WASHINGTON CENTER
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Washington Center in San Leandro, California, has an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended and performs well in providing care. It ranks #264 out of 1,155 facilities in California, placing it in the top half, and #23 out of 69 in Alameda County, meaning only 22 local options are better. However, the facility's trend is worsening, with the number of issues increasing from 1 in 2021 to 3 in 2024. Staffing is a relative strength, with a turnover rate of 23%, which is well below the California average, though their RN coverage is rated as average. There are no fines recorded, which is a positive indicator, but recent inspections found concerning incidents, such as medication carts being left unlocked and food stored at unsafe temperatures, which could pose risks to residents. Overall, while Washington Center has strong points, families should be aware of these recent concerns when considering this facility.
- Trust Score
- A
- In California
- #264/1155
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 23% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 25 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 26 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for California. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 13 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Low Staff Turnover (23%) · 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 (23%)
25 points below California average of 48%
Facility shows strength in quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 13 deficiencies on record
Nov 2024
3 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
2. A quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS), with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 08/02/2024, revealed the facility admitted Resident 12 on 05/24/2018. Per the MDS, the resident had a Brief Interview ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, record review, facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure staff implemented enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) for one (Resident 2) of 21 sampled residents....
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure the nursing staff locked two of four medication carts when it was not in their eyesight view.
This failure h...
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Oct 2021
1 deficiency
MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Medical Records
(Tag F0842)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on interview and record review the facility failed to ensure one of three sampled residents (Resident 10) with a gastrostomy tube (GT, a tube inserted through the wall of the abdomen directly in...
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Feb 2019
9 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
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 revise the comprehensive care plans for activities fo...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
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 provide adequate grooming services for one of one sam...
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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
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to provide pressure ulcer treatment and services (pressure ulcer, a wound from prolonged pressure, also known as a bed sore) for...
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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 interviews and record reviews, the facility failed to ensure one of 18 sampled residents (Resident 30) had complete, ac...
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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 serve and store food under sanitary conditions by:
1. The tuna salad was held at an unsafe temperature in the refrigerator.
...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Transfer Notice
(Tag F0623)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review for two of five sampled residents (Resident 30, Resident 39), the facility failed to notify...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0865
(Tag F0865)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to document proceedings of the quality assessment and assurance committee during scheduled quarterly meetings. This failure had the potential ...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
QAPI Program
(Tag F0867)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on the interview and record review facility failed to conduct quarterly meeting on a regular basis and required members we...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0868
(Tag F0868)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure the quality assessment and assurance committee had regulatory required members in attendance at the November 2018 quarterly meeting....
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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 (90/100). 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.
- • 23% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 25 points below California's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 13 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Washington Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns WASHINGTON 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 Washington Center Staffed?
CMS rates WASHINGTON CENTER's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 23%, compared to the California average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Washington Center?
State health inspectors documented 13 deficiencies at WASHINGTON CENTER during 2019 to 2024. These included: 8 with potential for harm and 5 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Washington Center?
WASHINGTON 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 GENESIS HEALTHCARE, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 99 certified beds and approximately 89 residents (about 90% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in SAN LEANDRO, California.
How Does Washington Center Compare to Other California Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in California, WASHINGTON CENTER's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (23%) 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 Washington 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 Washington Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, WASHINGTON 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 Washington Center Stick Around?
Staff at WASHINGTON CENTER tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 23%, the facility is 23 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 18%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Washington Center Ever Fined?
WASHINGTON 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 Washington Center on Any Federal Watch List?
WASHINGTON 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.