All states › California › Santa Barbara › Channel Islands Post Acute
3880 Via Lucero Santa Barbara, CA 93110 · Santa Barbara County
All 7 nursing homes in Santa Barbara, CA (6 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 555875 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Channel Islands Post Acute 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 Channel Islands Post Acute 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 3.88 hours per resident per day at Channel Islands Post Acute, below the California median of 4.27 (US median: 3.72). About 0.68 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.01 hours, 22% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Channel Islands Post Acute: Medicare and Medicaid
Channel Islands Post Acute 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 August 6, 2026 and found 19 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 36 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 36 citations at Channel Islands Post Acute across 9 inspection dates, 8 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 36 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). 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 "procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards" (tag F0812, level F, August 6, 2026). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
August 6, 2026 · 19 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
FElectronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
EEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
EEnsure 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.
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.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DPrevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
April 13, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
August 22, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
August 12, 2025 · 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.
June 20, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
May 9, 2025 · 7 citations
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
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.
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.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
April 17, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DPrepare residents for a safe transfer or discharge from the nursing home.
July 18, 2024 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
DHonor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
May 2, 2024 · 2 citations
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.
Questions to ask on a tour of Channel Islands Post Acute
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on August 6, 2026. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Weekend staffing is 22% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- 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 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 1/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Channel Islands Post Acute
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
-
1.6 mi
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Santa BarbaraEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 3h 5m for patients treated and sent home
- 1.8 mi
-
3.5 mi
Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Santa BarbaraEmergency room ★★★★★ Medicare overall 5 of 5Median ER visit 2h 29m 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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Compare Channel Islands Post Acute with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Valle Verde Health Facility · Santa Barbara · 5 stars · 1.2 mi
- Samarkand Skilled Nursing Facility · Santa Barbara · 5 stars · 1.4 mi
- Mission Park Healthcare Center · Santa Barbara · 5 stars · 1.5 mi
- The Californian · Santa Barbara · 5 stars · 1.9 mi
Other The Ensign Group nursing homes in California
- Pacifica Nursing and Rehabilitation Center · Pacifica · 5 stars
- Upland Rehabilitation and Care Center · Upland · 5 stars
- The Springs at Pacific Regent · San Diego · 5 stars
- Grossmont Post Acute Care · La Mesa · 5 stars
- Grand Terrace Health Care Center · Grand Terrace · 5 stars
- The Grove Care and Wellness · Riverside · 5 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 347 The Ensign Group 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.