All states › California › Merced › La Sierra Care Center
2424 M Street Merced, CA 95340 · Merced County
All 6 nursing homes in Merced, CA (6 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 055271 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is La Sierra 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 La Sierra 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 3.86 hours per resident per day at La Sierra Care Center, below the California median of 4.27 (US median: 3.72). About 0.48 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.48 hours, 10% below its all-week average. 50% of nursing staff left within a year (California median 36%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at La Sierra Care Center: Medicare and Medicaid
La Sierra 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 January 23, 2026 and found 11 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 38 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 38 citations at La Sierra Care Center across 7 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 37 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 1 was minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were resident assessment and care planning (11) and nutrition and dietary (8). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature" (tag F0804, level F, August 23, 2024).
January 23, 2026 · 11 citations
EEmploy sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
EEnsure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
EEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
ESafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
EProvide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
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.
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 19, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
April 3, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
October 23, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EProvide each resident with a nourishing, palatable, well-balanced diet that meets his or her daily nutritional and special dietary needs.
August 23, 2024 · 13 citations
FEnsure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
FProvide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
EEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
EEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
CPost nurse staffing information every day.
October 9, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
April 29, 2021 · 10 citations
FHave the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly
EHonor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.
EProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EProvide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
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.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DProvide at least one room set aside to use as a resident dining room and for activities, that is a good size, with good lighting, air flow and furniture.
Questions to ask on a tour of La Sierra Care Center
- Nursing staff turnover was 50% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- 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 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near La Sierra 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.
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1.2 mi
Mercy Medical Ctr Merced MercedEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 44m for patients treated and sent home
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24.2 mi
Emanuel Medical Center INC TurlockEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 10m 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
More nursing homes near La Sierra Care Center › All nursing homes in Merced ›
Compare La Sierra Care Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Merced Behavioral Center · Merced · 5 stars · 1.4 mi
- Anberry Nursing and Rehabilitation Center · Atwater · 5 stars · 7.1 mi
- Franciscan Post-Acute Care Center · Merced · 4 stars · 0.8 mi
- Anberry Post Acute · Merced · 4 stars · 3.0 mi
Other Cambridge Healthcare Services nursing homes in California
- Country Manor La Mesa Healthcare Center · La Mesa · 5 stars
- Modesto Post Acute Center · Modesto · 5 stars
- Ontario Healthcare Center · Ontario · 5 stars
- Highland Care Center of Redlands · Redlands · 4 stars
- Glendale Healthcare Center · Glendale · 4 stars
- Watsonville Post Acute Center · Watsonville · 4 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 32 Cambridge Healthcare Services 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.