Heat restored after outage at Rock Hill assisted living facility
A Rock Hill assisted living facility was left in the cold after the heat went out in near-record low temperatures.
A tip sent to reporter Tina Terry about the Divine Manor facility said the heat has been out for a week. A spokesperson confirmed the heating system did indeed go out on Monday.
The spokesperson would not speak with Terry on camera, but said workers were able to bring in space heaters and were able to get the heat back on. At first, she said the heat came back on Wednesday, but then she said it came back on Tuesday.
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The person who sent in the initial tip said 27 patients live at Divine Manor and some of them require 24-hour care. They claimed the heat was still not working as of Wednesday, and that South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control had been called three times to investigate.
Around 8 a.m. Thursday, Terry called and emailed DHEC asking if that’s true. They sent several emails that afternoon. In one, a spokesperson said, “I can confirm we have investigated recent complaints at Divine Manor.”
The spokesperson sent Channel 9 another email late Thursday afternoon and gave a timeline of what happened.
Monday, Nov. 27: DHEC received a complaint alleging that Divine Manor Assisted Living Center did not have heat in resident rooms or sitting areas. The facility is licensed for 32 beds.
Wednesday, Nov. 29: DHEC performed an investigation that resulted in certain alleged violations of Regulation 61-84, including a violation of Section 2501.B, which requires community residential care facilities to maintain a temperature of between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit in resident areas.
“While onsite at the facility, an HVAC technician arrived and began repairs to the facility’s HVAC. Prior to leaving the facility, our investigator confirmed that the residents affected by the heating issues were relocated within the facility to rooms that met Section 2501.B,” the spokesperson stated in the response to Channel 9. “Further, today (Nov. 30), DHEC performed a follow-up visit to the facility and confirmed temperatures were compliant with the regulation, the HVAC repairs were being completed, and residents had no complaints about the temperature.”
The facility is required to submit an acceptable plan of correction to DHEC within five days from the facility’s receipt of the report-of-visit, the DHEC official went on to say.
DHEC may deny, suspend, or revoke licenses or assess a monetary penalty, or both, against a CRCF for violation of DHEC’s regulations.
The spokesperson said DHEC doesn’t comment on pending enforcement actions or potential enforcement actions.
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