Page 28 of Best Nursing Homes in California

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 347 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.
347 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: 60.8% 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 #231 / 319
--
3.96
Facility 3.96
CA AVG 4.31
Rank #145 / 280
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ -14%-8%
$38.4k
Facility $38.4k
CA AVG $60.5k
Rank #236 / 284
91
Facility 91
CA AVG 49.9
Rank #260 / 281
4.3
Facility 4.3
CA AVG 4.7
Rank #146 / 281
3114-
86
Facility 86
CA AVG 60
Rank #50 / 344
Southland Management LLC
$23.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $23.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CA AVG $15.9M
Rank #44 / 251
$11.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $11.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
CA AVG $9.0M
Rank #51 / 251
51.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 51.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
CA AVG 60.8%
Rank #148 / 251
555070
Twilight Haven-
NH
AL
SNF
Fresno
166
Facility 166
CA AVG 148
Rank #76 / 319
--------------
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 60
Rank #340 / 344
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 347 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 offers nursing home care, assisted living, independent living, and memory care in Clovis, CA. Nursing home care provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock, while assisted living supports daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication. Independent living provides private living without daily care, and memory care offers a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering.

Having several care levels in one community may suit a resident whose needs could grow over time. With six beds, the home is a small community where staff and residents can get to know one another. Private rooms give each resident a single private space, and pets are allowed.

Programs include dementia and memory care, Alzheimer’s assisted living, Parkinson’s care, and a full schedule of activities, giving residents services and structured engagement related to these needs. The community opened in 2012 and is located in the Loma Vista neighborhood of Clovis. Colin Murchison serves as the administrator, and Emosewa operates the community.

Contact A Place Called Home – Quail Lake

Overview of Freedom Village Retirement Community

Freedom Village Retirement Community in Lake Forest, CA, offers nursing home, assisted living, continuing care retirement community, independent living, respite care, and skilled nursing. Assisted living includes help with dressing, bathing, and medication while the resident keeps an apartment. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care.

Nursing home and skilled nursing care include licensed nursing on site around the clock. Respite care offers a short stay when a resident’s usual caregiver needs to travel or recover. The range of care levels may suit someone whose needs grow over time, since the resident can move between levels without leaving the community.

With 533 beds, Freedom Village is a large community with more residents, staff, and programming. Housing includes one-bedroom and two-bedroom residences, with the larger option suiting a couple moving together or someone who wants a companion. Pets are allowed, so a resident can keep a pet at the community. A Walk Score of 61 means the area is somewhat walkable, with some errands possible on foot, giving a resident who no longer drives some ability to get out independently. Hrag H Bekerian is the administrator, and the community is operated by Murphy, N., Sheam, G., Kubicka, C., Kubicka, L., Fpw.

Contact Freedom Village Retirement Community

A Dream Villa

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

A Dream Villa offers nursing home, assisted living, residential care, respite care, and skilled nursing in Sherwood Forest, CA. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and taking medications, while skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock.

Nursing home care provides a residential setting for people who need ongoing nursing support. With six beds and private rooms, each resident has a single private space, and the small setting may suit someone who prefers a more intimate community.

Respite care provides short stays for a family caregiver who needs temporary coverage while traveling or recovering. A resident who no longer drives would need transportation for most errands because the area’s Walk Score of 38 places it in a car-dependent setting. Azniv Ter-Arsenyan serves as the administrator.

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.

Starting Price $3,910/Month

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

Silverado Encinitas Memory Care Community provides memory care, respite care, and skilled nursing in a nursing home setting in Encinitas, CA. Memory care offers a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering, while skilled nursing includes licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Respite care provides a short stay when a family’s usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

The community has 122 beds and is 64% occupied, so it is not at full capacity. Private rooms give each resident a single private space, and pets are allowed, meaning a resident may keep a pet in the community. Silverado Encinitas Memory Care Community may be a good fit for someone who needs a secured, supervised setting or for a family needing short term support while a usual caregiver travels or recovers. A Walk Score of 38 places the area in a car dependent band: most errands require a car or a ride, so a resident who no longer drives would need transportation for routine trips. Sabrina Pegross serves as the administrator, and the community is operated by Silverado Encinitas and Silverado Sr Lvng Mgmt.

Contact Silverado Encinitas Memory Care Community

Overview of Brethren Hillcrest Homes

Six care types are listed at Brethren Hillcrest Homes in La Verna, CA. They are independent living, residential care, assisted living, memory care, nursing home care, and skilled nursing.

Independent living leaves the day alone. Assisted living is the step where bathing, dressing, and medication stop being a resident’s own job. Dementia that carries a wandering risk is what the memory care level answers, secured and supervised. At the skilled nursing level, a licensed nurse is on duty every hour.

A change in need is addressed inside the building, since the next level up is already there rather than at a second address. The community scores 86 on Walk Score, which is very walkable. Pets are allowed, and transportation runs for residents. Dining offers a Café, casual fare, and carry-out.

The license here covers 574 beds, which puts the community at the large-scale end, with the wide range of amenities and programs that go with the size. Therapy for a temporary recovery stay comes under rehabilitation services and short-term rehab. Keith Kasin is named as the administrator.

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.
How we're paid: If we help you find a home and you move in, that home may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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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 347 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: 3.2/ 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: 3.3/ 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