Buena Vista Care Center
Santa Barbara, CA · Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home (CCN 555394) · 150 certified beds
Health inspection: 2 · Quality measures: 4 · Staffing: 3
Federal fines: none on current record
Phone: (805) 964-4871 · Verify on Medicare Care Compare ↗
Buena Vista Care Center has a CMS overall star rating of 2 out of 5, which is below the California state average of about 3.16 stars. Its health inspection rating is 2 stars and its staffing rating is 3 stars.
Buena Vista Care Center reports total nurse staffing of about 3.91 hours per resident per day, including 0.44 RN hours per resident per day, with a staffing star rating of 3 out of 5. CMS also reports a nursing staff turnover rate of 47.6% at this facility.
CMS records show no federal fines on record for Buena Vista Care Center, with zero fines totaling $0.00 and no payment denials. There is no CMS abuse icon or Special Focus Facility designation listed for this facility in the available data.
About this facility
Buena Vista Care Center is a Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in Santa Barbara, California, first approved for participation in 1989. The facility is certified for 150 beds and reports an average daily census of 120.3 residents. It is operated under a for-profit limited liability company structure and is part of the Covenant Care chain, which includes 12 facilities nationally averaging a 2.8-star overall rating. There has been no ownership change in the past 12 months.
According to CMS Care Compare, Buena Vista Care Center holds an overall star rating of 2 out of 5, which falls below the California state average of 3.16 stars. Its component ratings are: health inspection rating of 2 stars, quality measure (QM) rating of 4 stars, and staffing rating of 3 stars.
CMS-reported nurse staffing levels show total nurse hours of 3.91 per resident per day, with registered nurse (RN) hours at 0.44 per resident per day. The facility's reported nursing staff turnover rate is 47.6%.
On penalties, CMS records show no federal fines on record for this facility (0 fines, $0.00 total) and no payment denials on record.
No abuse icon or Special Focus Facility designation is indicated in the available CMS data for this listing.
Source: CMS Medicare Care Compare.
Questions families ask
What is this nursing home's CMS overall star rating and how does it compare to the state average?
Buena Vista Care Center has an overall rating of 2 out of 5 stars, below the California state average of 3.16 stars.
Does this facility accept Medicare, Medicaid, or both?
Yes, it is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid.
How well is this facility staffed — nurse hours per resident and turnover?
Total nurse staffing is about 3.91 hours per resident per day, including 0.44 RN hours, with a staffing rating of 3 stars and a nursing turnover rate of 47.6%.
Does this facility have federal fines or penalties on record?
No, CMS records show 0 fines totaling $0.00 and no payment denials for this facility.
Has CMS flagged this facility for abuse or placed it in the Special Focus program?
The available CMS data does not indicate an abuse icon or Special Focus Facility status for this listing.
How large is this facility and how many residents live there?
Buena Vista Care Center is certified for 150 beds and has an average daily census of 120.3 residents.
Who owns this facility — and is it part of a chain?
It is owned by a for-profit limited liability company and is part of the Covenant Care chain, which has 12 facilities averaging a 2.8-star rating.
How long has this facility been Medicare/Medicaid certified?
It has been certified since November 20, 1989.
What do the four different CMS star ratings mean?
CMS publishes an overall rating plus separate ratings for health inspections, staffing, and quality measures; this facility scores 2, 2, 3, and 4 stars respectively.
Does this facility offer short-term rehabilitation as well as long-term care?
The provided CMS data does not specify service lines; contact the facility at 8059644871 and verify on Medicare Care Compare.
What should I look for when touring this facility?
The data provided does not cover tour details; contact the facility at 8059644871 and verify on Medicare Care Compare.
How do I verify this facility's current record on Medicare Care Compare?
You can review the facility's current CMS ratings and inspection history at https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/nursing-home/555394?state=CA.
Data: CMS Care Compare (Aug2026 refresh). Star ratings, staffing hours, and penalty records are CMS's official published measures. Always tour the facility, review the current inspection record, and verify details with Medicare before making care decisions.