All states › California › El Cerrito › Shields Nursing Center
3230 Carlson Boulevard El Cerrito, CA 94530 · Contra Costa County
CMS certification number 555364 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Shields Nursing 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 Shields Nursing Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above 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 4.63 hours per resident per day at Shields Nursing Center, above the California median of 4.27 (US median: 3.72). About 1.09 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.86 hours, 17% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 18.2% of nursing staff left within a year (California median 36%). That is lower than most homes in California, a sign of a steadier team.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Shields Nursing Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Shields Nursing 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 June 5, 2025 and found 7 deficiencies, plus 4 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 27 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 27 citations at Shields Nursing Center across 8 inspection dates, 9 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 27 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were infection control (5) and quality of life and care (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards" (tag F0812, level F, November 17, 2023).
November 20, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
November 19, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
June 5, 2025 · 8 citations · includes complaint inspection
EHonor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.
EHonor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EHave a policy regarding use and storage of foods brought to residents by family and other visitors.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DArrange for the provision of hospice services or assist the resident in transferring to a facility that will arrange for the provision of hospice services.
May 22, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DLet each resident or the resident's legal representative access or purchase copies of all the resident's records.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
January 30, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DAssess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.
April 4, 2024 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DProvide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
DPlan the resident's discharge to meet the resident's goals and needs.
November 17, 2023 · 5 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
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.
November 17, 2022 · 6 citations
FHave the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
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.
EEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
EImplement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Questions to ask on a tour of Shields Nursing Center
- Weekend staffing is 17% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 2 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 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 3/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Shields Nursing Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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3.9 mi
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp BerkeleyEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 3h 28m for patients treated and sent home
- 4.8 mi
- 5.9 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 Shields Nursing Center › All nursing homes in El Cerrito ›
Compare Shields Nursing Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Greenridge Post Acute · El Sobrante · 5 stars · 4.1 mi
- Richmond Post Acute Care · Richmond · 5 stars · 4.1 mi
- Piedmont Gardens Health Facility · Oakland · 5 stars · 5.9 mi
- McClure Post Acute · Oakland · 5 stars · 6.0 mi
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.