Nursing homes in California: ratings, cost & how to choose

California has 1,165 Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes. Here’s how to choose one, what the ratings really mean, and how families pay — with the honest data no referral service will show you.

Across California’s 1,165 homes, the average CMS overall rating is 3.2 of 5 stars; 224 have an immediate-jeopardy citation on record; 5 are on the CMS Special Focus watch list; 31 are Special Focus candidates — not on the list, but under watch; CMS has levied about $28,736,255 in fines statewide.

Find & compare California nursing homes

Browse every California home with its un-blended CMS rating, inspection citations, staffing, fines, ownership, and “follow-the-money” finances: all California nursing homes → or search near your ZIP →.

How to read the rating

Read the health-inspection star first — it’s the surveyor-assigned score and the hardest to game (though CMS ranks it within California, so it’s not nationally comparable). Weigh staffing and turnover next; the quality-measure star is self-reported. Our rating guide explains where each can mislead.

What it costs, and how to pay

The median for a semi-private nursing-home room in California is about $12,167/month (U.S. median $9,581). Medicare covers only short rehab, not long-term custodial care — most long stays are paid privately then by Medicaid. See California Medicaid eligibility & waivers →, model it in My Plan, or run the cost planner.

Next steps

How to choose a nursing home → · Reading an inspection report →

Compiled from public CMS, HUD/USDA, and state records; general information, not advice. Verify specifics with the facility and California agencies.