. 60-84, DPH Healthcare Quality and SCDHHS pages and bulletins, CareScout, CMS and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
