Worth Considering
6
Facilities graded B or better with zero fines
Best Nursing Homes in Santa Barbara, California
6 of 7 nursing homes in Santa Barbara (86%) meet our strict criteria. The California statewide average is 29%.
6 recommended · 1 caution · 0 avoid · data
City Average
4.9
★
+0.00 vs state
Total Beds
707
across 7 facilities
High Risk Facilities
0
0 Grade F
$5,000 in combined fines
Zero Fines
6
/7
passed all inspections
Nurse Availability
0 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Why These 6?
The nursing home market in Santa Barbara, California, is strong, with 86% of the 7 facilities recommended. Families should note that while the top-rated facility, The Californian, has a B+ rating and 5 stars, there is one facility in the caution tier due to fines.
Strong (Grade B+, Trust Score 80-89)
- 1 The Californian (85) — The Californian shines with its excellent CMS 5★ rating and a strong Trust Score of 85/100. With a B+ grade and no fines, it provides a reliable and comfortable environment for its 68 residents, making it a top choice for quality care in Santa Barbara.
- 2 Mission Park Healthcare Center (85) — Mission Park Healthcare Center boasts a stellar CMS 5★ rating, backed by a Trust Score of 85/100 and a B+ grade. With 138 beds and zero fines, this facility is committed to delivering exceptional care in a welcoming atmosphere.
- 3 Casa Dorinda (85) — Casa Dorinda stands out as a non-profit facility with a CMS 5★ rating and a Trust Score of 85/100. Its B+ grade reflects a strong commitment to community-focused care, ensuring residents receive personalized attention in a nurturing environment.
- 4 Buena Vista Care Center (80) — Buena Vista Care Center offers a solid CMS 5★ rating coupled with an 80/100 Trust Score. With a B+ grade and no fines, this 150-bed facility provides reliable care supported by a dedicated staff, making it a commendable choice for nursing care.
- 5 Samarkand Skilled Nursing Facility (80) — Samarkand Skilled Nursing Facility excels with a CMS 5★ rating and an 80/100 Trust Score. As a non-profit organization, it focuses on community engagement and quality care, providing a B+ rated environment for its 63 residents.
Qualified (Grade B, Trust Score 70-79)
- 6 Channel Islands Post Acute (73) — Channel Islands Post Acute offers a decent CMS 4★ rating with a Trust Score of 73/100 and a B grade. While it has 156 beds and zero fines, this for-profit facility may not match the excellence of top-rated competitors but still provides essential care.
The other 1 Santa Barbara facility didn't qualify — 0 carry Grade D or F ratings and 1 has fines totaling $5K.
Recommended
The Californian shines with its excellent CMS 5★ rating and a strong Trust Score of 85/100. With a B+ grade and no fines, it provides a reliable and comfortable environment for its 68 residents, making it a top choice for quality care in Santa Barbara.
Mission Park Healthcare Center boasts a stellar CMS 5★ rating, backed by a Trust Score of 85/100 and a B+ grade. With 138 beds and zero fines, this facility is committed to delivering exceptional care in a welcoming atmosphere.
Casa Dorinda stands out as a non-profit facility with a CMS 5★ rating and a Trust Score of 85/100. Its B+ grade reflects a strong commitment to community-focused care, ensuring residents receive personalized attention in a nurturing environment.
Buena Vista Care Center offers a solid CMS 5★ rating coupled with an 80/100 Trust Score. With a B+ grade and no fines, this 150-bed facility provides reliable care supported by a dedicated staff, making it a commendable choice for nursing care.
Samarkand Skilled Nursing Facility excels with a CMS 5★ rating and an 80/100 Trust Score. As a non-profit organization, it focuses on community engagement and quality care, providing a B+ rated environment for its 63 residents.
Channel Islands Post Acute offers a decent CMS 4★ rating with a Trust Score of 73/100 and a B grade. While it has 156 beds and zero fines, this for-profit facility may not match the excellence of top-rated competitors but still provides essential care.
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 | Santa Barbara Avg | CMS Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN Hours / Resident / Day | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.75 |
| CMS Star Rating | 5 stars | 4.9 stars | — |
| Deficiencies / Inspection | 0 | 0.0 | — |
What Disqualified the Other 1?
Our criteria: Trust Grade B or better (score 70+) AND zero fines in 3 years
- Facilities with fines
- 1 Have fines totaling $5,000
- Caution group
- 1 Had good grades but fines disqualified them
Questions Santa Barbara Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
-
1
"What is your current CMS star rating and Trust Score?"
Santa Barbara's city average is 4.9 stars
-
2
"Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?"
1 of 7 Santa Barbara facilities have fines
-
3
"How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?"
CMS recommends 45 min; Santa Barbara avg is 0 min
-
4
"What were your most recent inspection findings?"
Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara, CA are recommended?
6 of 7 nursing homes in Santa Barbara (86%) meet our strict criteria of excellent inspection results and a clean record with no fines.
What makes a nursing home in Santa Barbara "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 Santa Barbara?
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.