California · Nursing Homes
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This is the placeto find the place.

Nursing Homes & Extended Care in Santa Cruz, CA.

Ranked based on inspection data.

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This is what the inspectors wrote down.

Every score on this page is built from federal CMS inspection results and state licensing records — the same findings a regulator sees. Not brochures, not tours, not what a facility says about itself.

8 licensed nursing homes in Santa Cruz, CA
Updated October 21, 2026
7.6Strong

REDWOOD GROVE POST ACUTE

2990 SOQUEL AVENUE, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95062

REDWOOD GROVE POST ACUTE brings above-average staffing (4.0/5), high quality measure scores (4.0/5), 0.82 RN hours per resident daily, and no federal fines on record. Worth asking: Long-stay antipsychotic rate is just 8% — well below the national median of about 14%.

1 doing wellFull record ›
8.1Strong

DRIFTWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER - SANTA CRUZ

675 24TH AVENUE, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95062

DRIFTWOOD HEALTHCARE CENTER - SANTA CRUZ brings a 4.0-star CMS rating, above-average staffing (4.0/5), high quality measure scores (5.0/5), 0.68 RN hours per resident daily, and no federal fines on record. Worth asking: Long-stay antipsychotic rate is 28% — above the national median of about 14%.

1 doing wellFull record ›
3.1Concerns

SANTA CRUZ POST ACUTE

1115 CAPITOLA ROAD, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95062

SANTA CRUZ POST ACUTE brings high quality measure scores (5.0/5). There are 3 federal fine(s) on record — no date context, so worth asking about directly.

1 doing wellFull record ›
Not yet
scored

7TH AVE CARE CENTER LLC

1171 7TH AVE, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95062

Full record ›
6.2Solid

WATSONVILLE NURSING CENTER

535 AUTO CENTER DRIVE, WATSONVILLE, CA 95076

WATSONVILLE NURSING CENTER brings above-average staffing (4.0/5), high quality measure scores (4.0/5), and low staff turnover (27%). There are 1 federal fine(s) on record — no date context, so worth asking about directly.

3 doing well1 flaggedFull record ›

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7.4Solid

WATSONVILLE POST ACUTE CENTER

525 AUTO CENTER DRIVE, WATSONVILLE, CA 95076

WATSONVILLE POST ACUTE CENTER brings a 5.0-star CMS rating, strong inspection scores (4.0/5), above-average staffing (4.0/5), high quality measure scores (5.0/5), and 0.62 RN hours per resident daily. There are 1 federal fine(s) on record — no date context, so worth asking about directly.

2 doing well1 flaggedFull record ›
9.7Excellent

PACIFIC COAST MANOR

1935 WHARF ROAD, CAPITOLA, CA 95010

PACIFIC COAST MANOR brings a 5.0-star CMS rating, strong inspection scores (5.0/5), high quality measure scores (5.0/5), 1.17 RN hours per resident daily, and no federal fines on record. Worth asking: Mobility-decline rate is 25.2% — meaning that share of long-stay residents lost ability to move between measurements (above the national median of about 17%).

3 doing wellFull record ›
8.2Strong

MANRESA HEALTHCARE CENTER

919 FREEDOM BLVD, WATSONVILLE, CA 95076

MANRESA HEALTHCARE CENTER brings a 4.0-star CMS rating, strong inspection scores (4.0/5), low staff turnover (36%), and no federal fines on record. Worth asking: This facility changed ownership in the last 12 months.

1 flaggedFull record ›

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Questions families ask

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Common questions

How many licensed nursing homes are in Santa Cruz, CA?
8 licensed nursing homes in Santa Cruz, CA, drawn from federal CMS records and state licensing data.
How does Palmelle rank these nursing homes?
Each facility is ranked using a Clarity Score from 0 to 10, blending federal CMS inspection results and state licensing records. The same numbers regulators use.
What is the Palmelle Clarity Score?
A 0 to 10 transparency score built from federal CMS data and state licensing records. It reflects what inspectors found. Not opinions and not advertising.
Can Palmelle help our family pick the right one?
Yes. Help Me Choose is $199. We do the calling. You do the choosing. One named recommendation in 72 hours. Money back if we miss the 72-hour promise.

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