All states › California › Santa Barbara › Buena Vista Care Center
160 South Patterson Avenue Santa Barbara, CA 93111 · Santa Barbara County
All 7 nursing homes in Santa Barbara, CA (6 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 555394 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista Care 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 3.89 hours per resident per day at Buena Vista Care Center, below the California median of 4.27 (US median: 3.72). About 0.55 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.47 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 48.8% 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. 2 administrators left in the past year.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Buena Vista Care Center: Medicare and Medicaid
Buena Vista 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 10, 2026 and found 4 deficiencies, plus 4 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 Buena Vista Care Center across 15 inspection dates, 14 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the immediate-jeopardy level (J–L), CMS's most serious category, most recently on October 3, 2025 (complaint inspection). The most common areas cited were resident assessment and care planning (10) and resident rights (7). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level J, October 3, 2025).
April 10, 2026 · 4 citations
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.
DEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
January 14, 2026 · 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.
October 20, 2025 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
October 3, 2025 · 2 citations, includes immediate jeopardy · includes complaint inspection
JEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
EKeep all essential equipment working safely.
August 20, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
May 2, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
March 20, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
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.
March 7, 2025 · 2 citations · 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.
DMake sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
January 17, 2025 · 5 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
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.
August 8, 2024 · 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.
April 23, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
April 3, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProperly hold, secure, and manage each resident's personal money which is deposited with the nursing home.
January 12, 2024 · 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.
December 26, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
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.
March 3, 2022 · 9 citations
ESafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
EMake sure there is a pest control program to prevent/deal with mice, insects, or other pests.
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.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
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.
DEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Questions to ask on a tour of Buena Vista Care Center
- Inspectors cited the home at the immediate-jeopardy level on October 3, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- Nursing staff turnover was 48.8% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
- 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
1 penalty in the last three years, including $32,263 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 2025 | Fine | $32,263 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Buena Vista 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.
-
0.2 mi
Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Santa BarbaraEmergency room ★★★★★ Medicare overall 5 of 5Median ER visit 2h 29m for patients treated and sent home
- 1.8 mi
-
4.9 mi
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Santa BarbaraEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 3h 5m 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 Buena Vista Care Center › All nursing homes in Santa Barbara ›
Compare Buena Vista Care Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Valle Verde Health Facility · Santa Barbara · 5 stars · 3.5 mi
- Samarkand Skilled Nursing Facility · Santa Barbara · 5 stars · 4.6 mi
- Mission Park Healthcare Center · Santa Barbara · 5 stars · 4.6 mi
- The Californian · Santa Barbara · 5 stars · 5.1 mi
Other Covenant Care nursing homes in California
- Pacific Coast Manor · Capitola · 5 stars
- Huntington Park Nursing Center · Huntington Park · 3 stars
- La Jolla Post-Acute · La Jolla · 3 stars
- Shoreline Care Center · Oxnard · 2 stars
- Gilroy Healthcare Center · Gilroy · 1 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026.
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.