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Nursing homes in Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County, California, has 7 Medicare-certified nursing homes with 725 certified beds.
14% of them are rated 1 or 2 stars overall, a smaller share than the state (35%). Inspectors recorded 303 health deficiencies over three cycles, 41.8 per 100 beds against 50.6 statewide.
Fines in the period covered total $214K across 5 fines.
Ratings are based on the most recent data available; a facility's ratings may have changed since the last update. The health inspection rating is based on the three most recent standard surveys and complaint investigations. Data processed by CMS on 1 Aug 2026.
| Measure | Santa Cruz County | California | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facilities | 7 | 1165 | 14690 |
| Rated 1–2 stars overall | 14% | 35% | 41% |
| Median overall rating | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Citations per 100 beds (3 cycles) | 41.8 | 50.6 | 26.8 |
| Median nurse hours per resident day | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.7 |
| Fines listed | $214K | $29M | $457M |
Facilities
| Facility | City | Beds | Overall | Health | Staffing | Citations | Per 100 beds | Fines | Last survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coast Manor | Capitola | 99 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 27.3 | — | 2 Apr 2025 |
| Watsonville Post Acute Center | Watsonville | 95 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 35 | 36.8 | $8K | 29 Aug 2025 |
| Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | 92 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 51 | 55.4 | — | 12 Dec 2025 |
| Manresa Healthcare Center | Watsonville | 59 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 39.0 | — | 18 Nov 2025 |
| Redwood Grove Post Acute | Santa Cruz | 144 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 42 | 29.2 | — | 8 Jun 2026 |
| Watsonville Nursing Center | Watsonville | 87 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 42 | 48.3 | $44K | 9 Jan 2026 |
| Santa Cruz Post Acute | Santa Cruz | 149 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 83 | 55.7 | $162K | 11 May 2026 |
Sorted by overall rating. "Citations" are health deficiencies over three survey cycles; "per 100 beds" divides by certified beds.
Most-cited tags in the county
| Tag | Requirement | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| F0880 | Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. | 19 |
| F0812 | Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. | 18 |
| F0658 | Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. | 16 |
| F0689 | Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. | 15 |
| F0761 | Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs. | 14 |
Ownership
| Type | Facilities |
|---|---|
| For profit | 7 |
Chains present: Cambridge Healthcare Services (2), Mariner Health Care (1), Covenant Care (1), Pacs Group (1).
Questions and answers
How many nursing homes are in Santa Cruz County, California?
7 Medicare-certified nursing homes with 725 certified beds.
Which nursing homes in Santa Cruz County have the highest CMS ratings?
Pacific Coast Manor (5 stars), Watsonville Post Acute Center (5 stars), Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz (4 stars)
How do Santa Cruz County nursing homes compare with California?
14% are rated 1–2 stars overall against 35% statewide; citations run at 41.8 per 100 beds against 50.6 statewide.