Edition 13: January 3, 2025

It’s a new year, so let’s start it off the right way! 🎉

This tip is for the administrators. As the person who is responsible for managing the facility, in charge of all functions and activities of the facility and appropriately licensed, how are you ensuring the facility maintains compliance?

It’s very important to conduct random audits of documents/files, perform a walkthrough of the entire facility, document your findings and educate your staff. This will help you know what is happening in the facility and catch anything not in compliance with Regulation 61-84 before we do.

Important Reminder: South Carolina considers Past Noncompliance at the Harm and Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) levels.

Past Noncompliance means a deficiency citation at a specific survey data tag (F-tag or K-tag), that meets all of the following three criteria:

1. The facility was not in compliance with the specific regulatory requirement(s) (as referenced by the specific -tag) at the time the situation occurred; 
2. The noncompliance occurred after the exit date of the last standard (recertification) survey and before the survey (standard, complaint, or revisit) currently being conducted, and
3. There is sufficient evidence that the facility corrected the noncompliance and is in substantial compliance at the time of the current survey for the specific regulatory requirement(s), as referenced by the specific tag.

Please note that a facility cannot be IN compliance and OUT of compliance at the same time.

Dementia 201: A Positive Direct Care Approach - NEW 2025 Dates!

South Carolina Department of Public Health and the South Carolina Department on Aging are pleased to present Dementia 201: A Positive Direct Care Approach.

This free, 90-minute webinar provides strategies and best practices for direct caregivers of people living with dementia. This training is beneficial for any direct caregiver in your facility.

Topics include:

• What dementia is and isn't
• Communication strategies
• Problem-solving techniques
• Person-centered care
• Q&A 
• 
  

It is not necessary to complete Dementia 101: The Basics before Dementia 201. Download and share the flyer with staff.Register No

Facilitated by Tori Anderson, CDP

Certified Dementia Practitioner and Dementia Care Specialist with the South Carolina Department on Aging

After 20 years of leadership experience in the private business sector, Tori made the career change into dementia care after having been a caregiver for her father, mother, mother-in-law and brother, all of whom were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Helping families navigate a dementia diagnosis and empowering the residents of SC to do the same is her life’s passion.

Unlike NCFs, annual electrical inspections are not required in CRCFs. CRCFs are still required to document preventive maintenance including manufacturers recommended testing and maintenance. GFCI Outlets (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) and AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters) outlets and breakers are required to be tested monthly by most manufacturers. These are generally simple tests that can be completed by facility staff, if you are unsure of how to test a device consult the manufacturer's documentation. And don’t forget to document the test.

For questions or guidance on this requirement please contact Healthcare Quality's Fire & Life Safety Section.

R. 61-17.2100

R. 61.84.1601

Healthcare Quality

S.C. Department of Public Health

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