1 / 5CMS Care Compare
Reviews of La Paloma Healthcare Center are sharply split: many families and patients praise the therapy teams and individual staff members by name for compassionate, effective rehabilitation, while a substantial number of other reviewers describe serious lapses in basic care such as slow call-button response, poor communication, and unsanitary conditions. The facility holds a CMS Five-Star rating for overall and quality measures, but day-to-day experience appears to vary significantly depending on which staff are on shift.
AI-generated from reviews and community data.
La Paloma Healthcare Center is a senior living community in Oceanside, California offering Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care. Amenities include Outdoor Patio, Gathering / Activity Spaces and Social Activities. Families rate it 3.4 out of 5 across 72 reviews.
La Paloma Healthcare Center is a skilled nursing facility located off Highway 78 in Oceanside, California. The community focuses on providing round-the-clock skilled nursing care in a supportive, home-like environment for individuals recovering from surgery, illness, or injury.
Licensed nurses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and care is provided according to a physician's customized care plan. The facility has been recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as a Five-Star Overall and Quality Measures facility, a rating based on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures.
Rehabilitation services include physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapy, delivered in an on-site rehab gym under the guidance of licensed therapists to help patients build strength, skills, and confidence for a return home. Staff also assist patients and families in preparing for life after discharge, including arranging outside services as needed.
The grounds include courtyards and a lobby where patients and visiting family can rest and gather, along with a maintained backyard area and patio tables that allow for outdoor picnics and quiet time. An engaging daily schedule of activities is offered so patients can remain as social and active as they choose during their stay.
The community provides personalized healthcare services and everyday living support aimed at helping residents feel comfortable and safe while working toward recovery.
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Help Me Choose3.4overall · 137 ratings combined
3.4★ on Google (72) · 3.5★ on Yelp (65) · Yelp page ↗
Dennis Potter
Jul 2026
My wife was at this facility for about two months. She was treated very well. She had physical therapy and occupational therapy and it was frequent and helped her very much. From the top people here to the workers that clean the room everyone was wonderful. I recommend La Paloma healthcare and I am thankful for all they did for my wife and me during this difficult period of time!
Laura B.
Jul 2026
I am still here and continue to appreciate the super nice staff: Ricardo Perez - CNA Emilio Ampuan ~ CNA Angel Mata Martinez - LVN Christina _ RN Gabriela Morales - CNA Ashley - PT They are helpful and remember things I like. They have a group chair exercise every Friday and it makes it more fun. The grounds are beautiful!!
Angela B.
Apr 2026
My dad was sent here after recovering from a month hospital stay due to blood clots. They kept him in bed and never walked him, which does not help when you have a PE. They had him do physical therapy for 10 minutes in a day. He was left alone in pain a lot of the time and the physical therapy needs improvement as well (I am in this field). This place is unkept, not clean and I feel like the staff is more socializing rather than working. because where are they if they aren't checking on patients? They were nice but there is a lot of room for improvement when taking care of patients, there needs to be more urgency. this place also needs a remodel.
Prncs D.
Apr 2026
Worst experience! I had an emergency surgery & was too weak to go home from the hospital 1) I was told Dr. Novac was my doctor while at the facility. Dr. Novac visited me once after I was admitted & barked questions at me. A couple of days later, there was confusion on my new prescriptions & I was concerned about my abdominal surgical site. I requested to talk to him again he refused to meet with me in the 11 days I was there. Husband called facility asking to speak to him & was told it wasn't permitted. (Red Flag) 2) Not once but twice, I had to correct 2 different CNA's? Nurses? about my meds being changed. In fact, I was already given meds that I wasn't supposed to take & I brought it up but was told I was mistaken. The young man who dispensed the meds, double checked & later apologized. The 2nd time it was a nurse, she argued with me, went out & grabbed the blister pack of pills to prove she was right & I had to point the name of meds on package & show her she was calling the meds by the wrong name! That was where the confusion was, both meds started with the same 2 letters. Scary! These are supposed to be professionals. 3) In 11 days, I was moved THREE times to 3 different rooms! I'm supposed to be resting to get stronger to go home. In all fairness, I initially requested to be moved to a quieter spot. The door to the rooms are generally left open & I had a light shining in my eyes all night long plus was in a very noisy busy area & they did move me in a day or 2. I was so grateful. This room was more quiet But every time the bathroom door was opened the stench of MOLD was super strong. I noticed there was a hole in the drywall under the sink & towels wrapped around pipes under the sink. One day, I had to let a cna know there was water on the bathroom floor which was mopped. Safety Issue! A few days later!! I was moved yet again. 3) In each room there are 3 beds. 1 bathroom. WARNING! It is not unusual for your roommate to be a sundowner. Be prepared for screaming and disruptive behavior all night. Nurses also come in the room at all hours to change their diaper and of course the lights go on & disrupt any sleep you might get. They are not quiet, either. I can't begin to tell you how anxious & stressed I became. Even with earplugs lights being shined all hours was so disruptive to sleeping. 4) Physical therapist & occupational therapists were very nice. However, I was super weak, had to use a walker, just had abdominal surgery & after a couple of sessions, I was so sore that I had to take tylenol and place ice on my abdomen for a few hours for 2 days. Knowing this, they continued to nudge me to do the exercises until I mentioned it to the head of the department in passing, then the exercises did become lighter. I was told by both therapists at different times I should have told them I was in pain during the session. But I tried to to tell them the discomfort did not happen during the sessions. Knowing how weak I was plus just having abdominal surgery possibly from the beginning warranted a gentler approach. 5) I had noticed that some "problem patients" would use the call button repeatedly for the nurses with stupid questions, etc. They were eventually ignored. But there is something so disturbing about hearing someone yell "NURSE" sometimes for hours. I was so stressed out. I was determined to be a good patient while here. It was clear to me that this facility was extremely understaffed. But ONE day I really needed to speak to a nurse. ONE DAY out of 11 days I pushed the nurse button only to be told the nurse would be right in. An hour later, I pushed the button & was told the nurse just had her break but would be right in. An hour later I tried again and was told yet another excuse. Nurse never came, I gave up and the next morning she came in to see what i wanted the night before without much interest. Very disappointing & frustrating. 6) Not always, but for the most part the food was less than cafeteria food. Some meals were ok. You fill out a meal form when you get there. I tried cold cereal for breakfast & it upset my stomach. I told 2 different people and also filled out another form but continued to get the food I couldn't eat. Sometimes, my roommate got my food by mistake and I got theirs. That's my experience. I hope it helps someone. In my case I was discharged from the hospital unexpectedly & my husband was contacted by a social worker or insurance agent (?) & was told I was going to La Paloma. This all happened within a couple of hours. Knowing what we know now, check with your insurance & see which facilities are covered. And if possible check the reviews. This was our first experience with a nursing facility and I'm not sure if they are all this bad, but it was a horrible experience.
Joan B.
Apr 2026
My 100-year-old mother was at La Paloma for 2 1/2 months and absolutely loved it as did I. She has in the last 15 or so years been in a variety of facilities, and this was the first one where she loved it so much, she felt sad to leave. Although the building is old, they are freshening it up, and it is very clean. Everyone there from the MDs, NP, PAs, nurses, OT, PT, speech therapist, CNAs, and housekeeping were beyond great. All showed a level of expertise, patience, and kindness. No matter how busy or sometimes understaffed the personnel were, not once did anyone act like helping out was a bother. All were pleasant, and happy. Oh, and my mom loved the food too (and she's a picky eater).
5 inspection visits in the last three years, 45 citations on file. Inspections are conducted by state agencies on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jun 24, 2025
Have properly located and lighted "Exit" signs.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jun 16, 2025
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jun 16, 2025
Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jun 24, 2025
Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jun 16, 2025
Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected May 9, 2025
Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected May 9, 2025
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 16, 2025
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 16, 2025
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 16, 2025
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected May 16, 2025
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Sep 28, 2023
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedFound during a complaint inspectionCorrected Sep 28, 2023
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Severity G of L: actual harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jul 29, 2021
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 29, 2021
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Plan the resident's discharge to meet the resident's goals and needs.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Set up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 16, 2021
Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 29, 2021
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.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Have a fire alarm with audible and visual signals that transmits the alarm automatically to notify emergency forces in event of fire.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jun 20, 2019
Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jun 20, 2019
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.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 6, 2019
To conduct inspection, testing and maintenance of fire doors by qualified individuals.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 20, 2019
Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 20, 2019
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 20, 2019
Have a policy regarding use and storage of foods brought to residents by family and other visitors.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Provide sufficient support personnel to safely and effectively carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Assist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jun 6, 2019
Source: CMS Care Compare, public federal data covering certified nursing facilities, refreshed monthly. Citations range from A (least serious) to L (most serious) on the federal scope and severity scale. Most citations are corrected quickly; review the details and ask the community about anything that concerns you.
La Paloma Healthcare Center offers Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care.
La Paloma Healthcare Center is located at 3232 Thunder Drive in Oceanside, California.
Reviews of La Paloma Healthcare Center are sharply split: many families and patients praise the therapy teams and individual staff members by name for compassionate, effective rehabilitation, while a substantial number of other reviewers describe serious lapses in basic care such as slow call-button response, poor communication, and unsanitary conditions. The facility holds a CMS Five-Star rating for overall and quality measures, but day-to-day experience appears to vary significantly depending on which staff are on shift.
La Paloma Healthcare Center had 5 government inspection visits in the last three years, with 45 citations on file according to CMS Care Compare data. The full history, including what each citation was for and whether it was corrected, is in the inspection section on this page.
Submit the Request Information form on this page to connect with La Paloma Healthcare Center and arrange a tour. Sharing your timeline and care needs up front helps the community prepare for your visit.
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