Lakewood Healthcare Center
On Medicare Special Focus status, a serious quality warning. Visit in person and ask tough questions before deciding.
based on 45 Google reviews

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Quality Concerns Identified
Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.
- Special Focus Facility (under heightened CMS scrutiny)
- Abuse citation on record
- Low overall rating (1/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (53 vs median 13.0)
Bottom 25% in CA · Critically understaffed (RN) · Low staff turnover (stable workforce) · Worst in PACIFIC HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS chain · $41,526 in fines · Special Focus Facility (CMS) · Abuse citation
What this means for your family
This facility shows a significant upward trend in quality, with recent reviews highlighting excellent rehabilitation care and a clean, remodeled environment. However, you should proactively verify their current telephone responsiveness and ask for specific details regarding recent hygiene protocols to ensure the historical issues with cleanliness have been fully resolved.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
45 reviews on Google“Families seeking rehabilitation or skilled nursing may find the recent care and social services to be excellent, with many recent reviewers praising the attentive nursing staff and clean environment. However, historical reviews contain serious allegations regarding hygiene, patient safety, and poor communication, so close monitoring of current facility standards is advised.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Attentive and friendly nursing staff
- Clean and recently remodeled lobby
- Effective rehabilitation and social services
- Professional front desk personnel
Concerns
- Difficulty reaching staff via telephone (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
- Issues with facility cleanliness and odor (mentioned by 3 reviewers)
- Unprofessional behavior or lack of empathy from some staff (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 48 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
Questions for Your Tour
- 1I noticed the lobby has been recently remodeled; could you tell me more about the recent updates made to the resident living areas?
- 2The nursing staff has received some wonderful compliments for being so attentive; how do you ensure that level of care is consistent across all shifts?
- 3What is your protocol for communicating important medical updates or changes in condition to family members, especially if we can't reach the desk by phone?
- 4With the recent inspections, what specific steps has the facility taken to address the recent state violations and improve overall cleanliness?
- 5How does the team manage odors and deep-cleaning schedules to ensure the resident rooms stay fresh and comfortable?
- 6Could you describe what a typical day of social activities and rehabilitation looks like for a resident here?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The nurses and CNAs like Natalie and Wilma are so attentive and patient with my Dad. Thank you, Everybody!!”
“They take care of you that's about all I can say I've been here for 7 months battling COPD and when I have an episode and start yelling they come down and make sure that I'm okay”
“The facility lobby has been remodeled. Looks nice. I was able to sit in lobby with my sister. She seemed to be doing better.”
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 15 measures
12
measures
2
measures
1
measures
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Families have filed numerous complaint reports triggering over 60 deficiencies, with recurring issues in accident prevention and safety, care planning, and protection from abuse and neglect. Most recent deficiencies from 2026 remain uncorrected, including problems with pain management and family notification requirements. While many past issues have been addressed, the persistent pattern of safety violations and unresolved recent complaints raises significant concerns.
Apr 28, 2026Complaint1
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions.
Jan 28, 2026Complaint3
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Jan 9, 2026Complaint1
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
Dec 31, 2025Complaint1
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Dec 18, 2025Routine33
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide 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.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies
Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Provide sufficient support personnel to safely and effectively carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Environmental Deficiencies
Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
Smoke Deficiencies
Have a complete alarm system manually initiated and initiated by fire sprinkler system connection.
Smoke Deficiencies
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Smoke Deficiencies
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Miscellaneous Deficiencies
Have restrictions on the use of highly flammable decorations.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Honor 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.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies
Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Pharmacy Service Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Administration Deficiencies
Arrange for the provision of hospice services or assist the resident in transferring to a facility that will arrange for the provision of hospice services.
Infection Control Deficiencies
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Environmental Deficiencies
Provide bedrooms that don't allow residents to see each other when privacy is needed.
Environmental Deficiencies
Make sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
Administration Deficiencies
Develop, implement, and/or maintain an effective training program that includes effective communications for direct care staff members.
Egress Deficiencies
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Egress Deficiencies
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Services Deficiencies
Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
Environmental Deficiencies
Ensure resident rooms hold no more than 4 residents; for new construction after November 28, 2016, rooms hold no more than 2 residents.
Aug 28, 2025Complaint1
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Dec 18, 2025
$87,071
Payment Denial
Dec 18, 2025
35-day denial
Fine
Jun 13, 2025
$14,901
Payment Denial
Jun 13, 2025
13-day denial
Fine
Aug 2, 2024
$26,625
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Lakewood Healthcare Center
for profit
Chain Affiliation
Pacific Healthcare Holdings
15 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 2.3/5 · Rank 12 of 15 (Worst)
Ownership & Management
Owners
Rechnitz Lakewood Gp
Owner · Organization
Rechnitz, Shlomo
Owner
Key personnel
Contact
Get in Touch
Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.
References & Resources
Medicare Care Compare
Official Medicare quality ratings, inspections & staffing data
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
45 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit lwhealthcare.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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