Worth Considering
8
Facilities graded B or better with zero fines
Best Nursing Homes in San Diego, California
8 of 21 nursing homes in San Diego (38%) meet our strict criteria. The California statewide average is 29%.
8 recommended · 10 caution · 3 avoid · data
City Average
3.8
★
+0.00 vs state
Total Beds
2,358
across 21 facilities
High Risk Facilities
3
1 Grade F
$206,470 in combined fines
Zero Fines
16
/21
passed all inspections
Nurse Availability
0 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Why These 8?
The nursing home market in San Diego is strong, with 21 total facilities and 38% recommended. Families should note that while the top-rated facility is VI AT LA JOLLA VILLAGE, there are 3 facilities to avoid due to significant fines totaling $150,597.
Exceptional (Grade A, Trust Score 90+)
- 1 VI AT LA JOLLA VILLAGE (93) — VI at La Jolla Village boasts an impressive Trust Score of 93/100 and an excellent CMS 5★ rating, ensuring top-notch care with no fines. With just 60 beds, residents benefit from personalized attention in a well-rated environment.
Strong (Grade B+, Trust Score 80-89)
- 2 HELEN BERNARDY CENTER D/P SNF (85) — The Helen Bernardy Center shines as a community-focused non-profit with a Trust Score of 85/100 and a CMS 5★ rating. With 43 beds and zero fines, it prioritizes compassionate care and quality service for its residents.
- 3 ARROYO VISTA NURSING CENTER (80) — Arroyo Vista Nursing Center holds a commendable Trust Score of 80/100 and a CMS 5★ rating, reflecting its commitment to high-quality care. With 53 beds and no fines, it provides a supportive environment for recovery.
- 4 GOLDEN HILL POST ACUTE (80) — Golden Hill Post Acute is recognized for its quality care, earning a Trust Score of 80/100 and a CMS 5★ rating. The facility's 99 beds provide ample space for personalized attention, ensuring residents feel at home.
Qualified (Grade B, Trust Score 70-79)
- 5 JACOB HEALTHCARE CENTER (75) — Jacob Healthcare Center maintains a solid Trust Score of 75/100 and a CMS 5★ rating, indicating consistent quality in care. With 128 beds, it offers a robust rehabilitation program, free from federal fines.
- 6 THE SPRINGS AT PACIFIC REGENT (75) — The Springs at Pacific Regent offers a welcoming atmosphere with a Trust Score of 75/100 and a CMS 5★ rating. This facility, featuring 59 beds, ensures a focus on patient well-being without any fines.
- 7 UNIVERSITY CARE CENTER (70) — University Care Center provides reliable care with a Trust Score of 70/100 and a CMS 4★ rating. With 87 beds, it delivers adequate support, though it could improve on personalizing resident experiences further.
- 8 BALBOA NURSING & REHABILITATION CENTER (70) — Balboa Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has a Trust Score of 70/100 and a CMS 4★ rating, showing a decent level of care. With 194 beds, it offers a variety of services, though residents may desire a more individualized approach.
The other 13 San Diego facilities didn't qualify — 3 carry Grade D or F ratings and 5 have fines totaling $206K.
Recommended
VI at La Jolla Village boasts an impressive Trust Score of 93/100 and an excellent CMS 5★ rating, ensuring top-notch care with no fines. With just 60 beds, residents benefit from personalized attention in a well-rated environment.
The Helen Bernardy Center shines as a community-focused non-profit with a Trust Score of 85/100 and a CMS 5★ rating. With 43 beds and zero fines, it prioritizes compassionate care and quality service for its residents.
Arroyo Vista Nursing Center holds a commendable Trust Score of 80/100 and a CMS 5★ rating, reflecting its commitment to high-quality care. With 53 beds and no fines, it provides a supportive environment for recovery.
Golden Hill Post Acute is recognized for its quality care, earning a Trust Score of 80/100 and a CMS 5★ rating. The facility's 99 beds provide ample space for personalized attention, ensuring residents feel at home.
Jacob Healthcare Center maintains a solid Trust Score of 75/100 and a CMS 5★ rating, indicating consistent quality in care. With 128 beds, it offers a robust rehabilitation program, free from federal fines.
The Springs at Pacific Regent offers a welcoming atmosphere with a Trust Score of 75/100 and a CMS 5★ rating. This facility, featuring 59 beds, ensures a focus on patient well-being without any fines.
University Care Center provides reliable care with a Trust Score of 70/100 and a CMS 4★ rating. With 87 beds, it delivers adequate support, though it could improve on personalizing resident experiences further.
Balboa Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has a Trust Score of 70/100 and a CMS 4★ rating, showing a decent level of care. With 194 beds, it offers a variety of services, though residents may desire a more individualized approach.
Proceed with Caution
These facilities don't meet our recommendation criteria but may still be viable options.
Hidden Gem
Staffing Comparison
Staffing levels are the strongest predictor of care quality
| Metric | Top Facility | San Diego Avg | CMS Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN Hours / Resident / Day | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.75 |
| CMS Star Rating | 5 stars | 3.8 stars | — |
| Deficiencies / Inspection | 0 | 0.0 | — |
Facilities to Avoid
These facilities have significant quality concerns.
What Disqualified the Other 13?
Our criteria: Trust Grade B or better (score 70+) AND zero fines in 3 years
- Grade F facilities
- 1 Grade F — critical inspection failures
- Facilities with fines
- 5 Have fines totaling $206,470
- Low-scoring facilities
- 10 Scored below B — Trust Scores under 70
- Caution group
- 10 Had good grades but fines disqualified them
Questions San Diego Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
-
1
"What is your current CMS star rating and Trust Score?"
San Diego's city average is 3.8 stars
-
2
"Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?"
5 of 21 San Diego facilities have fines
-
3
"How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?"
CMS recommends 45 min; San Diego avg is 0 min
-
4
"What were your most recent inspection findings?"
San Diego facilities average 0.0 deficiencies per inspection
Explore Nearby Cities
Houston has strong options, but nearby cities add even more choices
Houston at a Glance
Good News
- 12 facilities meet our strict criteria—20% of the market
- 3 exceptional A-grade facilities with 5-star CMS ratings
- 24 facilities with zero fines in the past 3 years
Be Aware
- 30 facilities carry Grade F—nearly half the market
- $3.2M+ in total fines across 37 facilities
- Worst facility has $448,216 in fines alone
Key Numbers
- Average Trust Score: 48.6 (dragged down by 30 F-grades)
- 82% for-profit, 13% non-profit, 5% government
- 9.4 average deficiencies per facility
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes in San Diego, CA are recommended?
8 of 21 nursing homes in San Diego (38%) meet our strict criteria of excellent inspection results and a clean record with no fines.
What makes a nursing home in San Diego "recommended"?
A facility earns our recommendation when it achieves a Trust Grade of B or better (score of 70+) AND has zero fines in the past three years. This combination indicates consistent quality care and regulatory compliance.
How should I evaluate nursing homes in San Diego?
Look beyond star ratings. Check for recent fines, abuse citations, staffing levels (especially RN hours), and inspection deficiencies. Visit in person during different times of day to observe care quality firsthand.