Buena Vista Care Center
Nursing Home Facility
160 S Patterson Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
Buena Vista Care Center is a senior care community located in Santa Barbara, CA. It provides nursing home care and senior living for older adults in the Santa Barbara area. To learn more or schedule a tour, call (805) 964-4871.
Operated by The Ensign Group, which runs 419 communities in our directory.
With 150 beds, Buena Vista Care Center is one of the larger communities in the area, senior care communities in Santa Barbara average about 71 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 80% of its licensed beds.
Medicare rates this community 2 out of 5 stars overall, a score based on health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Communities in Santa Barbara average about 4.1 stars. Its most recent standard health inspection was in April 2026 and recorded 9 deficiencies.
Residents receive about 3.9 hours of nursing care per day on average, including 0.4 hours from a registered nurse. Nursing staff turnover over the past year was about 48%.
The community is located in Santa Barbara County, CA.
Inspection record
In its last three standard inspections and any complaint visits, federal inspectors cited 32 problems at Buena Vista Care Center. 2 findings involved harm to a resident, including 1 that put residents in immediate danger. 14 came from investigating complaints by residents or families.
Findings from the most recent inspection cycle
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Put residents in immediate danger, 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.
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Caused harm to a resident, 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.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Assessment and Care Planning
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Pharmacy Service
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.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Nutrition and Dietary
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Nutrition and Dietary
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
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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.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Environmental
Keep all essential equipment working safely.
Show 1 more
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Quality of Life and Care
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
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.
Buena Vista Care Center offers nursing home care and senior living.
Facility details
- Organization type for-profit corporation
- Beds / units 150
- Occupancy 80%
- Nursing hours per resident/day 3.9
- Annual staff turnover 48%
- Last health inspection April 2026
Resident & family reviews
Worst experience ever. This place is a dump. Grandma lasted 13 hours and self checked out. Very dirty. My grandma's bed she had to sleep in had either poop or old blood on the rails. The sheets had holes in it. Come on, Our seniors deserve a better service from places like this. I Will NEVER Recommend this dump.
by Natasha Casias, Aug 2012