Veterans Home Of California - Barstow
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Veterans Home of California - Barstow has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is above average and recommended for families looking for care. It ranks #260 out of 1,155 facilities in California, placing it in the top half, and #17 out of 54 in San Bernardino County, indicating that only a few local options are better. The facility is improving, with a reduction in issues from 6 in 2024 to 5 in 2025. Staffing is a strong point, with a 5-star rating and a turnover rate of 33%, which is lower than the state average, suggesting that staff are experienced and familiar with residents. Additionally, there have been no fines, which is a positive sign of compliance. However, there are areas of concern. The inspector found that the facility failed to properly document non-pharmacological interventions for residents on psychotropic medications, which could lead to unnecessary medication use and potential side effects like sedation and falls. Another issue noted was the failure to ensure safe food storage practices in the kitchen, raising the risk of food contamination. Despite these weaknesses, the facility's overall ratings and improving trend suggest it is working towards better care for its residents.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In California
- #260/1155
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 33% turnover. Near California's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most California facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 90 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of California nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 17 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (33%)
15 points below California average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
13pts below California avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
The Ugly 17 deficiencies on record
May 2025
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the accurate provision of medication for one out of five sampled residents (Resident 1) when Resident 1 did not receive hypoglycemia...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure medications were stored appropriately when two boxes of eye drops were found in a bin labeled and full of ear drops in...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0605
(Tag F0605)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to document non-pharmacological interventions for five of five sampled residents (Residents 1, 21, 24, 25, and 31) on psychotropic (affecting ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0757
(Tag F0757)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
2.
During a review of Resident 31's Physician Orders on 4/30/25 at 9:11 a.m., the physician's orders indicated Resident 31 had three active orders for blood pressure medications:
a.
Amlodipine (gene...
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Jan 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
Abuse Prevention Policies
(Tag F0607)
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 implement their policy for Theft and Loss Reporting and Investigati...
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Jun 2024
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation and interview , the facility failed to ensure a safe, clean, and comfortable environment, when the wheelchair of one of 15 sampled residents (Resident 29) was not found in good wo...
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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 date an opened bottle of Polyethylene Glycol (medicati...
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CONCERN
(D)
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 ensure the Medication Administration Record (MAR, a record of all m...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Room Equipment
(Tag F0908)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to maintain the kitchen dishwasher in a safe operating condition. This failure had the potential to result in safety concerns.
F...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure that food was stored in a safe and sanitary conditions in the food service department when:
1. Equipment was not repla...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0921)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment for staff when the water temperature of the kitchen's hand washing station ...
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Jul 2023
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
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 ensure Resident 55's Minimum Data Set (MDS, a resident...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
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 implement Resident 6's care plan (detailed plan for a ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medical Records
(Tag F0842)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure Resident 39's clinical record was maintained in accordance with accepted professional standards and practices, when the hospice (a p...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0921)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to provide a safe environment, when the hot water temperature of a hand washing sink registered above 165 degrees. This failure h...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
MDS Data Transmission
(Tag F0640)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to properly electronically transmit the Minimum Data Set (MDS, a resident assessment and care-screening tool) to the Centers for Medicare and ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0685
(Tag F0685)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 3. During a review of Resident 17's face sheet (demographics), the face sheet indicated Resident 17 had been readmitted to the f...
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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 B+ (85/100). 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.
- • 33% turnover. Below California's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 17 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Veterans Home Of California - Barstow's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Veterans Home Of California - Barstow 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 Veterans Home Of California - Barstow Staffed?
CMS rates Veterans Home Of California - Barstow's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 33%, compared to the California average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Veterans Home Of California - Barstow?
State health inspectors documented 17 deficiencies at Veterans Home Of California - Barstow during 2023 to 2025. These included: 17 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Veterans Home Of California - Barstow?
Veterans Home Of California - Barstow is owned by a government entity. Government-operated facilities are typically run by state, county, or municipal agencies. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 60 certified beds and approximately 38 residents (about 63% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in BARSTOW, California.
How Does Veterans Home Of California - Barstow Compare to Other California Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in California, Veterans Home Of California - Barstow's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (33%) 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 Veterans Home Of California - Barstow?
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 Veterans Home Of California - Barstow Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Veterans Home Of California - Barstow 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 Veterans Home Of California - Barstow Stick Around?
Veterans Home Of California - Barstow has a staff turnover rate of 33%, which is about average for California nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Veterans Home Of California - Barstow Ever Fined?
Veterans Home Of California - Barstow 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 Veterans Home Of California - Barstow on Any Federal Watch List?
Veterans Home Of California - Barstow 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.