All states › California › Oakland › Lake Merritt Healthcare Center
309 Macarthur Boulevard Oakland, CA 94610 · Alameda County
All 18 nursing homes in Oakland, CA (16 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 056350 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Lake Merritt Healthcare 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 Lake Merritt Healthcare Center 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 4.06 hours per resident per day at Lake Merritt Healthcare Center, below the California median of 4.27 (US median: 3.72). About 0.31 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.60 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 29.8% of nursing staff left within a year (California median 36%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Lake Merritt Healthcare Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Lake Merritt Healthcare 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 October 25, 2024 and found 16 deficiencies, plus 6 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 44 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 44 citations at Lake Merritt Healthcare Center across 9 inspection dates, 7 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 41 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 3 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (8) and environmental (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody" (tag F0600, level E, March 5, 2026). 3 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
April 15, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
March 16, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
March 6, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
March 5, 2026 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
DEnsure the transfer/discharge meets the resident's needs/preferences and that the resident is prepared for a safe transfer/discharge.
January 6, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
January 28, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide the appropriate treatment and services to a resident who displays or is diagnosed with mental disorder or psychosocial adjustment difficulty, or who has a history of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder.
October 25, 2024 · 17 citations
EHonor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.
EHonor 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.
ECoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EEnsure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
EObserve each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DEnsure residents do not lose the ability to perform activities of daily living unless there is a medical reason.
DProvide activities to meet all resident's needs.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
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.
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.
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.
BProvide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
November 16, 2023 · 14 citations
EEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
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 that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
DObserve each nurse aide's job performance and give regular training.
DPost nurse staffing information every day.
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.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
DKeep all essential equipment working safely.
DMake sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
CProvide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
July 16, 2021 · 6 citations
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
EProvide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DKeep all essential equipment working safely.
BHonor 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.
Questions to ask on a tour of Lake Merritt Healthcare Center
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on March 6, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- 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 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Lake Merritt Healthcare Center
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 0.8 mi
-
0.9 mi
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center OaklandEmergency room ★★★★★ Medicare overall 5 of 5Median ER visit 3h 55m for patients treated and sent home
-
1.4 mi
Highland Hospital OaklandEmergency room ★☆☆☆☆ Medicare overall 1 of 5Median ER visit 3h 2m 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 Lake Merritt Healthcare Center › All nursing homes in Oakland ›
Compare Lake Merritt Healthcare Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- St Paul's Towers · Oakland · 5 stars · 0.6 mi
- Oakland Healthcare & Wellness Center · Oakland · 5 stars · 0.6 mi
- Piedmont Gardens Health Facility · Oakland · 5 stars · 0.8 mi
- Medical Hill Healthcare Center · Oakland · 5 stars · 1.1 mi
Other Crystal Solorzano nursing homes in California
- Arrowhead Healthcare Center · San Bernardino · 5 stars
- Redwood Healthcare Center · Oakland · 4 stars
- Asistencia Villa Healthcare Center · Redlands · 3 stars
- Orinda Care Center · Orinda · 2 stars
- Valley Vista Nursing and Transitional Care · North Hollywood · 1 stars
- Healthcare Center of Orange County · Buena Park · 1 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 9 Crystal Solorzano 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.