Mortgage Broker in Valley Falls, SC

The day is winding down at Valley Falls Terrace, and many residents are ready for bed.

Some of the nursing home's residents are diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia. Drucilla West, the activities assistant at Valley Falls said many of them get restless in the evenings. They talk about wanting to go home, but this evening 15 residents are expecting visitors, and they enjoy every minute with their four-legged guests.

Four dogs are their guests this evening.

The dogs' tails wag as they enter a dining room at Valley Falls where residents are waiting for their arrival. Smiles come across the residents' faces when the dogs come in. Some residents sit upright in chairs while others are stretched out in lounge chairs. The dogs' owners ask if residents want to pet a dog and lift them into folks' laps or have the dogs sit beside residents so they can be petted.

Jillie, a black Papillon, is dressed in a black shirt trimmed in pink with South Carolina's crescent moon and Palmetto tree symbol. She also sports a pink hat.

"You have her dressed up like a woman," said Bessie Vaughan, a Valley Falls resident, to Jillie's owner, Lori Connorton.

A few minutes later, a dog named Samantha is brought over to Vaughan. She leans forward and pets Samantha while saying, "Hey baby. How are you? Sweet thing you."

West said the visits are beneficial to residents for a few reasons. One is that it helps jog their memories. For example, one man gets a visit from Molly, a beagle mix, and he talks about rabbit hunting and having his pet beagles with him. Others don't get many visitors and they appreciate being in contact with two-legged or four-legged guests.

"When you can laugh and smile for a while you forget about how old you are, your pain and what you've forgotten," West said.

Rottweilers, pit bulls and show dogs have been trained to be therapy dogs.

"A lot of these people feel forgotten or left behind," said Julie Bentley, an animal control officer with the City of Spartanburg and evaluator for Therapy Dog Inc. "Nothing gives unconditional love like these critters."

The dogs visiting Valley Falls are part of the Spartanburg Humane Society's animal assisted therapy program. The program has been going for several years, but the Humane Society is seeking more participants. Fourteen nursing homes are on a Humane Society waiting list to receive therapy dog visits.

"They care about the people so much and love this as an option," said Natalie DiGiacomo, vice president of community programs for the Humane Society. "They believe (dogs) draw the people out when they might not have been engaged."

Bentley volunteers her time and studies the dogs before deciding if they're ready to make therapy visits. The dogs' temperament is monitored and a mock nursing home is set up at the Humane Society with walkers, wheelchairs, and dogs receive heavier petting than usual, like they could experience in a nursing home.

Dogs must make three on-site visits to a nursing home before being certified a therapy dog. Bentley offers tips after each visit to help the dogs and their handlers and answer the handlers' questions. It usually takes six to eight weeks for a dog to become certified.

Handlers also must be certified. They undergo background checks and are observed during the visits, too.

"It's not only about the dog, but the handler," said Amy Freeman, volunteer coordinator with the Humane Society. "As a person you have to be warm and inviting to the resident. It's skills on both ends."

Many of the dogs going through the program are rescue dogs. Repo is a popular therapy dog. He's owned by Dale Gilbert, a Humane Society employee. Repo is a mixed breed and he really seems to like the visits. His tail wags before entering Valley Falls, and he's the first dog to move toward the door when he notices handlers preparing to make the walk.

Repo not only makes himself available to be petted by the residents, but he performs tricks, too. He catches treats in his mouth, stands on his hind legs, rolls over and entertains the residents while searching for a treat. A girl places three plastic cups on the floor, and one of them has food under it. Repo's eyes are covered while the cups are placed on the floor, and he has to determine which cup has the food.

Therapy dog visits aren't only good for a facility's residents. They make everyone happy.

"The dogs make the residents happy, the owners are proud of their dogs, and the staff is happy for their patients," DiGiacomo said.

Kara Adkins, Molly's owner, agrees.

"I feel really good, and I'm proud of Molly," said Kara Adkins, Molly's owner. "I used to work in a hospital and enjoy getting out to the elderly population."

Some of the handlers hope the favor could be returned one day.

"You feel like you've made a difference in people's lives," Connorton said. "I hope if I'm older and in this situation, people will bring their dogs."

Many road and bridge projects are planned this year in Spartanburg County by state and county transportation departments.

Spartanburg County projects

Funded projects on county-maintained roads this year include:

? Intersection improvements at 4th Street/Hanging Rock and Valley Falls roads in Boiling Springs; Lightwood Knott and South Hammett Roads at Reidville Road; Willis Road at U.S. 29; and the installation of a traffic signal on S.C. 290 at Draexlmaier in Duncan.

Also, the county will continue to resurface roads, replace and repair bridges and large culverts on county-owned roads.

More:Spartanburg County roads see greater need than road projects planned

Projects planned on county-maintained bridges and culvert replacements include:

? Calvary Road Bridge, Miller Town Road Bridge, Gate Road Bridge, Rabbit Moffit Road Bridge, Reidville Sharon Road Bridge, Beardon Road Bridge, Waspnest Road Bridge, Frey Road Bridge, and Settles Road Bridge.

More:A look at some of the key Spartanburg County, state road improvements planned for 2021

Spartanburg County Public Works Director Travis Brown said county road projects such as improvements in Boiling Springs near Highway 9 are often done in tandem with state Transportation Department projects.

Other local projects

At the recent Spartanburg County Transportation Committee, comprised of state lawmakers who represent all or parts of Spartanburg County, these new projects were approved:

? Highway 14 East paving; widening of Robinson Road from Fulmer Drive to Highway 290; paving of Sloan Road/Mill Gin Road, from Jordan Road to Mt. Lebanon Road; paving of Shiloh Church Road, from Highway 358 to Wasp Nest Road; paving of Westmoreland Road in Greer; paving of East Church and Savannah streets, Tumbler Rock Road and Pebble Court in Cowpens; Edwards Lane in Duncan.

Also, Woods Chapel and Victor Hill Road intersection project; and curb, gutter and storm drainage improvements to Preston Street in Spartanburg.

South Carolina DOT projects

S.C. Department of Transportation projects planned in Spartanburg County this year include:

? Lyman Traffic Triangle, $6.5 million. Construction is expected to start this fall. Improvements to main intersection areas in the town of Lyman: U.S. 29 at Pine Ridge Road; S.C. 358/Holly Springs Road at Pine Ridge Road; S.C. 129 at Holly Springs Road and U.S 29. at S.C. 292. Nearby in Lyman, left turn lanes on U.S. 29 at Pine Ridge Road will be lengthened and left turn lanes added on Pine Ridge Road.

? Chesnee Highway and Old Post Road intersection. A traffic light will be installed, and a right turn lane added on eastbound Chesnee Highway, as well as left turn lanes on all four legs of the intersection.

? Old Post Road and Hyatt Street intersection. A traffic light will be installed and the intersection will be reconfigured to allow for through traffic to and from Interstate 85 along Hyatt Street, construction of a right turn lane on eastbound Old Post Road, and a left turn lane added on northbound Hyatt Street.

? Farmington Road will be extended a short distance to align with Old Post Road after the Old Post Road/Hyatt Street intersection is modified. The project is needed due to anticipated growth in the Gaffney area and the corridor’s proximity to both I-85 and the Gaffney Premium Outlets.

? Country Club Road corridor. The existing corridor is primarily a two-lane roadway that connects the City of Spartanburg at Union Street and South Pine Street to Glendale. The $6 million project is near the trailhead of the Mary Black Rail Trail and trails near Glendale Shoals and is expected to start this spring. The road will be widened, drainage improved and safety upgrades at key intersections for a multi-use pathway.

? A roundabout at S.C. 11 and Paris Bridge Road.

Planned paving and widening projects included in DOT's 10-year plan in Spartanburg County include:

? Holly Springs Road (SC 358), 3.3 miles; Bryant Road, 1.15 miles; Southgate Drive; 0.35 miles; Brice Road, 1 mile; Old Georgia Road, 2.65 miles; Lawson Road, 1.68 miles; Freeman Farm Road, 0.33 miles; Walnut Grove Road, 1.69 miles; Greenpond Road, 3.5 miles; S.C. Highway 101, 11.3 miles; S.C. 14 (East Rutherford Street), 1.45 miles; S.C. Highway 14 East, 0.54 miles; S.C. Highway 417, 2.3 miles.

? Also, Waddell Road, 1.83 miles; Fairfield Road, 0.9 miles; Fairfield Street, 0.51 miles; West Georgia Road, 2.69 miles; West Georgia Street, 0.89 miles; S.C. 292 (Inman Road), 2.59 miles; S.C. 292 (Lyman Road), 2.61 miles; South Pine Street, 0.52 miles; U.S. Highway 176 Bypass, 2.93 miles; S.C. Highway 14 West, 3.7 miles; S.C. Highway 14 (West Rutherford Street), 0.86 miles; S.C. Highway 56, 22.73 miles.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers from Spartanburg County are allocated state funds to designate for road projects in their districts.

Is there a road or project in Spartanburg County you want us to check on? Email Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com.

WASHINGTON -- Federally funded nursing homes in Spartanburg averaged fewer health and safety violations than state and national averages, recent health inspections reveal.

According to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Spartanburg's nursing homes reported an average of 4.5 violations in the annual inspections. The state average is six and the national average is seven.

The number of violations in South Carolina nursing homes ranged from zero in several homes, to 33 at Ebenezer Senior Services in Rock Hill.

There are more than 150 regulatory standards that federally funded nursing homes must comply with at all times, but some homes consistently fail to meet them.

In recent years, complaints of resident abuse and neglect

have risen significantly. In response, lawmakers and advocacy groups nationwide are calling for higher standards and improved monitoring of the country's 17,000 nursing homes.

On Thursday, U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, in collaboration with the General Accounting Office, unveiled a report card on the status of the nation's nursing home facilities. The report, "Nursing home care revisited: The good, the bad and the ugly," maintains that some strides have been made during the past few years to boost the level of performance, but many nursing homes are still slipping through the cracks.

Five nursing homes in Spartanburg were inspected: White Oak Estates, Magnolia Place, Mountainview Nursing Home, Valley Falls Terrace and Magnolia Manor. White Oak Manor was omitted because its most recent inspection report was unavailable.

State inspectors visited the nursing homes between Jan. 16 and Feb. 19, in accordance with state mandates requiring annual inspection.

White Oak Estates, inspected Jan. 16, was the only Medicaid-funded nursing home in the city that was not cited for any health deficiencies.

"We pay a lot of attention to customer service and trying to meet the needs of our customers," said Gary Catlett, the administrator of White Oak Estates.

Magnolia Place was cited Jan. 22 for nine health deficiencies, including failing to provide adequate care and treatment to residents with bladder problems, administering residents the wrong dose of medication and failing to curb the spread of infections between residents. A representative for Magnolia Place did not return phone calls requesting report information.

Mountainview Nursing Home was cited twice on Jan. 22 for improperly caring for residents with incontinence and mislabeling medication.

Administrator Wilson Dillard said one violation was an isolated incident involving a staff member who incorrectly conducted a dialysis-like procedure. The other violation was failing to label an open medicine bottle, he said.

Dillard said he has boosted staff training sessions and monitoring procedures since the inspection.

"(The violations) were relatively minor," Dillard said. "That's OK, because we need to do better. We don't need to make those types of mistakes."

Valley Falls Terrace was cited Jan. 28 for five violations, among them failing to report cases of suspected abuse or neglect, not providing residents with nutritious meals and inadequately maintaining accurate medical records. An administrator for the home declined to comment.

Magnolia Manor was cited Feb. 19 for six health deficiencies, including failing to report suspected cases of abuse or mistreatment and improperly storing and distributing food.

The state requires all nursing homes to report any suspected cases of abuse within 48 hours. If staffers find a bruise on a resident or any other signs of abuse, they must contact the state immediately.

According to Robert Hilsen, Magnolia Manor administrator, the home failed to report a bruised resident within the appropriate time frame. The state investigated the case and did not find Magnolia Manor negligent.

Still, Hilsen said his staff has implemented measures to improve the overall quality of resident care.

"We made sure the side rails on the beds were insulated to prevent (residents) from being injured," Hilsen said. "We provided (training) to the staff on how to transfer a resident safely. I feel very confident if the state or any federal agency would come in on those same six violations, they would see that they would not be there."

These inspection results only give a glimpse into nursing home performance, said Arthur Starnes, director of the state's certification bureau. The reports do not account for complaints filed after the inspection date or investigations currently under way. That information does not fall under the federal Freedom of Information Act and remains confidential.

A more accurate indicator of performance, Starnes said, is the timeframe within which nursing homes correct their violations.

"Even though the deficient practice is there, we also look at the response of the facility to correct those problems," Starnes said. "Is the facility willing to work with you to get the practice corrected?"

On average it took the Spartanburg nursing homes less than a month to correct their health violations, reports show.

Nursing homes that consistently perform poorly on state inspections are fined or denied payment from Medicare, Starnes said. CMS may also refuse to provide the facility with newly trained nurses aides until the problems are corrected.

None of the Spartanburg nursing homes has been fined within the past three years.

The federal government may also revoke a delinquent nursing home's license, shutting it down. Last year, CMS dismissed 12 nursing homes from its program.

The CMS, which has oversight of federally funded nursing homes, launched a four-tiered program last year aimed at improving the quality of the nation's nursing care facilities.

But an on-going problem for many nursing homes that may complicate reform is a rampant staffing shortage, according to Deborah Mitchell, communications director for the National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform.

"Nine out of 10 homes are dangerously understaffed," Mitchell said, adding that every nursing home resident needs at least 4.13 hours of daily care from a certified nursing assistant. "If a resident doesn't get that, you might as well wheel them out into the street."

The average time CNA's spend with residents nationwide is about 2.4 hours a day, according to CMS. In South Carolina, CNA care time was 2.5 hours.

None of the Spartanburg, Cherokee or Union county facilities meet the NCCNHR recommendation or even come close. In fact, some administrators said they don't get enough funding from Medicare to hire additional nursing assistants.

"I'd certainly like to have more staff, but the money has to be there to do that," Hilsen said. "With 70 some odd percent (of facility funding from) Medicaid, that's very hard to do.

"It's a very competitive market in recruiting and retaining registered nursing and nursing assistants," Dillard said.

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. – Cherokee Valley, a family and community-focused club north of award-winning Greenville that is just a half-hour away from Hendersonville, has been named one of Discover South Carolina’s “Can’t Miss Upstate Golf Courses.”

The popular state tourism website, published by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, cited Cherokee Valley’s “thoughtfully sculpted and masterfully designed” P.B. Dye-designed layout, as well as its “top-notch golf with stunning mountain vistas.”

“There are so many outstanding golf facilities in this region, and we’re honored to be recognized by such a trusted and respected source as the SCPRT and Discover South Carolina,” said Cherokee Valley owner and director of operations Matt Jennings. “With so many exciting things coming up this fall and next year, we feel like we’re just getting going.”

Cherokee Valley was one of six courses highlighted for their design pedigree, playability and representation of Upstate South Carolina’s diverse topography. The other venues are The Preserve at Verdae (Greenville), Woodfin Ridge (Inman), River Falls (Duncan), Village Greens (Gramling) and The Rock (Pickens).

Earlier this year, the course’s par-3 8th hole was named one of the “Best Par-3 Holes in South Carolina” by Discover South Carolina. It highlighted the hole’s stunning Blue Ridge mountain views, 70-foot drop from tee to greens and massive putting surface.

Ideally located 30 minutes north of award-winning downtown Greenville and 45 minutes from the craft beer capital of Asheville, Cherokee Valley is the perfect basecamp for exploring the beauty and adventure of the Upcountry. Onsite cottages are available for multi-day stay-and-plays, and the club recently announced additional golf packages with Greenville’s only AAA Four-Diamond hotel, the Westin Poinsett.

This fall, Cherokee Valley will open its full-service restaurant, Core 450, featuring a contemporary, engaging and casual theme with a diverse menu ranging from small plates and pizza to chef-driven, five course meals. The culinary program is led by executive chef Todd Warden, who studied under James Beard award-winning chef Bob Kinkead.

Core 450 sits atop Cherokee Valley’s new golf shop, which will feature a wide selection of golf apparel, a curated collection of golf equipment, craft beer cooler and flat screen TVs. Golfers can check in, grab refreshments and choose from one of the club’s new GPS and Bluetooth speaker equipped golf carts or Finn Cycles (battery-powered scooters) for their round.

To learn more about memberships, golf packages and other programs and amenities, visit www.cherokeevalleyclub.com, or contact associate director of operations Lauren Landreth at llandreth@cherokeevalleyclub.com or (864) 895-6758, extension 2.

North Carolina is home to a number of roadside waterfalls that you can practically see from the highway. Two of them, Dry Falls and Looking Glass Falls are excellent, well-traveled examples. But not many people know that between Cherokee and Maggie Valley North Carolina, there’s a gorgeous pair of waterfalls just off the highway that merge in a beautiful forested setting. Soco Falls is worth seeking out and here’s what you need to know:

This Easy, 0.3-Mile Trail Leads To Pearson's Falls, One Of North Carolina's Most Underrated Waterfalls

Make a waterfall-chasing day of it when you visit Soco Falls and also hike the stairway to (seemingly) nowhere when you visit the nearby Mingo Falls! Have you been to Maggie Valley North Carolina? Share your favorite places with a comment. There’s another waterfall hike in North Carolina that you’re sure to adore too. Of course, for finding the best hiking trails in the area check out the many extra features you get with AllTrails+.

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Tori Jane | July 30, 2022

What are some of the best hiking trails with waterfalls in North Carolina?

Some of the best hiking trails with waterfalls in North Carolina include:

North Carolina is a hiker’s dream come true, especially if those hikers have an affinity for waterfalls. As it turns out, there are some truly wonderful hiking trails with waterfalls in North Carolina, and we have too many favorites to mention, though a few do tend to stick out above the rest in terms of awesomeness. Among our favorite picks for the best waterfall hikes in North Carolina are stunning crown jewels like the hike to Lower Cascade Falls at Hanging Rock State Park. You access it via the short and sweet Lower Cascades Trail, and it’s astonishing up close. Another preferred waterfall trail in North Carolina is the Crabtree Falls Loop Trail, which you’ll find leads you to Crabtree Falls, one of our favorite waterfalls in North Carolina.

Where is Soco Falls in North Carolina?

Soco Falls in North Carolina is a stunning natural wonder, unlike any other. It isn’t just a single waterfall there to take your breath away – it's a double waterfall! These splendid cascades can be located in Maggie Valley, between the valley and the Cherokee Indiana Reservation. You’ll find a short trail – just about a half-mile long – that leads you from the parking area to the falls. They are a sight and a half to behold if you ask us!

What are some of the best easy hikes in North Carolina?

Some of the best easy hikes in North Carolina include:

With so many amazing natural wonders in North Carolina, we’re blessed with tons of hiking trails to explore them all, many of which are on the easier side. So, which easy hikes in North Carolina are the best ones to start with? We happen to have a few favorites! If you’re a fan of scenic views, embark upon the Jomeokee Trail on Pilot Mountain. It’s not even very long, coming in at just under one mile in length, but the views are worth it! We also love the hike up the Cloudland Trail on Roan Mountain – it's also got to-die-for views! There is no better way to enjoy those amazing views than by taking a weekend getaway in a cozy luxury cabin in Banner Elk, NC.

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