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The Californian of Santa Barbara

2225 De La Vina Street

4(11 ratings)· Santa Barbara average: 4.6

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The Californian of Santa Barbara, photo 11 / 5

Quick Facts

Total units
68
Medicare rating
5 of 5

CMS Care Compare

Ownership
For profit, Corporation
Certified beds
68
Inspections
View history (23 citations)
Quality rating
CMS 5-Star rated Medicare certified provider
Typical stay type
Short-term rehab stays after surgery
Family communication
Weekly social worker calls with rehab progress updates

What Families Think

Most reviewers describe The Californian as a caring, well-run skilled nursing and rehab facility, with several families praising staff communication, clean facilities, and successful short-term rehab stays after surgery. However, two reviews raise serious concerns about neglect, altered incident reports, and unresponsive staff, so experiences appear to vary.

The Good

  • Staff described as caring, patient, and attentive
  • Strong rehab outcomes after hip and knee surgery
  • Regular family updates from social worker and rehab team
  • Facility described as clean and well maintained
  • Food praised as fresh and well prepared
  • CMS 5-Star rated Medicare certified provider

The Bad

  • One detailed report of neglect, altered incident reports, and bed sores
  • One report of unresponsive staff and being hung up on repeatedly
  • One reviewer would not recommend it as a skilled facility
  • No published pricing information available

AI-generated from reviews and community data.

The Californian of Santa Barbara is a senior living community in Santa Barbara, California offering Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care. Amenities include Restaurant style Dining Room, Gathering / Activity Spaces and Social Activities. Families rate it 4.0 out of 5 across 11 reviews.

About The Californian of Santa Barbara

The Californian of Santa Barbara is a 68-bed skilled nursing and long-term care facility in Santa Barbara, California. It serves patients recovering from surgery and those requiring ongoing medical care.

Family experiences at the facility show a notable split. Families whose relatives had positive stays praised the staff's genuine attentiveness to residents as individuals, consistent family communication (including regular check-ins from assigned social workers), and the facility's homey atmosphere despite its institutional purpose. One family noted the rehab team helped their mother recover "so quickly" after knee replacement, and another highlighted the administrator's visible presence and investment in care standards. Activities and meal quality also drew positive mention.

However, other families reported concerns about inconsistent care delivery. One family described instances where call lights were unreachable, some nursing assistants appeared inattentive, and they felt compelled to stay long hours to ensure their mother received adequate care. Another family stated that necessary tasks were not completed for their relative. These accounts suggest variability in staff responsiveness and accountability.

The Californian holds a 4.0 Google rating across 11 reviews, though the spread from 5-star to 1-star accounts indicates meaningful differences in individual experiences.

Types of Care at The Californian of Santa Barbara

Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care

Amenities

Room Amenities

  • Emergency Call System
  • Private Bathroom
  • Private Rooms
  • Wheelchair Accessible

Meals & Dining

  • Dietary Accommodations (Gluten-Free, Low / No Sodium, No Sugar, Vegan)
  • Restaurant style Dining Room

Community Amenities

  • 24-Hour Staff
  • Gathering / Activity Spaces
  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry Service
  • Medication Management
  • On-Site Nurse (RN)

Activities

  • Social Activities (Happy Hour, Wine Tasting, Dances, Karaoke)

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Reviews of The Californian of Santa Barbara

4overall · 11 ratings combined

4★ on Google (11)

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Viridiana Lopez

Apr 2026

via Google ↗

I cannot say enough wonderful things about The Californian nursing home and the care they provided for my grandfather. From the moment he arrived, it was clear that the entire staff genuinely cared not just about their jobs, but about every resident as an individual. The administrator was exceptional always present, attentive, and truly invested in maintaining a high standard of care. The nurses and CNAs went above and beyond every single day, treating my grandfather with kindness, patience, and dignity. It gave our family so much peace of mind knowing he was in such capable and compassionate hands. The therapy team was equally impressive. The therapists were encouraging, knowledgeable, and dedicated to helping residents stay active and engaged. You could really see the positive impact they had. On top of that, the facility itself was always extremely clean and well maintained, which made a big difference in comfort and confidence. And the food honestly better than we expected was fresh, well prepared, and something my grandfather actually looked forward to. Because of the incredible experience we had, I felt completely confident recommending this facility to my fiancé for his grandmother. That’s how much trust I have in the people who work here. If you’re looking for a place where your loved one will be treated with respect, compassion, and genuine care, I highly recommend this nursing home.

Ben

Dec 2025

via Google ↗

Would not recommend it as a skilled facility. Things that needed to be done were not done for the service of our beloved family member.

Maria Ponce

Mar 2022

via Google ↗

This place has good and bad apples, like any other place! I was there from 10 to 7-8 o’clock at night just to make sure my mother was taken care of. Several times the calling light was left on the floor or away from her. Some CNAs would not answer the calls because they were to busy gossiping at the nurses station. Reports were “altered” to cover their negligence. If a patient falls down, the report to the families is always that the patient try to get up. Went I was a witness that that was incorrect! Even in this pandemic they lie to the families and I actually lost count of how many times they hanged up on me just because I was trying to get information about my mother. They lie, about the real situation the place is, some CNAs treat people without respect and empathy. Patients are push and ignore when they need something etc. My own mother would tell me NOT to say anything or complain because thing would get worse for her. She went to the hospital only because I asked them to call 911 and the nurse hung up on me. The hospital gave me a report; my mother had bruises and bed sores...

Stella Lyng

Apr 2019

via Google ↗

My mom lived here for four weeks after breaking her hip. The staff was not only caring and professional, but the communication with the family was outstanding! Every Wednesday I would get a call from Jonathan, the assigned social worker, and he would update me with all things pertaining to my mom and her rehabilitation. I also received a conference call with mom’s entire team who is helping her rehab, who updated me one by one with her progress. Her move back to her senior living facility when finished was seamless. We had a great experience with The Californian!

Eugena Fremont

Nov 2018

via Google ↗

This place was so great for my mom. She went here after a knee replacement and recovered so quickly. The rehab staff and nurses were so caring and helpful. The room my mom was in was large, but the whole place felt small and homey. They offered lots of activities and good food. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for this kind of care for a loved one.

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Government Inspection History

3 inspection visits in the last three years, 23 citations on file. Inspections are conducted by state agencies on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Mar 28, 2025Fire Safety StandardHealth Standard6 citations

  • Properly install and monitor supervisory attachments on automatic sprinkler systems.

    Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Apr 10, 2025

  • Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Mar 28, 2025

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

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Mar 28, 2025

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

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Apr 1, 2025

  • Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Mar 28, 2025

  • Provide properly protected cooking facilities.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Apr 21, 2025

Jan 12, 2024Fire Safety StandardHealth Standard10 citations

  • Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 19, 2024

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

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 19, 2024

  • 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 Jan 19, 2024

  • Encode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 19, 2024

  • Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 19, 2024

  • 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 Jan 19, 2024

  • 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 Jan 19, 2024

  • Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 19, 2024

  • Provide properly protected cooking facilities.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 18, 2024

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

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 18, 2024

Jul 22, 2022Fire Safety StandardHealth Standard7 citations

  • 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 Jul 22, 2022

  • Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 8, 2022

  • Meet requirements for the use of electrical equipment.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 8, 2022

  • Establish staff and initial training requirements.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 8, 2022

  • Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 8, 2022

  • 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 Jul 22, 2022

  • Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.

    Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jul 22, 2022

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of care does The Californian of Santa Barbara offer?

The Californian of Santa Barbara offers Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care.

Where is The Californian of Santa Barbara located?

The Californian of Santa Barbara is located at 2225 De La Vina Street in Santa Barbara, California.

What do families say about The Californian of Santa Barbara?

Most reviewers describe The Californian as a caring, well-run skilled nursing and rehab facility, with several families praising staff communication, clean facilities, and successful short-term rehab stays after surgery. However, two reviews raise serious concerns about neglect, altered incident reports, and unresponsive staff, so experiences appear to vary.

How did The Californian of Santa Barbara do on recent health and safety inspections?

The Californian of Santa Barbara had 3 government inspection visits in the last three years, with 23 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.

How can families visit The Californian of Santa Barbara?

Submit the Request Information form on this page to connect with The Californian of Santa Barbara and arrange a tour. Sharing your timeline and care needs up front helps the community prepare for your visit.

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