Page 31 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
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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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Overview of Sea Cliff Assisted Living

Sea Cliff Assisted Living offers assisted living, nursing home, skilled nursing, and respite care in Huntington Beach, CA. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication, while nursing home and skilled nursing provide licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Respite care is available for a short stay when a resident’s usual caregiver needs to travel or recover, making the combination of care types potentially suitable for someone whose needs change over time or for a family needing temporary support.

The community has 84 beds, with housing offered in suites. Taylor Clark serves as administrator, and Sandpiper Senior Living operates the community. A Walk Score of 80 means the area is very walkable, with most errands possible on foot, so a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently. Pets are allowed, so residents may bring a pet with them.

Contact Sea Cliff Assisted Living

Overview of Brookdale Roseville

Brookdale Roseville, which is located at 1 Somer Ridge Drive in Roseville, California, offers exceptional memory care services for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. The community provides a safe and nurturing environment where residents can thrive and enjoy life to the fullest. One of the key features of Brookdale Roseville is its carefully designed building, which includes visual reminders and familiar routines to help residents experience daily moments of success.

Brookdale Roseville offers a wide variety of amenities, including an emergency alert system, a beauty/barber shop, a courtyard and garden, and a game room. Residents can also participate in a wide range of activities, such as happy hours, crafts classes, exercise classes, and outdoor activities like gardening. They serve three home-style meals daily, along with snacks, in a routine and familiar manner to alleviate confusion and stress. Brookdale Roseville is the ideal choice for seniors who want a memory care community that prioritizes their well-being.

Contact Brookdale Roseville

Overview of Villa Gardens Health Center

Villa Gardens Health Center is a nursing home in Pasadena, California, offering nursing care and skilled nursing. Licensed nursing care is available on site around the clock, making the home a possible fit for someone who needs that level of ongoing support.

The home has 340 beds, so residents share the setting with more people and staff than they would in a smaller community, with more programming as well. Shaun Rushforth serves as administrator, and Front Porch Communities And Services operates the community.

Contact Villa Gardens Health Center

Overview of Diamond Terraces

Diamond Terraces provides nursing home, assisted living, residential care, and skilled nursing in Hanford, CA. Assisted living and residential care include personal care support for daily routines, while skilled nursing and nursing home care provide licensed nursing care on site around the clock.

With 38 beds, Diamond Terraces may be a good fit for someone who prefers a smaller community, where staff and residents can get to know each other. The community opened in 1996.

Short-term stays are available for temporary care needs, along with rehabilitation services for recovery-related care. Residents can take part in music, games, arts and crafts, and exercise classes, creating scheduled ways to participate in activities.

Vegetarian meals are available, and transportation is provided. An 81 / 100 Walk Score means the area is very walkable, with most errands possible on foot. Robert Norman serves as administrator, and Rcan operates the community.

Contact Diamond Terraces

Overview of Bethany Home Senior Living

Bethany Home Senior Living offers nursing home, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care in Livermore, California. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks, while memory care provides supervision in a secured setting for someone at risk of wandering. Skilled nursing care has licensed nursing on site around the clock, and the combination of care levels can suit a resident whose needs may grow over time.

Opened in 1920, Bethany Home Senior Living has 58 beds, placing it in the smaller community range where residents and staff can get to know one another. Private rooms are available for every resident, so each person has a room rather than shared accommodation. Rachell Paniagua serves as administrator, and Bethany Homes Senior Living operates the community.

A Walk Score of 98 makes the area a walker’s paradise, so daily errands do not require a car and a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently. Transportation is available for trips beyond walking distance, and the beauty and barber shop on site supports personal grooming without leaving the community. Rehabilitation services are available, along with Wednesday worship services and on site chaplain services.

Contact Bethany Home Senior Living, LLC

Overview of Southland Living

Southland Living is a nursing home in Norwalk, California, offering assisted living, memory care, respite care, and skilled nursing. Assisted living supports daily tasks while a resident remains in their own living space, while memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Respite care and short term rehabilitation offer temporary stays for a family caregiver who needs time away or for a resident recovering after an illness or hospital stay.

With 75 beds, Southland Living has a defined community size without the profile of a very small residence. Several care levels are available, which can suit a resident whose needs may grow over time without requiring a move to a different community. Victoria Tran serves as the administrator. The range of care may make this a good fit for someone who could need assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing as circumstances change.

A beauty and barber salon gives residents access to grooming services on site, while patios and gardens provide outdoor space. In house therapy supports rehabilitation without arranging transportation elsewhere, and transportation to appointments helps residents attend scheduled medical visits. A Walk Score of 74 means the area is very walkable, with most errands possible on foot, so a resident who no longer drives may still reach nearby destinations independently. Medicare is accepted for eligible short term skilled care after a hospital stay, not for long term residence.

Contact Southland Living

Overview of Sunny Beach Villa

Sunny Beach Villa is small by design: six beds, a single-story building, tucked into Sacramento’s New Broadmoor Estates neighborhood. It’s been open 16 years. Right now, two of those six beds are filled, putting occupancy at 33%, well below capacity. Getting around the neighborhood is easy. The Walk Score here is 76, very walkable, genuinely uncommon for a facility this size.

The care model spans four categories under one roof: memory care, assisted living, independent living, and nursing home services. Day-to-day, that means round-the-clock help with daily living tasks, medication reminders, and support with routine household responsibilities. Transportation and walking assistance are available for residents who need them, and meals are prepared with individual dietary needs in mind. Units come in a single housing type, one-bedroom, and pets are welcome.

On the regulatory side, inspections here have tended to center on four recurring areas: medication management, fire-safety systems, environmental and hazardous-materials safety, and fall and injury prevention. These are the kinds of categories regulators watch across facilities of this type generally.

Sunny Beach Villa is a small, low-occupancy community offering an unusually broad span of care types for its size, from memory care through nursing-home-level services, in a genuinely walkable Sacramento neighborhood. For families drawn to a smaller, more intimate setting over a larger campus, that combination of scale and range is the defining feature here.

Contact Sunny Beach Villa

Overview of Atherton Baptist Homes

Atherton Baptist Homes provides independent living, assisted living, nursing home care, and skilled nursing in Alhambra, CA. Independent living means private living with community services and no daily care, while assisted living helps with bathing, dressing, and medication while the resident maintains an apartment. Skilled nursing and nursing home care provide licensed nursing care on site around the clock.

The community has 518 beds, placing it among larger communities with more residents, staff, and usually more programming. Offering several care levels in one community can suit a resident whose needs grow over time, since moving to a different level of care may not require leaving the community. Atherton Baptist Homes opened in 1914 and is rooted in Christian values.

A Walk Score of 77 means the area is very walkable, with most errands possible on foot. A resident who no longer drives can still reach nearby shops, pharmacies, or cafes independently. Joelle E. Medina serves as the administrator.

Contact Atherton Baptist Homes

Overview of Rossmoor Post Acute

Rossmoor Post Acute is a highly rated nursing home in Walnut Creek, CA, offering a wide range of care options, including long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, and respite care. Promoting a compassionate and supportive environment, the community ensures older adults are well-cared for. Residents also receive excellent services, including 24-hour care, social services, and transportation, to live comfortably in retirement. Through individualized care plans, residents receive the best possible care for their needs and habits.

Games, field trips, and special events provide residents with more opportunities to explore and have fun. Residents’ comfort and wellness are also prioritized, especially with its spacious living areas and state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment. Situated near Old Oak Park, Rossmoor Shopping Center, and public transportation in Walnut Creek, the community guarantees accessibility and convenience. This nursing home has high standards of care and top-tier amenities, making it one of the best choices for senior living in California.

Contact Rossmoor Post Acute

Overview of Garnsey Garden

Settled with a residential neighborhood in Bakersfield, CA, Garnsey Garden is a blissful senior living community that offers a safe and secure environment for residents who live with Alzheimer’s and other forms of memory loss. Residents here are provided with compassionate memory care services to help them maintain their current cognitive skills and keep on living the lifestyle they want for as long as possible. The community designed their accommodations to cater to its residents’ unique safety and care needs, allowing them to safely and confidently enjoy their retirement years.

Apart from extensive support with daily living activities, residents are also offered a vibrant schedule of daily activities to keep them engaged and stimulated. Meals are prepared with utmost care and attention to detail to ensure residents are getting the proper nutrition. Featuring security gates, monitored alarm system, and locked perimeters, the community warrants a safe living environment where residents can freely enjoy their surroundings and golden years.

Contact Garnsey Garden

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 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