When a vulnerable adult enters the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) Adult Protective Services (APS) System, they are in peril and need to be stabilized and assessed for appropriate services. In order to be properly assessed, the vulnerable adult must be moved immediately from the unsafe situation or the hospital emergency room to a temporary stabilization bed. After stabilizing the vulnerable adult, the case manager will be able to determine a long-term safe environment that is the least restrictive environment for the vulnerable adult. The mission of the SCDSS is to serve South Carolina by promoting safety, permanency, and well-being of children and vulnerable adults, helping individuals achieve stability, and strengthening families. To fulfill its responsibility to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, the SCDSS is seeking to secure temporary stabilization beds in a Nursing Facility for vulnerable adults 55 years or older (or who meet the Nursing Home level of care) and/or Licensed Community Residential Care Facility (CRCF)/Assisted Living Facility in South Carolina for vulnerable adults 18 years or older who are vulnerable and are in the care or custody of the SCDSS APS system. SCDSS desires to protect these vulnerable adults by placing them in temporary stabilization beds in Licensed Community Residential Care Facilities (CRCF), Assisted Living Facilities, and/or a Nursing Facilities until long-term appropriate placement and/or services can be secured. The bed must be utilized only by a vulnerable adult in the SCDSS system and will be paid for by SCDSS regardless of if it is filled or not. The vulnerable adult in the temporary stabilization bed may be transferred to a permanent long-term bed in the same facility if the case manager and the facility administrator determine that the placement is appropriate.
