Santa Cruz Post Acute
Below-average Medicare ratings — review the inspection history and ask the administrator about recent corrections before visiting.
based on 55 Google reviews
Watch Santa Cruz Post Acute
Get an email when new inspections, ratings, or penalties are published for this facility.
We’ll only email you about this — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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)
- Low staffing rating (2/5 stars)
- Above-median deficiencies (24 vs median 13.0)
- High staff turnover (55%)
- High RN turnover (74%)
Below average in CA · Below recommended RN staffing · Below chain average · $205,264 in fines
What this means for your family
This facility is an excellent choice for families seeking high-quality physical therapy and a welcoming admissions process led by a dedicated business development team. However, you should closely monitor medication administration and verify that the facility can promptly respond to your calls, as some families have reported communication lapses and safety concerns.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
55 reviews on Google“Families generally praise the facility for its highly compassionate nursing staff and an exceptional business development team that assists with transitions. While many highlight excellent physical therapy and a clean environment, some reviewers have raised serious concerns regarding medication errors, difficulty contacting the facility by phone, and noise levels in the hallways.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Compassionate and professional nursing staff
- Exceptional business development and admissions support
- Effective and motivating physical therapy department
- Clean and well-maintained patient areas
Concerns
- Difficulty reaching the facility via telephone (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- High noise levels and loud staff communication in hallways (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- Serious medical/safety incidents including medication errors (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 56 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
The owner uses a high volume of templated responses that vary based on star rating. While some 5-star reviews receive personalized mentions of staff names, many responses are repetitive, and one 1-star response is completely irrelevant to the reviewer's complaint.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1I noticed your team is very responsive to feedback online; how do you use resident and family input to improve the care environment?
- 2With the physical therapy department being a known strength here, how often will my loved one be able to work with the therapists?
- 3What specific protocols do you have in place to ensure medication is administered accurately and safely every time?
- 4How do you manage noise levels in the hallways to ensure a peaceful and restful environment for the residents?
- 5Can you tell me about the daily activities and social programs available to help residents stay engaged with one another?
- 6What is the best way for our family to reach the nursing staff directly if we have an urgent question or concern?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“The nurses on staff are friendly, caring, and compassionate, and were there for her when she needed assistance.”
“I am grateful for her taking us under her guidance. We arrived having flown in from central México confused about my sister’s diagnosis, prognosis and future plans.”
“My mother Ruth has been in the facility since March and he has been a breath of fresh air for her and myself. Number 1, physical therapy is amazing my mother had been bed ridden for 2 years and since she's been in the facility she is able to stand, walk with help, gets around in a wheel chair.”
Staffing
Staffing Hours
per resident/day · Medicare 2026Both RN and total nursing hours are below national benchmarks. This can mean less clinical attention per resident, so ask about their staffing plan.
Quality Measures
Quality Measures
Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures
12
measures
5
measures
Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication
Residents whose walking got worse
Residents with depression symptoms
Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.
Residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Residents needing more daily help over time
Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse
Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu
Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia
Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics
US average from Medicare published data
Inspection History
Medicare Inspection History
3-year lookback · Medicare 2026
Santa Cruz Post Acute has serious recurring problems that should concern families. Families have repeatedly filed complaints triggering inspections, with persistent issues in accident prevention and safety supervision happening multiple times in 2024-2025. The facility also struggles with medication management, care planning, and nursing competency. While all deficiencies show correction dates, the repeated nature of safety violations suggests systemic problems that may not stay resolved.
Mar 11, 2026Complaint1
Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
Feb 26, 2026Complaint3
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Nov 26, 2025Complaint1
Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Nov 14, 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.
Nov 6, 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.
Jul 8, 2025Complaint1
Resident Rights Deficiencies
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Federal Penalties
Fine
Nov 6, 2025
$83,015
Fine
Mar 3, 2025
$26,719
Fine
Mar 7, 2024
$50,830
Ownership & Operations
Who Operates This Facility
Santa Cruz Post Acute
for profit
Chain Affiliation
Pacs Group
279 facilities nationwide
Chain avg rating: 2.9/5 · Rank 146 of 260
Ownership & Management
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
55 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit santacruzpa.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
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.
Twin Lakes Manor
< 1 miAssisted Living · Santa Cruz, CA
Paradise Assisted Care CORP
< 1 miAssisted Living · Santa Cruz, CA
Live in Serenity
< 1 miAssisted Living · Santa Cruz, CA
Redwood Grove Post Acute
< 1 miNursing Home · Santa Cruz, CA
Maple House II
< 1 miAssisted Living · Santa Cruz, CA
Valley Haven III
< 1 miAssisted Living · Santa Cruz, CA