Francis Marion Manor

Francis Marion Manor is primarily a senior care center. For this reason, it is often difficult for my stepmother to get the care she deserves. Although the staff is usually very friendly and caring, I feel that Francis Marion Manor would be a better facility if it could get the funding it so desperately needs. However, my great-grandmother, who is also a resident finds the facility and the activities provided to be quite enjoyable. I feel that the physical therapy could be better equipped. As stated above, it is really more of a place for senior citizens. But I all residents, senior or not, could be better cared for if Francis Marion Manor had a more complete physical therapy center. A bigger staff could also alleviate some pressure of the current nurses, who have a large patient base to deal with. All in all it's an adequate place for seniors, but sometimes is a very bleak and uninviting assisted living center, due in part to the lack of funding and nursing staff.

I gave Francis Marion Manor a 3-star rating because I have mixed emotions about it. I commend the staff for their incessant hard work, but the facilities and patient care are just not up to par. While the staff does well with what they have, they are chronically understaffed and thus the patients suffer. The entire place typically smells like urine, especially on the second floor which doesn't get the smells from the cafeteria to drown it out. It appeared to be in a general state of disrepair, and there were often signs on the elevator warning visitors to be careful not to allow patients to escape. The food is great and is served by a wonderful set of cafeteria staff. Patient care suffered most, because each floor often only has one nurse plus a few CNAs. It was the usual to hear patients calling out for help or moaning in pain down the hallways. Bed alarms went off constantly, warning that patients had left their seats or beds without permission (fall-risks). One particularly awful incident involving my Nannie occurred when she needed to use the restroom. After several hours of paging for help, she simply couldn't wait any longer and messed herself. She was a proud woman who was mortified by her accident. I don't blame any of the staff there; there just really aren't enough of them scheduled at a time.