Shem Creek at South Bay

How is Shem Creek at South Bay licensed in South Carolina?

The state record for Shem Creek at South Bay is license CRC-1952: 150 beds, expiring July 31, 2027. Measured against the 48-bed midpoint of the Lowcountry's senior CRCFs, it is bigger than average.

A CRCF license in South Carolina lasts one year. This term started August 1, 2026. Operators pay DPH $10 for each licensed bed (never less than $75) under Section 103.J of Regulation 60-84, which is why the bed figure is a trustworthy size measure.

License numbers are issued in sequence. Ordered from lowest to highest, CRC-1952 is number 30 of the 56 senior CRCF licenses in the tri-county area; that hints at how long this license line has existed, not how old the building is.

Does Shem Creek at South Bay offer a secured memory care unit?

Yes, according to DPH: Shem Creek at South Bay is flagged for an Alzheimer's special care unit or program, the state's term for a secure area or program for people with probable Alzheimer's or a related dementia that restricts their movement outside it (Regulation 60-84, Section 101.F).

Any building that advertises dementia care must hand families a written disclosure under S.C. Code 44-36-510: how the program is run, who is admitted and discharged, staff training and staffing, activities and the physical setting. Request it before the visit and compare it with what you see.

Background: South Carolina's rules for Alzheimer's units.

Has Shem Creek at South Bay paid a state penalty?

We found none. The administrative and consent orders DPH listed month by month for January 2025 to September 2026 do not mention Shem Creek at South Bay.

Staying off the enforcement list means no recent penalty or sanction; it does not mean DPH found nothing to correct. Only the inspection report shows that.

Where can families read inspection reports for Shem Creek at South Bay?

Ask Shem Creek at South Bay for its most recent report, and ask DPH in writing as a check. Regulation 60-84, Section 202.E, makes the reports public even though the state publishes no CRCF inspection data in bulk.

DPH has no fixed inspection cycle for CRCFs; it visits “as deemed appropriate” and without notice. On a tour, ask for the date of the last visit, the deficiencies cited and the signed plan of correction.

What is Shem Creek at South Bay's hurricane evacuation plan?

Ask to see it: every South Carolina CRCF must keep a written emergency and disaster evacuation plan, made with its county emergency management agency, that names where residents will be sheltered, how they will be moved and who will care for them, and residents or their responsible party may inspect it (Regulation 60-84, Section 1401).

Because the building is in Charleston County, Regulation 60-84 (Section 1401.B.1.c) requires its hurricane plan to name at least one sheltering facility outside the six coastal counties of Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Horry, Jasper and Georgetown. Ask how the facility handled the last evacuation order and what it would do if the sheltering facility were full. See how hurricane rules apply to Lowcountry facilities.

Which licensed CRCFs are the nearest alternatives to Shem Creek at South Bay?

Mount Pleasant Gardens in Mount Pleasant is the nearest other senior-serving CRCF, roughly 1.0 miles off as the crow flies, licensed for 71 beds and flagged for an Alzheimer's special care unit.

What medical care is near Shem Creek at South Bay in Mount Pleasant?

Shem Creek at South Bay is in Mount Pleasant in Charleston County, and East Cooper Medical Center is the closest general hospital on DPH's roster, roughly 0.9 miles off as the crow flies.

After that comes Mount Pleasant Hospital, about 6.1 miles away. These are map distances; bridges and traffic on I-26, I-526 and the Ravenel Bridge decide the real drive.

Should nursing care become necessary, the closest CMS-certified homes are Oak Harbor Healthcare (1.1 mi, CMS 4 of 5) and Franke Health Care Center (1.3 mi, CMS 4 of 5).

What belongs on a tour checklist for Shem Creek at South Bay?

Use the state record to plan the visit: ask the date of DPH's latest visit, what was cited, and to read the signed plan of correction.

• Ask how many staff are awake on the overnight shift and when the peak period ends; at full occupancy the peak floor is 19.
• Request the written Alzheimer's special care disclosure and the number of beds inside the secured unit.
• Ask what happens to a resident whose private funds are spent, and whether OSS residents are accepted.
• Ask which charges rise with care needs, and check the agreement's 30-day notice clause for fee changes.
• The licensee is registered in FL; ask who runs the building locally and who sits above the administrator.