The reviews for Blue Ridge of Sumter show a highly mixed and polarized picture, with a strong cluster of serious, recurring complaints alongside isolated, strongly positive experiences. Many reviewers described systemic problems — especially understaffing, poor communication, and lapses in basic care — that contributed to safety concerns and a perception of neglect. At the same time, several reviewers reported that some staff were caring, proactive, and provided acceptable or excellent care, indicating inconsistency in service quality between shifts, units, or individual caregivers.
Care quality and safety are the most frequently raised issues. Multiple reviewers reported potentially dangerous conditions: rooms described as excessively hot (around 90°F) with no adequate temperature control, ignored call buttons, difficulty locating nurses, and beds that are too narrow without side rails, creating fall risk. Several reviews flagged poor respiratory care — oxygen not properly managed and an overall lack of respiratory support — and some reviewers alleged abuse and filed formal reports. Infection control and hygiene are also recurring concerns: reviewers reported infections and pneumonia, infrequent bathing, dry skin and skin tearing, and at least one health department complaint. These reports, combined with allegations that patients died under questionable circumstances, create a pattern of serious safety and quality concerns that would warrant further investigation by regulators or families.
Staffing, communication, and management are frequent themes tying many complaints together. Reviewers repeatedly described understaffed shifts, unorganized teams, and unresponsive personnel who either did not answer call buttons or were difficult to reach. Supervisors in housekeeping and laundry were reported as rude and uncooperative, and some reviewers recounted being hung up on when seeking information. Several negative reviews also cited billing and Medicare paperwork problems and discharge paperwork issues, suggesting administrative processes are a source of family stress and potential dispute.
Facility amenities, cleanliness, and physical environment also drew criticism. Reports included strong odors, lack of basic comforts (no TV in some rooms, no working ice machine with ice supplied from a cooler), and poor overall cleanliness. One reviewer noted lacking air or heat in a room. Visitor restrictions and inconsistent policies were another major complaint — families described strict or arbitrary denials of in-building visits, including a claim that a window was closed to prevent seeing a resident, which heightened family distress. These environmental and policy issues compound the clinical concerns and affect families’ trust.
Despite numerous negative accounts, there are several distinctly positive reviews that describe Blue Ridge of Sumter as neat, organized, and staffed by amazing, caring personnel who provided excellent care. Some reviewers explicitly called out the facility as the "finest" and "highly recommended," emphasizing proactive assistance and attentive staff. The coexistence of glowing and damning reviews suggests substantial variability in resident experience — possibly dependent on the specific unit, time of day, staffing levels, or the acuity of residents cared for.
In summary, the dominant themes from these reviews are inconsistent quality of care, significant safety and hygiene concerns, and problematic communication and administrative practices. The most serious red flags are allegations of ignored call bells, mismanaged oxygen/respiratory care, infection outbreaks or pneumonia, reported abuse, and environmental issues like extreme room temperatures and odor. Families considering this facility should exercise caution: verify current licensing and inspection records, request staffing ratios and recent survey/complaint histories, tour the facility unannounced at different times, ask specifically about respiratory care protocols and fall-prevention measures, and get written policies on visitation and billing. While some residents and families report excellent care from compassionate staff, the volume and severity of negative reports indicate that experiences can vary dramatically and that follow-up verification is strongly recommended before making placement decisions.
