Arroyo Grande Care Center
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Arroyo Grande Care Center has an impressive Trust Grade of A+, indicating it is an elite facility in terms of quality and care. It ranks #14 out of 1,155 nursing homes in California, placing it well within the top half of all facilities in the state, and #1 out of 7 in San Luis Obispo County, making it the best local option. However, the facility's trend is concerning as it has worsened from 1 issue in 2023 to 4 issues in 2025, indicating a decline in quality. Staffing is a strong point with a 4/5 star rating and a low turnover rate of 19%, well below the state average, which suggests that the staff is experienced and familiar with the residents' needs. On the downside, there were specific incidents noted, including expired medications being found in first aid kits and food safety violations related to hair restraints and expired food items, which could potentially compromise resident safety. Overall, while the facility has many strengths, families should consider these recent issues when making their decision.
- Trust Score
- A+
- In California
- #14/1155
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 19% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 29 points below California's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most California facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 17 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for California. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
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4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (19%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover is low (19%)
29 points below California average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 11 deficiencies on record
Jul 2025
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to appropriately label and store drugs when three carton...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Menu Adequacy
(Tag F0803)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to follow the nutritional needs of a residents in accordance with recommended guidelines diet prescription for a renal diet for o...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure food safety standards were followed when an expired milk, brought in by family, was found in the snack refrigerator in...
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Feb 2025
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medical Records
(Tag F0842)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, and record review, the facility failed to complete an accurate nursing assessment for one of two sampled res...
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Sept 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0567
(Tag F0567)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure a proper system was in place to safeguard one of three sampl...
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Nov 2022
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Notification of Changes
(Tag F0580)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review the facility failed to notify Resident 1's physician of change of condition in a timely manner.
This failure has the potential for adverse consequences and impend...
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Aug 2021
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0700
(Tag F0700)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on Observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to use appropriate alternatives prior to installing bed ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
The facility failed to ensure that one resident was free from unnecessary drugs.
Resident #15
Unnecessary Meds, Psychotropic Meds, and Med Regimen Review
Based on resident interview, clinical record ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Menu Adequacy
(Tag F0803)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the menu was followed for:
1) Two of two residents (Residents 4 and 36) on the small portion minced and moist diet, an...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure:
1. Expired medications were not stored and available for staff use, in two of two first aid kits, and in one of two t...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure food was stored, prepared, distributed and served in accordance with professional standards for food service safety whe...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A+ (95/100). Above average facility, better than most options in California.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most California facilities.
- • 19% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 29 points below California's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Arroyo Grande Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Arroyo Grande Care Center an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within California, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Arroyo Grande Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates Arroyo Grande Care Center's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 19%, compared to the California average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Arroyo Grande Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 11 deficiencies at Arroyo Grande Care Center during 2021 to 2025. These included: 11 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Arroyo Grande Care Center?
Arroyo Grande Care Center is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by COMPASS HEALTH, INC., a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 99 certified beds and approximately 85 residents (about 86% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Arroyo Grande, California.
How Does Arroyo Grande Care Center Compare to Other California Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in California, Arroyo Grande Care Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (19%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Arroyo Grande Care Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Arroyo Grande Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Arroyo Grande Care Center has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in California. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Arroyo Grande Care Center Stick Around?
Staff at Arroyo Grande Care Center tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 19%, the facility is 26 percentage points below the California average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly. Registered Nurse turnover is also low at 17%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Arroyo Grande Care Center Ever Fined?
Arroyo Grande Care Center has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Arroyo Grande Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Arroyo Grande Care Center is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.