Valle Verde Health Facility
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Valle Verde Health Facility has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for families considering care options. It ranks #258 out of 1155 nursing homes in California, placing it in the top half, but is #9 out of 14 in Santa Barbara County, suggesting there are better local options. The facility's trend is stable, with 5 issues identified in both 2024 and 2025, and while staffing is a strength with a 5/5 rating and a turnover rate of 28%, there were some concerning incidents related to food safety practices. For example, the facility failed to properly cool down potentially hazardous foods, maintain sanitary kitchen conditions, and discard expired items, which could pose risks to residents. Overall, while Valle Verde has strong staffing and overall ratings, families should be aware of the food service deficiencies that have been noted.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In California
- #258/1155
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Holding Steady
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 28% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 20 points below California's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- $5,000 in fines. Lower than most California facilities. Relatively clean record.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 43 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for California. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 21 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Low Staff Turnover (28%) · Staff stability means consistent care
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover is low (28%)
20 points below California average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 21 deficiencies on record
Jan 2025
5 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 observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the Emergency Drug Supply Kit (E-kit) was stocked accurately according to the table of contents.
This failure had the ...
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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:
1. Expired items in the medication storage room, medication cart, and treatment cart were discarded and not readily a...
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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 ensure the planned menu for the therapeutic Mechanical [Mech] Soft Chopped (Level 6) [Level 6 - Soft & Bite-Sized (SB6)] diet...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0801
(Tag F0801)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutritio...
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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 store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service when:
1. TCS foods (Time...
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Oct 2024
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 ensure staff accurately documented pain assessment and management b...
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Aug 2024
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
Administration
(Tag F0835)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to implement it's policy and procedure, on Handling Controlled Substance, ( prescribed , monitored, controlled narcotics) during...
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Jul 2024
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 record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure Resident 1 was wearing a gait belt (a device that helps prev...
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May 2024
2 deficiencies
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
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to demonstrate it implemented individualized care planned interventions for monitoring and recording pain characteristics, for two of two samp...
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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 F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to properly secure 60 oxycodone tablets (a Schedule II drug used to treat moderate to severe pain with a high potential for abuse, with use po...
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Mar 2023
7 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0645
(Tag F0645)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure a follow up/new Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR -mental disability assessment ) for Level 1 was done for one of 26...
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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
3. During a review of Resident 198's Clinical Notes Report, dated 2/2/23, the report indicated in part, Resident 198 was admitted at 4:45 p.m. had ESBL (Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase - an enzyme fo...
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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 there were no expired medications.
This failure had the potential to result in residents receiving expired medications...
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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 follow its policies and procedures (P&P) on food storage, sanitation of food-contact surfaces when:
1. a) Unlabeled foods wer...
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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
4. During a concurrent observation and interview, with Resident 32, on 2/22/23, at 10:27 a.m., the resident was observed wearing a wander guard device on the right ankle.
During a concurrent intervie...
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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, and record review, the facility failed to ensure standard infection prevention and control practices were met when:
1) A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA 1) was observ...
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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 interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure a safe water delivery when water delivery logs on Legionella (bacteria that can cause a serious type of pneumonia [lung infection])...
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Jul 2019
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure services provided by staff met professional standards for t...
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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
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure daily cleaning of one continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP) (used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (sleep disorder that...
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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, and record review, the facility failed to ensure clean linen did not touch dirty surfaces.
This facility failure had the potential to result in cross-contamination be...
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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 expired food was discarded from the kitchen according to facility policy.
This facility failure had the potential to p...
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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+ (81/100). Above average facility, better than most options in California.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • $5,000 in fines. Lower than most California facilities. Relatively clean record.
- • 28% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 20 points below California's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- • 21 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Valle Verde Health Facility's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Valle Verde Health Facility 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 Valle Verde Health Facility Staffed?
CMS rates Valle Verde Health Facility's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 28%, compared to the California average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Valle Verde Health Facility?
State health inspectors documented 21 deficiencies at Valle Verde Health Facility during 2019 to 2025. These included: 21 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Valle Verde Health Facility?
Valle Verde Health Facility is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility is operated by HUMANGOOD, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 80 certified beds and approximately 55 residents (about 69% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Santa Barbara, California.
How Does Valle Verde Health Facility Compare to Other California Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in California, Valle Verde Health Facility's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.2, staff turnover (28%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Valle Verde Health Facility?
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 Valle Verde Health Facility Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Valle Verde Health Facility 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 Valle Verde Health Facility Stick Around?
Staff at Valle Verde Health Facility tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 28%, the facility is 18 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.
Was Valle Verde Health Facility Ever Fined?
Valle Verde Health Facility has been fined $5,000 across 1 penalty action. This is below the California average of $33,129. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Valle Verde Health Facility on Any Federal Watch List?
Valle Verde Health Facility 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.