Page 28 of Best Nursing Homes in California

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 346 nursing homes in CA using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in CA
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We analyzed These are the facilities in California our team has analyzed — not a count of every nursing home provider in California.
346 homes
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Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the CA Dept. of Social Services (CDSS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.

The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break.
Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The California average is: 61.1% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
Southland Living
NH
AL
MC
RC
SNF
Norwalk
75
Facility 75
CA AVG 148
Rank #236 / 328
--
3.96
Facility 3.96
CA AVG 4.22
Rank #151 / 289
-14%-6%
$38.4k
Facility $38.4k
CA AVG $56.5k
Rank #243 / 294
92
Facility 92
CA AVG 50.2
Rank #269 / 290
4.2
Facility 4.2
CA AVG 4.6
Rank #151 / 290
3114-
86
Facility 86
CA AVG 60
Rank #51 / 354
Southland Management LLC
$23.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $23.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CA AVG $15.7M
Rank #44 / 260
$11.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $11.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CA AVG $8.9M
Rank #51 / 260
51.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 51.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
CA AVG 61.1%
Rank #156 / 260
555070
Twilight Haven-
NH
AL
SNF
Fresno
166
Facility 166
CA AVG 148
Rank #79 / 328
--------------
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 60
Rank #350 / 354
Raymond Goertzen$6.3M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.$4.8M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.75.9%*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.55658

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each nursing home is ranked against every other CA nursing home we track that reports that metric, not just the 346 on this page. See how we rank facilities

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Carmel Valley Manor

8545 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
Overview of Carmel Valley Manor

Basking in the scenic views of Carmel, CA, Carmel Valley Manor is an exceptional life-plan community offering independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. As the only life-plan community in Monterey County, Carmel Valley Manor offers a Life Care Contract which includes three levels of healthcare and residence; and a Monthly Fee Agreement that provides housing and necessary medical services. With a 28-acre picture-perfect view of the mountains and nature, Carmel Valley Manor features a spectrum of floor plans ranging from studios to 2-bedroom cottages that can be decorated based on the resident’s preference.

Carmel Valley Manor is an extraordinary community that emphasizes wellness and satisfaction. The culinary team prepares luxurious meals six days a week, with wonderful breakfast gourmet brunch provided on Sundays and Holidays. Amenities include an on-site clinic, fitness center, pool, scenic trail, computer center, craft rooms, and more. In collaboration with Blue Zones Project Monterey County (BZMPC), Carmel Valley Manor promotes a quality, comfortable, and sustainable life for seniors. This community is truly one of a kind and a gift to the seniors of Monterey County.

Contact Carmel Valley Manor

Overview of A Place Called Home – Quail Lake

A Place Called Home – Quail Lake, conveniently situated in 2238 Montana Ave, Clovis, CA, is an esteemed senior living community providing assisted living, dementia and memory care, alzheimer’s assisted living, parkinson’s care services. With a highly equipped and dedicated team, residents can receive round-the-clock care and support that they deserve throughout their stay.

With its above-and-beyond amenities and services, residents can avail of homemade meals, medication management, and general assistance with daily activities. Explore its beautiful gardens, formal dining area, and swimming pool, and meet new companions along the way. With a jam-packed schedule of activities and programs, residents can enjoy opportunities to socialize and build friendships. A Place Called Home – Quail Lake is an ideal place where seniors can truly thrive and enjoy a living experience worth remembering.

Contact A Place Called Home – Quail Lake

Overview of Freedom Village Retirement Community

Experience a better quality of life at Freedom Village Retirement Community, a dedicated life plan community in Lake Forest, CA, offering independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. A kind and highly trained team provides top-notch care tailored to residents’ unique needs around the clock to ensure their comfort and safety. Beautifully furnished and spacious one- and two-bedroom floor plans are provided in a nurturing and welcoming environment, ensuring residents can feel a sense of belonging during their stay.

Here, residents will not feel lonely with a thoughtfully curated calendar of engaging events and enriching programs that highlight their interests and capabilities. Mealtimes foster comfort and satisfy dietary needs with delightful and healthy dining options. The community’s wide range of care and state-of-the-art amenities create the perfect setting for a blissful retirement.

Contact Freedom Village Retirement Community

A Dream Villa

17304 Parthenia St, Sherwood Forest, CA 91325
Overview of A Dream Villa

A Dream Villa Inc. is a passionate residential care community in Sherwood Forest, CA, that offers comprehensive care options. Dedicated to older adults’ welfare, the community promotes a healing environment where they can maintain their independence while receiving exceptional care. Light housekeeping, recreational activities, and personal care are also offered to ensure a maintenance-free living. The community strongly adheres to professional and compassionate care for residents’ welfare.

Light exercises, shopping, and many more leisure activities accompany residents, promoting an active lifestyle and social interactions. With its wide range of services, including non-medical transportation and special diet and meals, residents receive the utmost care for their unique needs. Local amenities and commercial establishments in Sherwood Forest also surround the area, ensuring accessibility and convenience. This residential care community is a good choice for older adults in California seeking high-quality care for a blissful retirement.

Contact A Dream Villa

Overview of Arbor Palms

Arbor Palms is a blissful senior living community residing in the quiet neighborhood of West Ball Road, Anaheim, CA, providing assisted living and memory care. The community goes above and beyond to provide seniors with a comfortable and safe environment. A competent and highly trained team attends to seniors’ needs and aspirations, ensuring they enjoy a worry-free lifestyle.

A full slate of enriching activities and engaging programs accompanies residents as they go about their day. Eat well and feel your best with delicious and healthy meals satisfying nutritional requirements and tastes. Arbor Palms strives to create a safe place for seniors to do the things they love while having a reliable community by their side.

Contact Arbor Palms

Overview of Brookdale Anaheim

Located in Anaheim, California, Brookdale Anaheim is an exceptional senior living community that provides memory care and assisted living. The community ensures round-the-clock care and assistance from a skilled and compassionate team. Brookdale Anaheim offers elegant and spacious apartments, including a studio, alcove, and one-bedroom apartment. With their B-Fit exercise program, residents enjoy a fun social exercise experience curated based on the latest research on senior fitness.

Brookdale Anaheim emphasizes the well-being of its residents, delivering the utmost care and assistance to its residents. Encouraging a warm and welcoming environment, the seniors enjoy activities and programs with other residents. The community offers personalized care plans and serves delicious and healthy meals to satisfy the resident’s dietary needs and preferences. Amenities include a library, a game room, a salon, a community room, a serene garden, and beautifully landscaped grounds.

Contact Brookdale Anaheim

Overview of Brookdale Valley View

Brookdale Valley View, nestled in 5900 Chapman Avenue in Garden Grove, California, extends exceptional assisted living services in a vibrant community setting. With a focus on providing quality care, genuine relationships, and time for residents to enjoy their retirement, Brookdale Valley View is committed to meeting the individual needs of each resident. The community offers personalized assistance with daily tasks such as housekeeping, meals, bathing, dressing, and medication reminders.

Residents can enjoy a variety of amenities, including a fully stocked library, game room, beauty parlor, patio, and courtyard. With three different apartment floor plans to choose from, residents can find the perfect space to call their own, complete with a private balcony or patio and plenty of natural light. Their health and wellness programs are designed to help residents stay fit and active. The B-Fit exercise program offers a fun social exercise experience, while transportation services to doctors’ appointments and fitness classes are also available. Thanks to Brookdale Valley View’s focus on holistic wellness, your loved one can live life to the fullest.

Contact Brookdale Valley View

Overview of Creekview Health Center

Located in Contra Costa County, Pleasanton, CA, Creekview Health Center is a dedicated senior living community that aims to provide the highest level of senior care and comforts for senior living through their wide range of services. Offering assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation, the community warrants a smooth transition should residents’ needs change. Recognized by the U.S News and World Report as Best Short-Term Rehabilitation and Best Long-Term Care, the community guarantees nothing but the finest in senior care and living.

Each day is filled with vibrant activities that match residents interest, passions and energy levels that day. Various assistance, including help with activities of daily living, medication management, weekly housekeeping and personal laundry services, are provided to ensure residents can live comfortably and conveniently. 24/7 security and emergency response guarantees residents are staying in a safe and secure environment with convenient access to response during emergencies.

Contact Creekview Health Center

Overview of Silverado Encinitas Memory Care Community

With its commitment to caring for individuals with dementia, Silverado Encinitas is a venerable memory care community settling in Saxony Road, Encinitas, CA, that provides memory care, respite care, and its world-class brain health program, Nexus. With seniors’ comfort and security in mind, the community features meticulously designed and pet-friendly residences. A team of compassionate and highly skilled dementia care professionals tends to seniors’ special needs and aspirations.

Empowering seniors to thrive and reach their full potential, the community conducts a wide range of nurturing activities and fun social events. Anticipate meal times with balanced menus prepared to cater to seniors’ nutritional needs and preferences. Silverado Encinitas strives to be a haven for seniors to spend retirement with its warm nature and enchanting surroundings.

Contact Silverado Encinitas Memory Care Community

Overview of Brethren Hillcrest Homes

Brethren Hillcrest Homes offers independent living, residential care, assisted living, memory care, nursing home care, and skilled nursing in La Verne, California. Independent living gives residents private living with community services and no daily care, while residential care and assisted living include help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and taking medication; memory care provides a secured setting with supervision, and skilled nursing includes licensed nursing care on site around the clock.

Having several care levels in one community may suit a resident whose needs change over time, since moving to another level does not have to mean leaving the community or starting over socially. With 574 beds, the home is a larger community with more residents, staff, and usually more programming, and Keith Kasin serves as the administrator.

An 86 / 100 Walk Score means the area is very walkable, with most errands possible on foot, so a resident who no longer drives can still reach nearby shops and services independently. A campus shuttle and trolley help residents get around the community, while dining includes private dining, fine dining, casual fare, and carry out; pets are allowed, and rehabilitation services, including short term rehab, are available.

Contact Brethren Hillcrest Homes

Ranking Methodology

How we rank these nursing homes

Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports. Rank badges compare each home against other nursing homes in the same state — never against assisted living, memory care, or independent living communities.

  • CMS data
  • 5 weighted categories
  • Updated quarterly
Full methodology

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Care Quality
  • 20%
    Staffing
  • 20%
    Regulatory
  • 20%
    Operational
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Care Quality 35%

The largest single share of every ranking. CMS star ratings and quality measures that reflect actual care delivered to residents.

  • Includes
  • Overall Rating
  • Health Inspection
  • QM Rating
  • Long-Stay QM
  • Short-Stay QM
02

Staffing Adequacy 20%

The strongest predictor of resident outcomes. Volume and stability of nursing care, drawn from CMS Payroll-Based Journal.

  • Includes
  • Nurse Hrs/Res/Day
  • RN vs State
  • Total Nurse Staff Hrs vs State
  • RN Turnover
03

Regulatory & Safety Record 20%

Inspection patterns that star ratings can mask. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • Citations
  • Citations/Inspection
  • Severe Citations
  • Fines
  • Accreditations
04

Operational & Financial Stability 20%

Stable operations and sound finances are leading indicators of consistent care over time.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy vs State
  • Avg Length of Stay
  • Revenue
  • Payroll %
  • Years in Operation
  • Admin Tenure
05

Environment & Accessibility 5%

Context that matters to families but doesn't directly measure clinical care. Weighted lower for nursing homes than for assisted or independent living.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • BBB Rating
No paid rankings Facilities cannot pay to influence placement.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in California

What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in California?

Assisted living in California is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.

Does California Medicaid cover nursing home care?

Yes — California Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet income, asset, and medical-need eligibility requirements. Most CMS-certified nursing homes accept Medicaid as a primary payer once long-term-care eligibility is established.

What is nursing home care?

Nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses, rehabilitation services, and long-term custodial care for residents with significant health or functional needs.

How many nursing homes are listed on this page?

This page features 346 nursing homes in California. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right nursing home in California?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in California, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting nursing homes in California?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.

Nursing Homes in California at a glance

Avg Overall CMS Rating: 3.1/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in California. Ratings combine health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.2/ 5
Avg Staffing Rating: 3.1/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in California. Reflects nursing staff hours per resident per day (including RNs), adjusted for residents' care needs. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.4/ 5
Avg Health Insp. Rating: 2.8/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in California. Based on each facility's recent inspections and complaint investigations, weighing the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.0/ 5