All states › California › Lake Isabella › Kern Valley Healthcare District DP SNF
6412 Laurel Ave Lake Isabella, CA 93240 · Kern County
CMS certification number 555517 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Kern Valley Healthcare District DP SNF 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 Kern Valley Healthcare District DP SNF as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, below 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 3.29 hours per resident per day at Kern Valley Healthcare District DP SNF, below the California median of 4.27 (US median: 3.72). About 0.18 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.98 hours, 9% below its all-week average. 36.2% of nursing staff left within a year (California median 36%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Kern Valley Healthcare District DP SNF: Medicare and Medicaid
Kern Valley Healthcare District DP SNF 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.
This home is located in a hospital.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on April 23, 2026 and found 8 deficiencies, plus 7 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 32 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 32 citations at Kern Valley Healthcare District DP SNF across 9 inspection dates, 19 of them from complaint investigations. 2 were at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on October 27, 2025. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (9) and nutrition and dietary (5). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals" (tag F0684, level G, October 27, 2025). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
April 23, 2026 · 8 citations
FHave a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DHave a policy regarding use and storage of foods brought to residents by family and other visitors.
DHave policies on smoking.
December 17, 2025 · 5 citations · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
October 27, 2025 · 2 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
EEnsure that the resident and his/her doctor meet face-to-face at all required visits.
June 26, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
June 25, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
June 12, 2025 · 5 citations
FHave a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide routine and 24-hour emergency dental care for each resident.
April 7, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
DProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
November 25, 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 25, 2024 · 7 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
DEnsure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
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 each resident receives and the facility provides drinks consistent with resident needs and preferences and sufficient to maintain resident hydration.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Questions to ask on a tour of Kern Valley Healthcare District DP SNF
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on October 27, 2025 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 December 17, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates staffing 1 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- 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
3 penalties in the last three years, including $31,581 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 27, 2025 | Fine | $21,548 |
| Oct 27, 2025 | Payment Denial | 51 days of payments denied |
| Nov 25, 2024 | Fine | $10,033 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 1/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Kern Valley Healthcare District DP SNF
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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0.2 mi
Kern Valley Healthcare District Lake IsabellaEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 2h 43m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
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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.