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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
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 TableAL (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.
IL (Independent Living):
Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care.
HOS (Hospice Care):
Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community):
A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving.
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.
A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade. It is not a government rating. A dash means we have no inspection data for that facility.
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.
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
American River Center is an award-winning nursing home in Carmichael, CA, offering skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and hemodialysis. Promoting a warm and welcoming environment, the community ensures older adults can feel at ease during their stay. 24-hour care, recreational activities, and therapies are also offered to improve residents’ quality of life. The community also strives to meet residents’ needs and preferences through individualized care plans.
Light exercises, social events, and a variety of recreational activities provide residents with more opportunities to explore and have fun. State-of-the-art rehabilitation gym and cozy gathering areas are also dedicated to residents’ wellness and relaxation. Residents also experience a laid-back retirement, as it is peacefully nestled in the serene residential area of Carmichael. This nursing home is a great choice for senior living in California, as it has exceptional services and well-maintained amenities.
VI at La Jolla Village in San Diego offers assisted living, independent living, memory care, nursing home and skilled nursing care, along with continuing care retirement community living. Assisted living includes help with bathing, dressing, and medication while the resident keeps an apartment. Independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care, 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.
Several care levels are available in one community. As a resident’s needs grow, they may be able to move to a different level without leaving the community. With 783 beds, VI at La Jolla Village is a large community, with more residents, staff, and usually programming than a smaller setting.
Housing includes suites, penthouses, one bedroom residences, and two bedroom residences. The range of layouts can suit someone seeking a single residence or a larger home, including a two bedroom option for a couple moving together. The area has a Walk Score of 88, meaning it is very walkable and most errands can be completed on foot, so a resident who no longer drives can still reach nearby shops, pharmacies, or cafes independently.
Medicare and private pay are accepted, although Medicare covers short term skilled care after a hospital stay rather than long term residence. Total nurse staffing is 5 hours and 30 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily nurse staffing time allocated per resident. Stephanie Boudreau serves as administrator, and the community is operated by Ccw La Jolla, Cc La Jolla, and Classic Res Mgmt. The combination of multiple care levels may be a good fit for a resident whose needs may grow over time.
Between the serene sea and the charm of Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad by the Sea Care Center offers a distinctive care experience, specializing in rehabilitation and skilled nursing services. The center provides 33 accommodations, some featuring captivating ocean views, consistently earning recognition from My InnerView and the National Research Corporation as one of the top 10 percent of skilled nursing centers nationwide. With a dedicated and welcoming staff committed to recuperation and rehabilitation, this San Diego County location ensures residents’ peace of mind.
As an integral part of the award-winning oceanfront Carlsbad By The Sea, this care center prioritizes resident needs, emphasizing personal attention and fostering a genuine sense of family. Round-the-clock professional nursing ensures the well-being of residents, complemented by rehabilitative physical, occupational, and speech therapies for comprehensive medical care. Carlsbad by the Sea Care Center encourages exploration, questions, and personalized guided tours, extending an invitation for individuals, friends, or loved ones. Accepting Medicare A and B along with private payments, the center offers flexible solutions tailored to each individual. The resident-centric approach allows individuals to live on their terms, with gourmet dining choices, complimentary Wi-Fi, and more. A level of care and human connection unfolds best through firsthand experience.
Overview of Bayberry Skilled Nursing & Healthcare Center
Receive exceptional care from Bayberry Skilled Nursing & Healthcare Center, a distinguished community in Concord, CA, that offers a wide range of care options. These include long-term restorative care, short-term rehabilitation, dementia care, respite care, cardiac care, orthopedic care, wound care, stroke recovery care, and therapy. A compassionate and highly trained team strives to meet residents’ unique needs 24/7 for comfort and convenience.
Aside from their healthcare needs, a well-thought-out calendar of engaging activities and exciting events is also conducted so residents can live actively and remain socially engaged. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are provided to improve residents’ living experiences. Here, mealtimes not only meet dietary needs but also promote social interactions with delightful and well-balanced meals that satisfy dietary needs and preferences. The community strives to enhance residents’ conditions, allowing them to jump back into their lives without worries.
Beautifully nestled near William R Mason Regional Park in Irvine, CA, Regents Point is an exceptional life plan community that offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Residents can keep their peace of mind with a compassionate and highly trained team attending to their needs around the clock. The community also helps with housekeeping and chores, so residents can focus on the things they truly enjoy.
Exciting events and enriching programs are conducted, encouraging residents to live actively and make new friends. Delightful and healthy meals are served to satisfy residents’ dietary needs and preferences. With its comprehensive care and extensive amenities, residents experience a better quality of life in their golden years.
Canterbury Woods is a 190 bed community in Pacific Grove, CA, offering independent living, assisted living, nursing home care, and skilled nursing. The range of care levels may suit a resident whose needs could become more intensive over time, because moving among levels may allow the resident to remain in the community, subject to availability and clinical fit. Nursing home and skilled nursing care serve residents who need ongoing nursing or clinical care beyond independent or assisted living, while assisted living provides help with daily personal care tasks and independent living is intended for residents who can manage personal care without routine hands on assistance.
With 190 beds, Canterbury Woods is sized for many residents rather than a small household setting. Its 73% occupancy indicates that the community was below full capacity when measured, but that does not establish availability in the care level a resident needs.
Medicare and private pay are accepted, so payment may involve Medicare coverage for eligible services or direct payment by the resident or family for selected care and related charges. An 81 Walk Score places the area in the very walkable band, meaning most errands can be done on foot and a resident who no longer drives can still get out independently. Total nurse staffing is 6 hours 18 minutes per resident per day, including 1 hour 58 minutes per resident per day from licensed nurses such as RNs and LPNs; these are facility level staffing figures and do not guarantee individual nursing time. Pets are allowed, so residents may be able to keep a pet at the community. Ryan Banner is the administrator, and Front Porch Communities And Services operates Canterbury Woods.
Enjoy a worry-free retirement at St. Paul’s Towers, a dedicated life-plan community in Oaklanc, CA, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing. Featuring beautifully designed and spacious studio to two-bedroom floor plans, the community ensures residents are comfortable and safe. Residents can keep their peace of mind with the community’s weekly housekeeping, linen services, and round-the-clock security.
With a variety of engaging activities and enriching programs, residents are encouraged to live actively and make new friends. Delightful and well-balanced meals are also served in different dining venues to foster comfort and satisfy dietary needs and preferences. The community is equipped with libraries, an art studio, a game room, a hair salon, a community store, and a rooftop garden, creating the ideal setting for residents’ recreation and wellness.
Overview of Harrison Villa of Mt. San Antonio Gardens
Harrison Villa of Mt. San Antonio Gardens offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, nursing home care, and skilled nursing in Pomona, California. Having several care levels in one community may suit someone whose needs increase over time, because moving to another level could be possible without leaving the community, subject to assessment, availability, and community policies. Assisted living supports daily activities, memory care provides supervision for residents with dementia related needs, and nursing home or skilled nursing care addresses more intensive nursing needs.
Rehabilitation services and short term rehabilitation give someone recovering from an illness, injury, hospitalization, or procedure a temporary setting focused on regaining function. Respite care offers a temporary stay when a usual caregiver needs relief or is unavailable. High Acuity Assisted Living may suit residents who need more help or have greater care complexity than standard assisted living, and the community also has a Wellness Center.
Staffing is available around the clock, including overnight. Total nurse staffing is 6 hours and 37 minutes per resident per day, including 2 hours and 28 minutes from licensed nurses; this describes average nursing staff time rather than one nurse being assigned continuously to one resident. Medicare and private pay are accepted. Medicare applies when services meet Medicare eligibility and coverage rules, while private pay allows families to use their own funds.
A Walk Score of 45 is classified as car dependent, so someone who no longer drives will generally need a family member or another ride for most errands. Joyce Frempong is the administrator, and Congregational Homes, Incorporated operates the community. The range of care may be a good fit for someone whose needs could increase over time, particularly when remaining in the same community matters and the needed level has availability.
Enjoy the picturesque scenery of Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA, with the astounding senior living community of VI at Palo Alto offering assisted living, independent living, memory care, and skilled nursing. The community features cozy and purposely built residences in variations of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom floor plans, ensuring relaxation and security at its finest. A kind and highly trained team lends extra hands for seniors to live their golden years doing what they love.
With the seniors’ well-being in mind, the community conducts engaging activities and enjoyable programs to ensure they maintain an active and happy lifestyle. Have an unforgettable dining experience with delectable and healthy meals catering to nutritional needs and preferences. VI at Palo Alto is a safe place for seniors seeking solace in their golden years with its serene spaces and friendly community guiding you every step of the way.
Overview of Gramercy Court Assisted Living and Memory Care
Cherish every moment of your golden years with Gramercy Court Assisted Living & Memory Care, an astounding community set near Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center in Sacramento, CA, offering assisted living and memory care. The community is committed to improving residents’ welfare, providing top-notch care for their special needs around the clock. Residents also enjoy a worry-free retirement, with the community helping with their day-to-day activities and household chores.
Engaging activities and exciting events are conducted to enhance the cognition of those with memory-related needs. Accommodating residents’ nutritional requirements and preferences, delicious and healthy meals are provided for a satisfactory dining experience. Here, residents are prioritized with every service and amenity, ensuring comfort and safety.
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.
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
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.
If you move into a community through us, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never changes your cost or which options we recommend. Learn more
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
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