Best nursing homes in California

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These are the 25 highest-rated nursing homes in California, out of 1,165 certified by Medicare or Medicaid, ranked by their CMS overall star rating. 280 homes are rated 5 stars. Ties go to the better health inspection rating, then staffing rating, then nurse hours per resident. Homes with the CMS abuse icon or on CMS's Special Focus Facility lists are left out, whatever their stars.

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. A star rating summarizes a lot, so read each home's inspection history and visit before you decide.

Highest-rated nursing homes in California

How this list works

Where do the ratings come from?

From CMS's Nursing Home Care Compare (the same data as Medicare.gov), October 2026. The overall rating combines health inspections, staffing and quality measures; inspections weigh the most.

What are the Special Focus Facility list and the abuse icon?

CMS lists this nursing home as a Special Focus Facility: homes "included in a special program to stimulate improvements in their quality of care" because of a persistent record of serious problems. CMS marks this nursing home with its abuse icon. CMS shows the icon for homes with abuse citations in recent inspections: an abuse citation where residents were harmed (scope and severity G or higher) within the past year, or abuse citations at D or higher (potential for harm) in each of the last two years.

Is this a recommendation?

No. It is a ranking of CMS's published ratings. Ratings can change every month, and a home's rating may not reflect a recent change in ownership or staff. Visit, ask questions and read the inspection reports.

More lists for California

Best nursing homes in other California cities

• Los Angeles (78)
• Long Beach (25)
• Sacramento (23)
• San Diego (21)
• Fresno (19)
• San Jose (19)
• Oakland (18)
• Riverside (18)
• San Francisco (18)
• Hayward (16)
• Anaheim (14)
• Stockton (14)
• Glendale (13)
• Pasadena (13)
• El Cajon (12)
• Santa Monica (12)
• Torrance (12)
• El Monte (11)
• San Bernardino (11)
• Bakersfield (10)
• Modesto (9)
• Pomona (9)
• Carmichael (8)
• Gardena (8)
• La Mesa (8)
• Redding (8)
• Santa Ana (8)

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home provider information and penalties, October 2026. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data.