Calhoun Convalescent Ctr Inc

Pros

• Brandi is a STAR employee.
• The food served is excellent and second to none.
• Mike, the nutritional staff, PTs, and a couple of nurses/CNAs are the only good people to deal with.
• A resident loves Calhoun Nursing and describes the overall experience as good.

Cons

• The facility is alleged to have cover-ups and a high turnover rate, with an administration that is awful and self-centered.
• The administration is said to hide from issues, leaving wounds unprevented and falls unnoticed.
• Paycards are described as worse than a root canal.
• The staff turnover is high; some staff disappear; others gossip about residents, while nursing staff are lazy and unhelpful and prioritize cell phones and breaks.
• The place is described as trash and dishonest, with phone calls rarely answered and information shared indiscriminately.
• Quilts and nightgowns were reportedly lost; residents are showered infrequently; the food is lacking and served lukewarm; administrative staff are rude.
• The Director of Nursing Gwen is described as mean, cold, and uncaring, with concerns often unresolved and staff pushed to work for free.
• There is neglect and understaffing; formal complaints go unresolved; the director will not return calls.
• Some staff are bullies and verbally abusive; residents are disrespected; staff are overworked; confining residents to their rooms is deemed wrong.

Review

A collage of reviews about this facility paints a troubled picture for anyone considering placing a loved one in its care. Across many voices there is a repeated emphasis on serious concerns about administration, staffing, and the overall quality of care. While a few lines offer glimpses of positive moments, the prevailing sentiment is one of caution and disappointment, with frequent complaints about turnover, neglect, and a lack of reliable communication.

One of the most persistent threads is the high turnover and staff instability. Reviewers describe an environment where people are constantly coming and leaving, making it hard for residents to form trusting relationships with caregivers. The criticism goes beyond merely swapping faces; several accounts claim that some staff members are engaged in gossip, while others appear unwilling or unable to lend a hand when needed. The impression left is that if something goes wrong or a wound needs attention, the onus falls on already overworked nurses who are stretched thin by the constant stream of new faces and shifting responsibilities. The broader implication many residents and families voice is that the instability itself creates risk for outcomes such as unaddressed injuries or unnoticed falls.

Concerns about the standard of care are another dominant theme. Multiple reviewers allege neglect or insufficient attention to residents' needs. Wounds that could have been prevented, falls that go unnoticed, and a perception that important changes in a resident's condition are not promptly acted upon contribute to an atmosphere of worry. Some comments even describe formal complaints filed with little to no resolution, and an overall sense that understaffing compounds everyday tasks and responsibilities to a level that compromises safety and well-being. The fear that a resident might be overlooked or left unattended when help is needed recurs in several testimonies, painting a picture of a facility where care quality is inconsistent and sometimes lacking.

Communication and responsiveness, particularly from administrators and the director of nursing, emerge as another major pain point. One reviewer paints a stark portrait of an administrator who hides from issues and prioritizes self-interest over resident welfare. The director of nursing is described as cold, mean, and dismissive, with reports of being brushed off when inquiries are made about payment for shifts or concerns about care. The tone of communication is often described as poor, with references to calls being ignored or put on hold for long periods, leaving families feeling disconnected from their loved ones and uncertain about how concerns are being addressed.

Financial and operational frustrations appear frequently as well. Pay issues, especially around paycards and compensation, are cited as stressful and untrustworthy experiences for staff. Beyond the personal impact on workers, reviewers connect these issues to the broader atmosphere of discontent, suggesting that inconsistent pay practices and perceived mismanagement detract from the focus on resident care. The sense conveyed is that administrative shortfalls bleed into daily operations, further eroding confidence in the facility's ability to protect and care for residents.

There are a few strands of resilience and occasional positivity within the negative feedback. A small group of staff members is singled out as especially commendable, with Brandi described as a "STAR employee" and certain nutritional staff, physical therapists, and a couple of nurses/CNAs praised for their dedication and kindness. Some reviewers acknowledge that the food can be excellent and that some caregivers and team members genuinely try to do right by the residents. However, even these positive notes often come with caveats, such as critiques of leadership elsewhere in the nursing staff or concerns about how mixed these good moments are with broader systemic issues.

Among the more concrete incidents cited are specifics that families might find alarming if true. Items reportedly lost or mishandled, such as quilts and nightgowns belonging to a resident's family, are mentioned as examples of how things can go awry. Communications about those concerns, and the overall responsiveness of staff to family inquiries about a resident's status or well-being, seem inconsistent in the accounts provided. Several reviewers also describe patients being left with limited activity and heavy restrictions, with one expressing distress about confinement to rooms, a concern that clashes with the idea of quality social and physical engagement for residents.

In the end, the prevailing narrative is that this facility requires careful consideration and close, perhaps even vigilant, scrutiny. For families weighing options, the reviews suggest looking beyond a single impression or a few glowing moments and paying close attention to staff stability, responsiveness of administration, and the consistency of the care environment. There are glimpses of warmth and competence in some staff members and in some aspects of daily operations, but these are interwoven with a consistent drumbeat of concerns about neglect, miscommunication, and leadership that seems out of step with the needs of residents and their families. If you are evaluating care options, it may be worth exploring alternatives and asking pointed questions about staffing levels, incident response, and how the facility handles complaints and pay practices, so you can make a well-informed choice for your loved one.

Located in St. Matthews, South Carolina, this area offers a variety of amenities for senior living. Within close proximity, there are cafes and restaurants for dining options, pharmacies for convenient access to medication, and physicians for healthcare needs. Places of worship are also nearby for spiritual fulfillment. In the case of emergencies, there is a hospital within 10 miles. Transportation services such as car rentals are available for convenience. Overall, this part of St. Matthews provides a range of resources and services that would cater to the needs of seniors looking to reside in a well-equipped community.

Cafes

• Main Street Cafe (0.6 miles)
• Calhoun Country Market (1.1 miles)
• Starbucks (8.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Hardee's (0.7 miles)
• Arby's (6.7 miles)
• Cracker Barrel (7.8 miles)
• Ruby Tuesday (7.8 miles)
• Waffle House (7.9 miles)
• Hardee's (7.9 miles)
• McDonald's (8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Boland Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• St Matthews Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• St Matthews Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Octapharma Plasma (11.3 miles)
• Walgreens (11.3 miles)
• Medicap Pharmacy (11.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (11.5 miles)

Physicians

• St Matthews Family Medicine (0.7 miles)
• Saint Matthews Family Health Center (1.4 miles)
• Mark J Krzyston MD (8.9 miles)
• Cardiovascular Institute PA (8.9 miles)
• Dr Mark Krzyston (8.9 miles)
• Orangeburg Oral Surgery & Implant Center (8.9 miles)
• Connor's Healthcare For Women (9.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Mt Pleasant Baptist Church (1.1 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (2.2 miles)
• Outreach Ministries (5 miles)
• Mt Pisgah Ame Church (5.2 miles)
• Bethel AME Church (5.9 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (6 miles)
• Mt Carmel Baptist Church (6.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Rmc Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology (9.2 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (11.2 miles)
• Alamo (11.2 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (11.5 miles)