Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz
Nursing Home Facility
675 24th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz is a senior care community located in Santa Cruz, CA. It provides nursing home care and senior living for older adults in the Santa Cruz area. To learn more or schedule a tour, call (831) 475-6323.
Operated by Mariner Health Care, which runs 16 communities in our directory.
With 92 beds, Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz is one of the larger communities in the area, senior care communities in Santa Cruz average about 57 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 92% 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 4 out of 5 stars overall, a score based on health inspections, staffing levels and quality measures. Communities in Santa Cruz average about 3.0 stars. Its most recent standard health inspection was in December 2025 and recorded 7 deficiencies.
Residents receive about 4.0 hours of nursing care per day on average, including 0.7 hours from a registered nurse. Nursing staff turnover over the past year was about 46%.
The community is located in Santa Cruz County, CA.
Inspection record
In its last three standard inspections and any complaint visits, federal inspectors cited 51 problems at Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz. 3 findings involved harm to a resident. 7 came from investigating complaints by residents or families.
Findings from the most recent inspection cycle
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Quality of Life and Care
Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
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, a pattern
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, 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.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Infection Control
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Pharmacy Service
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
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.
Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz offers nursing home care and senior living.
Facility details
- Organization type for-profit corporation
- Beds / units 92
- Occupancy 92%
- Nursing hours per resident/day 4.0
- Annual staff turnover 46%
- Last health inspection December 2025
Resident & family reviews
No one has shared a review of Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz yet. If you or someone you love has lived here, what you saw could help another family make this decision with more confidence.