Worth Considering
0
Facilities graded B or better with zero fines
Best Nursing Homes in Santa Cruz, California
0 of 3 nursing homes in Santa Cruz (0%) meet our strict criteria. The California statewide average is 29%.
0 recommended · 0 caution · 3 avoid · data
City Average
2.0
★
+0.00 vs state
Total Beds
385
across 3 facilities
High Risk Facilities
3
2 Grade F
$77,549 in combined fines
Zero Fines
2
/3
passed all inspections
Nurse Availability
0 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Why No Recommendations?
The nursing home market in Santa Cruz, California, is currently poor, with all three facilities receiving fines totaling $77,549. Families should be cautious, as there are no recommended options and the top-rated facility, Redwood Grove Post Acute, only holds a 3-star rating.
The other 3 Santa Cruz facilities didn't qualify — 3 carry Grade D or F ratings and 1 has fines totaling $77K.
Recommended
Facilities to Avoid
These facilities have significant quality concerns.
What Disqualified the Other 3?
Our criteria: Trust Grade B or better (score 70+) AND zero fines in 3 years
- Grade F facilities
- 2 Grade F — critical inspection failures
- Facilities with fines
- 1 Have fines totaling $77,549
- Low-scoring facilities
- 1 Scored below B — Trust Scores under 70
Questions Santa Cruz Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
-
1
"What is your current CMS star rating and Trust Score?"
Santa Cruz's city average is 2.0 stars
-
2
"Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?"
1 of 3 Santa Cruz facilities have fines
-
3
"How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?"
CMS recommends 45 min; Santa Cruz avg is 0 min
-
4
"What were your most recent inspection findings?"
Santa Cruz 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 Cruz, CA are recommended?
0 of 3 nursing homes in Santa Cruz (0%) meet our strict criteria of excellent inspection results and a clean record with no fines.
Why are there no recommended nursing homes in Santa Cruz?
Our criteria are intentionally strict. While Santa Cruz has 3 nursing homes, none currently achieve both a Trust Grade of B+ or better AND zero fines. We list all facilities with honest assessments to help you make informed decisions.
What makes a nursing home in Santa Cruz "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 Cruz?
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.