LOWER CAPE FEAR LIFECARE
Provider Information
- Address
- 350 HILTON RD SUITE 301
MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29572 - Ownership Type
- Non-Profit
- Medicare Certified Since
- October 23, 1987
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CMS Quality Ratings
Composite score combining quality measures and patient survey results.
Based on the CMS Hospice Care Index — 10 operational quality indicators including visits near death, nursing minutes, and care transitions.
CAHPS Hospice Survey — family caregivers rate communication, symptom management, respect, and overall experience.
CMS scores as of August 2026. Quality of Care derived from CMS Hospice Care Index. Patient Satisfaction from the CMS CAHPS Hospice Survey. Overall is the equally-weighted average of both. All source data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Staffing & Capacity
| Role | Staff Count |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses (RN) | 5 |
| Physicians | 0 |
| Volunteers | 0 |
11
Total Employees
Staffing data as reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Inpatient Care and Medical Equipment
Hospices report these services to Medicare when they are certified. This is what LOWER CAPE FEAR LIFECARE reported, not a check of what it offers today. Confirm current arrangements with the hospice.
- Short-term inpatient care
- Provided directly by this hospice
- Type of inpatient care
- General inpatient care (for pain or symptoms that cannot be managed elsewhere)
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Brought in through an outside supplier
Short stays in a hospice inpatient unit, hospital, or nursing home for pain or symptoms that cannot be managed where the patient lives, or to give family caregivers a break.
Equipment and supplies tied to the terminal illness and the plan of care, such as a hospital bed, oxygen, wound supplies, or a wheelchair.
Medicare lets hospices provide these services through arrangements with other organizations. Either way, the hospice stays responsible for the covered care in the patient’s plan of care.
Reported by this hospice to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services when it was certified in 2021.
Care Details from Medicare Data
Medicare computes these numbers from claims and required reporting. They show how LOWER CAPE FEAR LIFECARE compares to hospices nationwide.
18.3 minutes
of nurse care per routine home care day, on average
That is the 91st percentile among hospices nationally. The national median is about 12 minutes.
48
patients in care on an average day
A rough measure of size. Smaller can mean more personal. Larger can mean more resources.
How this hospice compares nationally
Bars show national standing on measures from the CMS Hospice Care Index. A fuller bar means this hospice does better than more of the hospices CMS tracks.
- Nurse care minutes per home care day18.3 min
Ranks better than about 91% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The average minutes of nursing care per day for patients getting routine care at home, based on Medicare claims. More nurse time usually means more hands-on support.
- Skilled nursing on weekends9%
Ranks better than about 62% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of skilled nursing time delivered on Saturdays and Sundays. Symptoms do not wait for weekdays, so weekend coverage matters.
- Nurse visits in the last days of life97.4%
Ranks better than about 82% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who got nurse visits in their final days of life. This is when families tend to need the most support.
- Gaps in nursing visits40%
Ranks better than about 67% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
How often patients went more than a week without a nursing visit. Fewer gaps mean steadier attention.
- Patients discharged alive early in care4.8%
Ranks better than about 61% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice alive within the first week of care. A rate of 0% means it did not happen to any of their patients.
- Patients discharged alive after 6 months28.6%
Ranks better than about 72% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients discharged alive after six months or more in hospice care.
- Hospital transfers near the end of care0%
Ranks better than about 81% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice, spent time in the hospital, then came back to hospice.
- Hospital stays that interrupt hospice0%
Ranks better than about 55% of hospices nationally on this measure.
What this measures
The share of patients who left hospice, went to the hospital, and died there soon after.
- Days at higher levels of care (CHC or GIP)83rd percentile
What this measures
The share of care days delivered at higher levels, such as continuous home care or inpatient care. Shown only as a national rank because small percentages round to zero.
- Medicare spending per patient$12,093 · 19th percentile
What this measures
What Medicare paid per patient for this hospice's care. Higher or lower spending is not a quality judgment by itself.
Care steps completed at admissionShow detailsMedicare tracked 9 required care steps for new patients here, completed for 79.7% of patients or more. Most hospices score above 90 percent.
- Pain screening100%
- Pain assessment97.3%
- Breathing difficulty screening100%
- Breathing difficulty treatment100%
- Treatment preferences discussed100%
- Beliefs and values discussed100%
- Bowel care for patients on opioids100%
- Visits in the last days of life79.7%
- All care steps completed98.6%
Conditions of patients in their care
Share of patients by primary diagnosis. Useful if you want a team with experience in a specific condition.
- Cancer27%
- Dementia23%
- Heart and circulatory disease19%
- Lung and respiratory disease11%
- Stroke6%
- Other conditions14%
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Percentiles are computed by CMS across all reporting hospices.
Hospice Care in Myrtle Beach
Lower Cape Fear Lifecare serves families in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from their office on Hilton Road. This provider offers hospice support as a freestanding organization. They have held Medicare certification since 1987. The team also maintains CHAP accreditation, which is a sign of high standards in healthcare operations. This accreditation shows that an outside group reviews their work to ensure they meet strict safety and quality rules. It is a good way to see if a provider keeps their promises to patients. Families in Horry County can look to this provider for end of life care services. They work to meet the needs of people who require comfort and support at home. Choosing the right hospice is a major step. Having this information helps you compare options as you plan for your loved one.
About Lower Cape Fear Lifecare
Lower Cape Fear Lifecare operates as a non-profit organization. This means they put their resources directly back into care programs rather than focusing on profit margins. Their long history of Medicare certification shows they have served the area for decades. Being CHAP accredited matters because it proves they follow national standards for patient care and safety. This group visits the office to check on how the team manages medical records and patient needs. Most hospice teams include doctors, nurses, and aides. This provider lists five registered nurses on their current staff. These nurses are the eyes and ears for the patient every day. They handle pain medicine and teach family members how to help. It is helpful to know who will be in your home. Staffing levels change, but you can always ask how many nurses will be assigned to your specific case during your first talk with them.
Quality Performance
What Is Hospice Care Like in Myrtle Beach?
Hospice care in Myrtle Beach focuses on comfort and quality of life. It is not about curing an illness. Instead, the goal is to manage pain and symptoms so a person can spend time with family. The team visits the patient where they live. That might be a private house or an assisted living center. You get a team that talks to your regular doctor to keep everyone on the same page. Lower Cape Fear Lifecare employs five registered nurses to carry out this work. These nurses help manage complex medical needs at home. They coordinate with the family to ensure comfort remains the top goal. When someone chooses hospice, they start a new chapter of care. The team works hard to keep the person comfortable in their own bed. It is a service built on care and kindness for the whole family during a hard time.
What to Ask When Choosing a Hospice Provider
Finding the right fit takes a few good questions. Start by asking how fast a nurse can get to your home if an emergency happens at night. Ask how they help with pain and other hard symptoms. You should also ask how often the nurse will visit your home each week. It is good to know who will be on call on the weekends too. Ask what happens if the patient needs more care than the home can offer. Some hospices have special units for this. You might also ask how they help family members cope with the stress of caregiving. Do they offer extra support or counseling for the family? Get clear answers before you sign any paperwork. You deserve to feel sure about your choice. Take your time to talk with the staff and see if they listen to your specific needs.
Keep Your Family Stories Safe
Your loved one has a life full of stories that deserve to be remembered. Recording these memories is a beautiful way to honor their history and share it with future generations.
Start Preserving StoriesOther Hospice Providers Nearby
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