Weekly Update: How Coronavirus Is Affecting Charleston Area Nursing Homes

CHARLESTON, SC — The coronavirus pandemic has devastated nursing homes across the U.S., with thousands of cases and deaths among residents reported weekly. The country has seen great improvement recently, however, with the fewest recorded weekly cases among nursing home residents since at least late May 2020.

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has been tracking the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in nursing homes, including some in the Charleston area.

CMS reported around 5,700 nursing home resident COVID-19 cases nationwide during the week of Feb. 1-7. Its data shows weekly recorded cases are down nearly 85 percent since the peak in mid-December.

There have been more than 631,000 coronavirus cases among nursing home residents and 127,000 deaths since the pandemic began, according to CMS. More than a quarter of all U.S. deaths are among nursing home residents.

Nursing home staff members have also been heavily affected by the pandemic, with 542,000 recorded staff cases and more than 1,500 deaths.

The federal government has prioritized long-term care residents and staff for the coronavirus vaccine in an effort to stem cases and deaths. Around 4.3 million residents and staff in long-term care facilities have received at least one dose as of Feb. 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some notes on the CMS data: CMS has authority over nursing homes but not over other senior living facilities such as assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. Only nursing homes that pass the agency's data quality check are included. CMS also notes that its data could differ from state reports, owing to different counting methods, and in some cases it omits information on cases and deaths before May 17, when reporting became mandatory.

Below are the figures for nursing homes in the Charleston area.

Don't see the nursing home you're looking for? Search for it here.

Editor's note: This list was automatically generated using data compiled by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The local nursing homes included in the list are limited to those included in the government data. Please report any errors or other feedback to content@patch.com.

BISHOP GADSDEN EPISCOPAL HEALTH CARE CENTER
1 BISHOP GADSDEN WAY, CHARLESTON

Residents

• Week of Feb. 1-7: There were 0 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 0 related deaths among 41 total residents at this nursing home during the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: Since the onset of the pandemic, there have been 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 4 related deaths reported among nursing home residents.

Staff members

• Week of Feb. 1-7: This nursing home reported 0 confirmed COVID-19 cases among its staff members in the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: There have been 31 confirmed cases and 0 deaths due to COVID-19 reported among staff members since the pandemic began.

HEARTLAND HEALTH AND REHABILITATION CARE CENTER-HA
1800 EAGLE LANDING BLVD, HANAHAN

Residents

• Week of Feb. 1-7: There were 0 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1 related death among 83 total residents at this nursing home during the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: Since the onset of the pandemic, there have been 13 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 7 related deaths reported among nursing home residents.

Staff members

• Week of Feb. 1-7: This nursing home reported 1 confirmed COVID-19 case among its staff members in the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: There have been 30 confirmed cases and 1 death due to COVID-19 reported among staff members since the pandemic began.

HEARTLAND OF WEST ASHLEY REHAB AND NURSING CENTER
1137 SAM RITTENBURG BLVD, CHARLESTON

Residents

• Week of Feb. 1-7: There were 0 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 0 related deaths among 81 total residents at this nursing home during the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: Since the onset of the pandemic, there have been 28 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1 related death reported among nursing home residents.

Staff members

• Week of Feb. 1-7: This nursing home reported 0 confirmed COVID-19 cases among its staff members in the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: There have been 22 confirmed cases and 0 deaths due to COVID-19 reported among staff members since the pandemic began.

LIFE CARE CENTER OF CHARLESTON
2600 ELMS PLANTATION BLVD, N CHARLESTON

Residents

• Week of Feb. 1-7: There were 3 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 0 related deaths among 107 total residents at this nursing home during the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: Since the onset of the pandemic, there have been 117 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 16 related deaths reported among nursing home residents.

Staff members

• Week of Feb. 1-7: This nursing home reported 0 confirmed COVID-19 cases among its staff members in the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: There have been 110 confirmed cases and 0 deaths due to COVID-19 reported among staff members since the pandemic began.

NHC HEALTHCARE - CHARLESTON
2230 ASHLEY CROSSING DRIVE, CHARLESTON

Residents

• Week of Feb. 1-7: There were 0 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 0 related deaths among 103 total residents at this nursing home during the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: Since the onset of the pandemic, there have been 58 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 10 related deaths reported among nursing home residents.

Staff members

• Week of Feb. 1-7: This nursing home reported 0 confirmed COVID-19 cases among its staff members in the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: There have been 33 confirmed cases and 0 deaths due to COVID-19 reported among staff members since the pandemic began.

RETREAT AT WELLMORE OF DANIEL ISLAND
580 ROBERT DANIEL DRIVE, CHARLESTON

Residents

• Week of Feb. 1-7: There were 0 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 0 related deaths among 39 total residents at this nursing home during the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: Since the onset of the pandemic, there have been 21 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 2 related deaths reported among nursing home residents.

Staff members

• Week of Feb. 1-7: This nursing home reported 0 confirmed COVID-19 cases among its staff members in the week ending Feb. 7.
• Overall: There have been 23 confirmed cases and 0 deaths due to COVID-19 reported among staff members since the pandemic began.