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Nursing HomeMedicaid Investigative

Orchards at Tulare

Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.

604 E. Merritt Ave., Tulare, CA 9327499 bedsLicensed & Active
1/5
Medicare
Inspection
Quality
Staffing
Google rating
4.1/5

based on 36 Google reviews

5
4
3
2
1
Orchards at Tulare Nursing Home in Tulare, CA — Street View
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3/ 10
moderate Risk

Quality Concerns Identified

Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.

  • Low overall rating (2/5 stars)
  • Above-median deficiencies (18 vs median 13.0)

Below average in CA · Critically understaffed (RN) · $132,586 in fines

Source: Medicare data

What this means for your family

The nursing staff is frequently noted for their kindness and compassion, which is a major asset. However, you must closely monitor clinical oversight and hygiene, as multiple recent reviews allege serious failures in responding to medical distress and basic care needs.

Google Reviews

Google Reviews

36 reviews on Google
Families may find comfort in the highly praised nursing staff, who are frequently described as attentive, kind, and compassionate. However, there are serious allegations of medical neglect, poor hygiene, and unresponsiveness to urgent health concerns that should be investigated thoroughly.

Quality Themes

Tap a score for details
Food2.0Staff8.0Clean5.0ActivitiesN/AMedsN/AMemory5.0Comms6.0ValueN/A

Strengths

  • Compassionate and attentive nursing staff
  • Cleanliness in certain areas/rooms
  • Effective communication regarding health updates
  • Welcoming and friendly atmosphere

Concerns

  • Allegations of medical neglect and failure to monitor vital symptoms (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
  • Inadequate hygiene and failure to change soiled linens/diapers (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
  • Difficulty reaching staff via telephone (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
  • Inconsistent food quality and temperature (mentioned by 2 reviewers)

Rating Trends

Tap a year to see what changed

2344.82024(11)3.92025(23)3.72026(3)

Distribution · 37 analyzed

5
24
4
6
3
0
2
2
1
5

How They Respond to Reviews

0%response rate

Questions for Your Tour

  • 1We've heard wonderful things about how friendly and welcoming the atmosphere is here; what kind of social activities or group outings do you have planned for the residents each week?
  • 2How does the nursing team ensure that vital signs and health changes are closely monitored and documented throughout the day and night?
  • 3Could you tell us more about your processes for ensuring linens are changed promptly and that resident hygiene is maintained consistently?
  • 4What steps does the kitchen staff take to ensure that meals are served at the proper temperature and that food quality remains consistent for every resident?
  • 5In the event of a medical emergency after hours, what is the specific protocol for contacting the on-call physician and notifying the family?
  • 6We noticed some positive feedback regarding communication about health updates; how do you ensure that family members can easily reach the nursing staff via phone if they have a quick question?

Personalized based on this facility's data


Key Review Excerpts

The Care, that my mom receives at Orchards of Tulare is comforting to us. If anything is going on with her health or her care they contact us right away and we appreciate that.

Long-term resident's family · 2024★★★★★

The nurses are always so nice and very tentative. My Mom can be very difficult at times but they are champs. They are champions and they really are heros.

Long-term resident's family · 2025★★★★

Nurses said tightness in chest wasn’t a sign of pain or a concern, they don’t answer the phone at all and the night shift was rude to my mom because she needed cleaning and left her flat w

Short-term resident's family · 2025☆☆☆☆
Source: 36 Google reviews

Staffing

Staffing Hours

per resident/day · Medicare 2026
RN Hours
0.28hrs
38%
Registered nurses for medical care
Total Nursing
4.69hrs
OK
All nurses + aides combined
Staff Turnover
53%
Lower is better (< 30% = good)

RN hours are below the national benchmark. RNs handle complex medical needs and medication, so ask about coverage during your visit.

Quality Measures

Quality Measures

Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures

Medicare Rating
4/ 5
Better Than Avg

10

measures

Mixed Results

7

measures

Long-Stay Residents
🚶

Residents whose walking got worse

↓ Lower is better
This Facility4.6%
Better than Avg
Here
4.6%
US
15.3%
CA
10.5%
Tulare
14.0%
😔

Residents with depression symptoms

↓ Lower is better
This Facility2.4%
Better than Avg
Here
2.4%
US
12.1%
CA
7.0%
Tulare
3.8%

Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.

🛏️

Residents needing more daily help over time

↓ Lower is better
This Facility6.3%
Better than Avg
Here
6.3%
US
14.4%
CA
10.4%
Tulare
9.9%
💊

Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication

↓ Lower is better
This Facility20.8%
Mixed vs Avgs
Here
20.8%
US
19.5%
CA
13.7%
Tulare
21.8%
🚿

Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse

↓ Lower is better
This Facility17.6%
Mixed vs Avgs
Here
17.6%
US
19.4%
CA
10.7%
Tulare
13.0%
💉

Residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better
This Facility100.0%
Better than Avg
Here
100.0%
US
93.4%
CA
98.6%
Tulare
99.6%
Short-Stay Residents (Rehab / Post-Acute)
💉

Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better
This Facility98.8%
Better than Avg
Here
98.8%
US
81.8%
CA
94.2%
Tulare
98.0%
💉

Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu

↑ Higher is better
This Facility95.2%
Mixed vs Avgs
Here
95.2%
US
79.7%
CA
93.2%
Tulare
96.7%
💊

Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics

↓ Lower is better
This Facility1.3%
Mixed vs Avgs
Here
1.3%
US
1.6%
CA
1.5%
Tulare
0.5%
Source: Medicare quality measures

US average from Medicare published data

Inspection History

Medicare Inspection History

3-year lookback · Medicare 2026

18deficiencies
3penalties
Above state avg (15.4)
41 complaint-triggered
$132,586 in fines

The facility shows a concerning pattern with families filing numerous complaints, resulting in 36 complaint-triggered deficiencies and a recent serious abuse case in November 2024. Problems persist across surveys in care planning, notification of families about incidents, and nutrition services, with medication management also flagged multiple times. While the facility corrects issues when cited, the recurring nature of problems in resident assessment, family communication, and basic care standards suggests ongoing quality concerns that families should carefully evaluate.

Mar 9, 2026Complaint
1
0573Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Let each resident or the resident's legal representative access or purchase copies of all the resident's records.

Mar 3, 2026Complaint
1
0584Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

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.

Feb 26, 2026Complaint
1
0689Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Nov 24, 2025Complaint
1
0880Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Infection Control Deficiencies

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

May 8, 2025Routine
21
0914Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Ensure receptacles at patient bed locations and where general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.

0918Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.

0926Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Ensure that personnel concerned with handling of medical gases and cylinders are trained on the risk.

0812Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

0692Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.

0920Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.

0578Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.

0584Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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.

0637Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition

0641Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.

0684Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

0697Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.

0755Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.

0759Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.

0803Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Ensure 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.

0324Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Provide properly protected cooking facilities.

0342Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Have a complete alarm system manually initiated and initiated by fire sprinkler system connection.

0344Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Have an alternate power supply for its alarm system.

0807Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides drinks consistent with resident needs and preferences and sufficient to maintain resident hydration.

0842Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

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.

0880Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Infection Control Deficiencies

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Apr 10, 2025Complaint
2
0658Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

0658Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

Federal Penalties

Fine

Oct 17, 2024

$68,938

Payment Denial

Sep 14, 2023

63-day denial

Fine

Jul 10, 2023

$63,648

Ownership & Operations

Who Operates This Facility

Owner / Operator

Orchards at Tulare

Organization Type

for profit

Ownership & Management

Owners

Undisclosed

Ownership Data Not Available · Organization

Source: Medicare provider data

Contact

Get in Touch

Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.

References & Resources

EveryPlace is a research directory. Facility information is compiled from public sources — Medicare.gov, state licensing portals, Google Places, and publicly available street-level imagery. Listings do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or advertisement, and we do not accept payment for placement. Families should verify all details directly with the facility and the original sources linked above before making any care decisions. See our Research Policy for our editorial standards, correction process, and image-removal policy.

Safer Alternatives Nearby

Based on current clinical data, we identified 6 nearby facilities within 10 miles that may offer a stronger care environment. We encourage families to compare options carefully.

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