HILLCREST MANOR SANITARIUM
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium has a Trust Grade of C+, indicating it is slightly above average but not without concerns. It ranks #599 out of 1155 facilities in California, placing it in the bottom half, and #62 out of 81 in San Diego County, meaning only one local facility is rated higher. The facility shows an improving trend, with issues decreasing from 6 in 2024 to just 1 in 2025. Staffing is a significant weakness, with a low rating of 1 out of 5 stars and less RN coverage than 99% of California facilities, which may affect the quality of care. However, the lack of fines is a positive aspect, and there have been no critical incidents. Specific concerns included failure to implement an emergency food preparation plan during kitchen water damage, potential gaps in RN staffing for 12 days, and issues with accurate medication administration for at least one resident. While there are serious areas to address, the facility is making strides to improve overall care.
- Trust Score
- C+
- In California
- #599/1155
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- Turnover data not reported for this facility.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most California facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ⚠ Watch
- Each resident gets only 8 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for California. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 27 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
Near California average (3.1)
Meets federal standards, typical of most facilities
The Ugly 27 deficiencies on record
Sept 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
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
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 the building was secured to prevent the elopeme...
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Nov 2024
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0727
(Tag F0727)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to staff a Registered Nurse (RN) for at least 8 hours a day for twelve days from April 1 - June 30, 2024.
This failure had the ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0760
(Tag F0760)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the staff followed policy and procedure for one of 14 sample...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on interview the facility failed to ensure that the facility's water system was tested for Legionella (an infectious bacteria that flourishes in air conditioning and water systems that causes a ...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0911
(Tag F0911)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure five of 25 resident rooms (Rooms SWD 1, SWD 2,...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0912
(Tag F0912)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to provide a minimum of 80 square feet (sq. ft.- unit of measurement) of livable space per resident for four of 25 resident room...
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Feb 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(F)
📢 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
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 implement an emergency plan for food preparation when the kitchen ceiling had water damage. This failure had the potential for...
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Oct 2023
14 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0578
(Tag F0578)
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 clarify a POLST (Physicians Order for Life Sustaining Treatment), f...
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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, interview, and record review, the facility failed to maintain clean shower curtains for two of six resident bathrooms (Annex's male and female restrooms), reviewed for Resident R...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0637
(Tag F0637)
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 report an unplanned discharge to CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medi...
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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 accurately assess and report a fall, with a 6-month l...
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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 develop a person-centered care plan related to the us...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
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 a residents' low air loss (LAL-a mattress that...
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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
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility did not ensure antipsychotic (major tranquilizer used when the ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Unnecessary Medications
(Tag F0759)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the medication error rate was less than five percent. The facility's medication error rate was 6.45%. Two medication e...
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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
2. The medication room was inspected with LN 1 on 10/10/23 at 1:52 P.M. The temperature logs from May to October 2023 were reviewed. The temperature logs for the medication room had missed entries on ...
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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 proper food storage was met, when expired food was found in one of three refrigerators (Refrigerator 2), during initia...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0727
(Tag F0727)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to provide a registered nurse (RN) on duty, 8 consecutive hours per day, seven days per week for 33 days out of 91 days from Apri...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0802
(Tag F0802)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the kitchen staff carried out the tasks of the food and nutrition services department in accordance with the standard ...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0911
(Tag F0911)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure five of 25 resident rooms (Rooms SWD 1, SWD 2,...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0912
(Tag F0912)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to provide a minimum of 80 square feet (sq. ft.- unit of measurement) of livable space per resident for four of 25 resident room...
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Sept 2022
6 deficiencies
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 develop an individualized care plan for one of eight ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
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 follow their policy and procedures to ensure respirat...
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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 safe, sanitary food preparation, and storage practices in the kitchen when a food storage container holding outdated s...
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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 observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure a physician's order for phototherapy (a light ...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0911
(Tag F0911)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure five of 25 resident rooms (Rooms SWD 1, SWD 2,...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0912
(Tag F0912)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to provide a minimum of 80 square feet (sq. ft.- unit of measurement) of livable space per resident for four of 25 resident room...
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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
- • 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.
- • 27 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns HILLCREST MANOR SANITARIUM an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which is considered average nationally. Within California, this rating places the facility higher than 0% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This mid-range rating indicates the facility meets federal standards but may have areas for improvement.
How is Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium Staffed?
CMS rates HILLCREST MANOR SANITARIUM's staffing level at 1 out of 5 stars, which is much below average compared to other nursing homes.
What Have Inspectors Found at Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium?
State health inspectors documented 27 deficiencies at HILLCREST MANOR SANITARIUM during 2022 to 2025. These included: 21 with potential for harm and 6 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium?
HILLCREST MANOR SANITARIUM is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 98 certified beds and approximately 60 residents (about 61% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in NATIONAL CITY, California.
How Does Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium Compare to Other California Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in California, HILLCREST MANOR SANITARIUM's overall rating (3 stars) is below the state average of 3.1 and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the below-average staffing rating.
Is Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, HILLCREST MANOR SANITARIUM 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 3-star overall rating and ranks #100 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 Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium Stick Around?
HILLCREST MANOR SANITARIUM has not reported staff turnover data to CMS. Staff turnover matters because consistent caregivers learn residents' individual needs, medications, and preferences. When staff frequently change, this institutional knowledge is lost. Families should ask the facility directly about their staff retention rates and average employee tenure.
Was Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium Ever Fined?
HILLCREST MANOR SANITARIUM 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 Hillcrest Manor Sanitarium on Any Federal Watch List?
HILLCREST MANOR SANITARIUM 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.