All states › California › Chowchilla › Palms Care Center
1010 Ventura Avenue Chowchilla, CA 93610 · Madera County
All 2 nursing homes in Chowchilla, CA (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 055047 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Palms Care Center a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Palms Care Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the California average of 3.2.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 4.18 hours per resident per day at Palms Care Center, about the same as the California median of 4.27 (US median: 3.72). About 0.26 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.78 hours, 9% below its all-week average. 37.8% of nursing staff left within a year (California median 36%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Palms Care Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Palms Care Center is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet California's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on April 4, 2025 and found 8 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 40 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 40 citations at Palms Care Center across 6 inspection dates, 3 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on November 10, 2021. The most common areas cited were resident assessment and care planning (8) and quality of life and care (7). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "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" (tag F0700, level K, November 10, 2021). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
July 27, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
GProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
April 4, 2025 · 8 citations
FPost nurse staffing information every day.
EDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
DEmploy sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DMake sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
July 30, 2024 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
April 19, 2024 · 10 citations
FEmploy sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DEnsure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
DAllow resident to participate in the development and implementation of his or her person-centered plan of care.
DHonor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DEnsure 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.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
November 29, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
November 10, 2021 · 19 citations, includes immediate jeopardy
KTry 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.
FProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
FEnsure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
FHave a policy regarding use and storage of foods brought to residents by family and other visitors.
FAdminister the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
FDesignate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.
FMake sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
EEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
EEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DProvide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DEnsure 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.
DProvide sufficient support personnel to safely and effectively carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service.
DGive their staff education on dementia care, and what abuse, neglect, and exploitation are; and how to report abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Questions to ask on a tour of Palms Care Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on November 10, 2021 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on November 10, 2021. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 1 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Palms Care Center's Medicare star rating and updates itself.
Size and colour
Preview
Paste it where the badge should appear: in WordPress, a Custom HTML block or a footer widget; on other sites, any spot that accepts HTML. The badge updates itself when CMS publishes new ratings.
Location
Hospitals near Palms Care Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
-
16.3 mi
Mercy Medical Ctr Merced MercedEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 44m for patients treated and sent home
- 17.5 mi
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Palms Care Center › All nursing homes in Chowchilla ›
Compare Palms Care Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Chowchilla Memorial Healthcare District · Chowchilla · 4 stars · 0.0 mi
Other Ajc Healthcare nursing homes in California
- Fowler Care Center · Fowler · 5 stars
- Almond View Care Center · Williams · 5 stars
- Evergreen Care Center · Fresno · 3 stars
- Rolling Hills Care Center · Selma · 3 stars
- Grand Oaks Care · Tulare · 3 stars
- Orchards at Tulare · Tulare · 2 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 16 Ajc Healthcare nursing homes ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.