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Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center

Nursing Home Facility

1391 Madison Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92021

Nursing Home Care Senior Living

Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center is a senior care community located in El Cajon, CA. It provides nursing home care and senior living for older adults in the El Cajon area. To learn more or schedule a tour, call (619) 444-1107.

Operated by PACS Group, which runs 226 communities in our directory.

Employer rating 3.2 out of 5 52 reviews from their own employees on Indeed. See what they say.

With 96 beds, Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center is one of the larger communities in the area, senior care communities in El Cajon average about 28 beds. Larger communities more often keep clinical staff on site around the clock and can offer a wider range of on-site therapy and activities, though some families prefer the quieter feel of a smaller setting.

Federal reporting puts occupancy at about 94% of its licensed beds, which is high; communities this full often maintain a waiting list, so it is worth calling well before you need a place.

Medicare rates this community 3 out of 5 stars overall, a score based on health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Its most recent standard health inspection was in December 2024 and recorded 24 deficiencies.

Residents receive about 4.0 hours of nursing care per day on average, including 0.5 hours from a registered nurse. Nursing staff turnover over the past year was about 40%.

The community is located in San Diego County, CA.

Medicare five-star ratings

  • Overall ★★★★★ 3/5
  • Health inspections ★★★★★ 2/5
  • Staffing ★★★★★ 2/5
  • Quality measures ★★★★★ 5/5

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Care Compare. Ratings apply to Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes and are updated by CMS monthly.

Inspection record

In its last three standard inspections and any complaint visits, federal inspectors cited 58 problems at Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center. 2 findings involved harm to a resident. 23 came from investigating complaints by residents or families.

In the last three years Medicare fined this home once, a total of $9,110.

Findings from the most recent inspection cycle

  • Caused harm to a resident, one or a few residents Quality of Life and Care

    Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

    Inspected February 2026, after a complaint. Corrected by March 13, 2026.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Quality of Life and Care

    Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

    Inspected April 2026, after a complaint. Corrected by May 7, 2026.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Resident Assessment and Care Planning

    Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.

    Inspected February 2026, after a complaint. Corrected by March 13, 2026.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Resident Assessment and Care Planning

    Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

    Inspected February 2026, after a complaint. Corrected by March 13, 2026.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Quality of Life and Care

    Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.

    Inspected February 2026, after a complaint. Corrected by March 13, 2026.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Nursing and Physician Services

    Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.

    Inspected February 2026, after a complaint. Corrected by March 13, 2026.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Resident Assessment and Care Planning

    Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.

    Inspected February 2026, after a complaint. Corrected by March 13, 2026.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Resident Rights

    Ensure the transfer/discharge meets the resident's needs/preferences and that the resident is prepared for a safe transfer/discharge.

    Inspected August 2025, after a complaint. Corrected by September 10, 2025.

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  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Quality of Life and Care

    Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

    Inspected August 2025, after a complaint. Corrected by September 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern Resident Rights

    Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern Nutrition and Dietary

    Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern Resident Assessment and Care Planning

    Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern Infection Control

    Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Resident Rights

    Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation

    Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Resident Rights

    Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Resident Assessment and Care Planning

    Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Quality of Life and Care

    Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Quality of Life and Care

    Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Quality of Life and Care

    Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Quality of Life and Care

    Provide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Pharmacy Service

    Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Pharmacy Service

    Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

  • Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents Administration

    Electronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.

    Inspected December 2024. Corrected by January 10, 2025.

A citation on its own does not mean poor care, and most are corrected within weeks. What matters most is how serious the findings were and whether the same problems keep coming back. When you visit, it is fair to ask the administrator what inspectors found and what has changed since.

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health Deficiencies and Penalties files, updated monthly. See the full record on Medicare Care Compare.

Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center offers nursing home care and senior living.

Facility details

  • Organization type for-profit corporation
  • Beds / units 96
  • Occupancy 94%
  • Nursing hours per resident/day 4.0
  • Annual staff turnover 40%
  • Last health inspection December 2024

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