What is the difference between a nursing home and an assisted living facility under South Carolina law?

Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24-hour medical care by licensed nurses and are heavily regulated by both federal and state agencies. Assisted living facilities, licensed in South Carolina as Community Residential Care Facilities (CRCFs), provide help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication management but are not required to have licensed nursing staff on duty at all times. Despite the differences in regulation, both types of facilities owe a duty of care to their residents, and both can be held liable when that duty is breached.