Driftwood Healthcare Center - Santa Cruz
675 24th Avenue · Santa Cruz, CA · 95062 · 8314756323
92 certified beds For profit - Limited Liability company Chain: Mariner Health Care
Why this verdict
- 3 citations involved actual harm to residents.
- No federal fines or payment denials in CMS’s 3-year window.
- Inspection results have improved across recent cycles.
The composite number cleared 73 points, but Recommended is gated: inspection record below the Recommended bar. That rule is part of the published method.
The complete Safety Report — $19
Everything on this page plus the full citation-by-citation history with inspector findings, the complete penalty record, staffing vs benchmarks, side-by-side nearby comparisons, and the printable tour checklist. One PDF, emailed in minutes, yours to keep and share with family.
Red flags
No red flags in the current CMS record. Genuinely good news — pair it with an in-person tour before deciding.
Score breakdown
Quality-measure stars are deliberately excluded — they're largely self-reported by facilities. Full method.
CMS ratings & staffing
Overall: 4 of 5 Inspections: 3 of 5 Staffing: 4 of 5 Quality measures: 5 of 5
| Total nurse hours / resident-day | 3.99 | 3.48 min · 4.1 strong |
|---|---|---|
| RN hours / resident-day | 0.63 | 0.55–0.75 |
| Weekend hours / resident-day | 3.64 | ≈ weekday level |
| Nursing turnover / year | 45% | median 45% |
| Fines (3-yr window) | none |
Inspection citations (51 in the current record)
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Potential for harm · E December 12, 2025
Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
Corrected January 9, 2026 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · D December 12, 2025
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Corrected January 9, 2026 · Pharmacy Service
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Potential for harm · E December 12, 2025
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.
Corrected January 9, 2026 · Pharmacy Service
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Potential for harm · E December 12, 2025
Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food prepared in a form designed to meet individual needs.
Corrected January 9, 2026 · Nutrition and Dietary
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Potential for harm · E December 12, 2025
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Corrected January 9, 2026 · Nutrition and Dietary
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Potential for harm · E December 12, 2025
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Corrected January 9, 2026 · Infection Control
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Potential for harm · D August 22, 2025 · found via complaint
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Corrected September 21, 2025 · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
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Potential for harm · D October 2, 2024 · found via complaint
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Corrected October 31, 2024 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · E June 24, 2024
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D June 24, 2024
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.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D June 24, 2024
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Resident Rights
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Potential for harm · D June 24, 2024
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning
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Potential for harm · E June 24, 2024
Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Resident Assessment and Care Planning
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Potential for harm · D June 24, 2024
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · D June 24, 2024
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · E June 24, 2024
Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · E June 24, 2024
Ensure that the facility has sufficient staff members who possess the competencies and skills to meet the behavioral health needs of residents.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · E June 24, 2024
Provide medically-related social services to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Quality of Life and Care
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Potential for harm · E June 24, 2024
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Pharmacy Service
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Potential for harm · D June 24, 2024
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Pharmacy Service
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Potential for harm · D June 24, 2024
Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Pharmacy Service
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Potential for harm · E June 24, 2024
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.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Pharmacy Service
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Potential for harm · D June 24, 2024
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Pharmacy Service
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Potential for harm · D June 24, 2024
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.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Pharmacy Service
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Potential for harm · E June 24, 2024
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Corrected July 17, 2024 · Nutrition and Dietary
Showing the 25 most recent. The Safety Report includes every citation with full findings.
Family & resident reviews — a separate signal, never mixed into the score
No approved reviews yet. If your family has experience with this facility, yours could be the review that helps the next family decide.
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Source: CMS Care Compare (public domain), data as of June 1, 2026 · CCN 055109 · certified since June 1, 1969. The score is a screen, not a verdict on any one resident's experience — read how it's computed, then visit in person.