Santa Cruz Healthcare Center
Nursing Home Facility
1115 Capitola Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Santa Cruz Healthcare Center 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) 475-4055.
Operated by PACS Group, which runs 226 communities in our directory.
With 149 beds, Santa Cruz Healthcare Center 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 96% 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 2 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. The individual scores differ noticeably: 3 stars for staffing against 1 star for health inspections, so it is worth reading both before deciding. Its most recent standard health inspection was in March 2025 and recorded 28 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 47%.
The community is located in Santa Cruz County, CA.
Inspection record
In its last three standard inspections and any complaint visits, federal inspectors cited 83 problems at Santa Cruz Healthcare Center. 4 findings involved harm to a resident. 37 came from investigating complaints by residents or families.
In the last three years Medicare fined this home 3 times, a total of $161,912.
Findings from the most recent inspection cycle
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Quality of Life and Care
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
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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
Quality of Life and Care
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
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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.
Show 20 more
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
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
Quality of Life and Care
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Quality of Life and Care
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
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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
Nursing and Physician Services
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
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.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
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, a pattern
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.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Pharmacy Service
Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
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.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, a pattern
Pharmacy Service
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
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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 food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
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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
Resident Rights
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Rights
Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Rights
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Resident Assessment and Care Planning
Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.
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Could cause more than minimal harm, one or a few residents
Administration
Ensure the facility is licensed under applicable State and local law and operates and provides services in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and codes, and with accepted professional standards.
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.
Santa Cruz Healthcare Center offers nursing home care and senior living.
Facility details
- Organization type for-profit corporation
- Beds / units 149
- Occupancy 96%
- Nursing hours per resident/day 3.9
- Annual staff turnover 47%
- Last health inspection March 2025
Resident & family reviews
No one has shared a review of Santa Cruz Healthcare Center yet. If you or someone you love has lived here, what you saw could help another family make this decision with more confidence.