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Santa Clara County

Palo Alto Post-Acute Complaints, Violations and Inspection Records

Reviewed by Thomas Wallin, Young & Wallin

Data current as of the August 2026 CMS Care Compare release and the CDPH state enforcement dataset of August 27, 2024. State citation records cover July 1, 1997 through June 30, 2024.

What the public record shows

If you are looking into Palo Alto Post-Acute in Palo Alto, whether a loved one lives there now or you are considering it, the public record is worth reading before you decide. Federal and state inspectors publish what they find.

CMS overall rating 4 of 5 Health inspections 3 of 5
Nursing hours per resident per day 4.32 Compared with the California average below
California state citations 7 $11,300 in penalties
Federal fines $0 No federal fines on record
CMS overall rating
CMS overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Nursing hours per resident per day, against the California average
This facility reports 4.32 nursing hours per resident per day, below the California average of 4.52.
California state citations by year
California state citations by year, between 2012 and 2020: 7 citations on record, including 7 class B.

Here is what the record shows for this facility, drawn from CMS Care Compare and the California Department of Public Health:

  • CMS overall rating: 4 of 5 stars. The health inspection rating, the most independent of the three categories, is 3 of 5.
  • California state citations: 7 on record, including 7 class B, with $11,300 in assessed penalties.
  • Staffing: 4.32 nursing hours per resident per day; registered nurse turnover 52.6%.
  • Most recent standard inspection: 17 deficiencies cited on May 30, 2025.
  • Federal enforcement: no federal fines on record in the reported period.
  • Ownership: Covenant Care California, LLC, for-profit, part of Covenant Care (12 facilities nationally).
Entrance of a California skilled nursing facility on a clear morning. Illustration on the page for Palo Alto Post-Acute in Palo Alto, California.
Illustration. Not a photograph of Palo Alto Post-Acute.

Palo Alto Post-Acute ratings and staffing

Palo Alto Post-Acute is located at 911 Bryant Street in Palo Alto, Santa Clara County. It is a for-profit facility operated by Covenant Care California, LLC, part of Covenant Care, with 66 certified beds and an average of 62.7 residents a day. It accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

CMS rates every certified nursing home in three separate categories, and the overall star is a blend of them:

  • Health inspections, based on what state surveyors observe in person during unannounced visits. Weight this one most heavily, because it does not rely on data the facility reports about itself.
  • Staffing, drawn from payroll-based records of how much nursing time each resident actually receives.
  • Quality measures, built largely from data the facility submits. Read a high score here with more caution than the other two.

For Palo Alto Post-Acute, those scores are: health inspections 3 of 5, staffing 3 of 5, quality measures 5 of 5.

Staffing. Palo Alto Post-Acute reports 4.32 total nursing hours per resident per day, of which 1.21 are registered nurse hours. Over the reporting year, 45.2% of the nursing staff left. Registered nurses supervise aides, catch medication errors before they reach a resident, and notice when a person's condition is changing. Staffing is the single number that most reliably predicts whether a facility catches a problem early or lets it become a crisis.

How this home compares in the public record

CMS publishes each home's star rating and its payroll-based staffing hours, and it publishes the federal fines it has imposed. The county and California figures beside each number are the averages across those same published records.

CMS overall rating 4 of 5 Santa Clara County average 3.52 of 5 across 50 rated homes. California average 3.16 of 5 across 1,154 rated homes
Nursing hours per resident per day 4.32 Santa Clara County average 4.45. California average 4.52
Federal fines $0 Santa Clara County average $13,032 per home. California average $24,666 per home

These figures are taken from public CMS Care Compare records as of August 2026 (the August 2026 release) and public CDPH records as of June 2024 (the state enforcement dataset of August 27, 2024). They are reported as published and are not a recommendation, endorsement or assessment of any facility by this firm. How these figures were assembled.

Homes in Santa Clara County with a higher CMS overall rating

CMS rates each of these homes above Palo Alto Post-Acute on the overall star rating it publishes. The rating is one measure of a facility's record, and each page below carries that home's own inspection findings, staffing hours and citation history.

These figures are taken from public CMS Care Compare records as of August 2026 (the August 2026 release) and public CDPH records as of June 2024 (the state enforcement dataset of August 27, 2024). They are reported as published and are not a recommendation, endorsement or assessment of any facility by this firm. How these figures were assembled.

Federal inspection findings and penalties

Scope and severity A to C means no actual harm, with potential for minimal harm. Scope and severity D to F means no actual harm, with potential for more than minimal harm. Scope and severity G to I means actual harm that is not immediate jeopardy. Scope and severity J to L means immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.

May 30, 2025, standard inspection

17 deficiencies cited. Surveyors cited the facility for ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature, procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards, and provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

  • F0804Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature. (scope and severity F)
  • F0812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (scope and severity F)
  • F0880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (scope and severity E)
  • F0881Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use. (scope and severity E)
  • F0550Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (scope and severity D)
  • F0583Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (scope and severity D)
  • F0605Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function. (scope and severity D)
  • F0656Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (scope and severity D)
  • F0684Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. (scope and severity D)
  • F0697Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services. (scope and severity D)
  • F0700Try 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. (scope and severity D)
  • F0755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. (scope and severity D)
  • F0756Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures. (scope and severity D)
  • F0757Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs. (scope and severity D)
  • F0759Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater. (scope and severity D)
  • F0761Ensure 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. (scope and severity D)
  • F0912Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms. (scope and severity B)

February 26, 2024, standard and complaint inspections

11 deficiencies cited. Surveyors cited the facility for procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards, dispose of garbage and refuse properly, and develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

  • F0812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (scope and severity F)
  • F0814Dispose of garbage and refuse properly. (scope and severity F)
  • F0656Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (scope and severity E)
  • F0700Try 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. (scope and severity E)
  • F0880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (scope and severity E)
  • F0645PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities (scope and severity D)
  • F0755Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. (scope and severity D)
  • F0761Ensure 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. (scope and severity D)
  • F0806Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options. (scope and severity D)
  • F0919Make sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area. (scope and severity D)
  • F0912Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms. (scope and severity B)

January 31, 2024, complaint inspection

1 deficiency cited. Surveyors cited the facility for respond appropriately to all alleged violations.

  • F0610Respond appropriately to all alleged violations. (scope and severity D)

April 8, 2022, standard inspection

9 deficiencies cited. Surveyors cited the facility for ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents, ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures, and 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.

  • F0689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (scope and severity E)
  • F0756Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures. (scope and severity E)
  • F0758Implement 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. (scope and severity E)
  • F0812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (scope and severity E)
  • F0880Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (scope and severity E)
  • F0637Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition (scope and severity D)
  • F0684Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. (scope and severity D)
  • F0761Ensure 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. (scope and severity D)
  • F0912Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms. (scope and severity D)

Penalties. CMS records show no federal fines for Palo Alto Post-Acute in the reported period.

California state citations

California inspects and cites nursing homes separately from the federal government. The Department of Public Health issues three classes of citation. A class AA citation is a class A violation that the Department of Public Health determined was a direct proximate cause of a resident's death. A class A citation is a violation the Department determined presented an imminent danger of death or serious harm to residents, or a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm would result. A class B citation is a violation the Department determined had a direct or immediate relationship to residents' health, safety or security, other than a class AA or A violation.

State records show 7 citations against Palo Alto Post-Acute between August 1, 2012 and August 27, 2020: 7 class B, with $11,300 in assessed penalties.

  • August 27, 2020, class B, Other. $1,000 penalty.
  • February 26, 2020, class B, Administration. $1,400 penalty. Appealed.
  • February 26, 2020, class B, Patient Care. $1,400 penalty. Appealed.
  • April 18, 2018, class B, Medication. $2,000 penalty.
  • July 14, 2017, class B, Patient Rights. $2,000 penalty.
  • July 14, 2017, class B, Abuse/Facility Not Self Reported. $2,000 penalty.
  • August 1, 2012, class B, Patient Care. $1,500 penalty. Appealed.

Across Santa Clara County's 50 certified facilities, the average is about 12.5 state citations per facility. Palo Alto Post-Acute's 7 is below that average.

A citation marked "Appealed." is under appeal, so it is not a final determination. A citation records a determination by state surveyors. A citation does not by itself establish that any particular resident was injured or that the facility is liable to anyone.

Other nursing homes in Palo Alto

Families comparing options in Palo Alto often look at these facilities as well. Each link opens that facility's full public record:

See every facility in the Santa Clara County nursing home directory.

Other nursing homes in Santa Clara County

These are other nursing homes in Santa Clara County, listed by how close each home's ZIP code is to the ZIP code for Palo Alto Post-Acute. The public record gives a street address but no coordinates, so distance is not measured; homes in the same ZIP code appear first. No rating or inspection figure is used to order this list.

This list is drawn from public CMS Care Compare records as of August 2026 (the August 2026 release) and public CDPH records as of June 2024 (the state enforcement dataset of August 27, 2024). It is ordered by location only and is not a recommendation, endorsement or assessment of any facility by this firm. How these figures were assembled.

Couple reading a nursing home inspection report together at home. Illustration on the page for Palo Alto Post-Acute in Palo Alto, California.
Couple reading a nursing home inspection report together at home

What to do if you are worried about care at this facility

You will usually notice something is wrong before anyone official does, and you do not need proof before you act. If you are concerned about care at Palo Alto Post-Acute, you can take these steps:

Write down what you see. Note dates, times, and specific concerns, and photograph anything relevant. A clear, contemporaneous record matters if an investigation follows.

File a complaint with the California Department of Public Health. CDPH licenses and inspects skilled nursing facilities and investigates complaints, and a serious complaint can trigger an on-site inspection. You can file online through CDPH's Cal Health Find system, which routes your complaint to the Santa Clara County licensing district office.

Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The ombudsman is a free advocate who will visit your loved one, look into your concerns, and press the facility on their behalf. Santa Clara County's ombudsman program can be reached at (408) 944-0567. This is often the fastest first step when the issue is care quality rather than an emergency.

For the full walkthrough, see How to report nursing home abuse in California.

Injuries that most often signal neglect

The injuries below are the ones most often at issue in California nursing home cases. Any one of them at Palo Alto Post-Acute is a reason to ask what the facility's own records show:

Nursing home abuse claims in Santa Clara County

If a loved one was harmed at Palo Alto Post-Acute, these pages explain how Santa Clara County families pursue the most common nursing home claims, each with local facility data and the county long-term care ombudsman:

You can also compare every home in the Santa Clara County nursing home directory.

Are There Lawsuits Against Palo Alto Post-Acute?

This page reports federal and state inspection, complaint and enforcement records for Palo Alto Post-Acute. Those records are separate from civil lawsuits: a government citation is not a lawsuit, and a facility can be sued without ever being cited. This site does not track civil court filings. Civil cases against California skilled nursing facilities are usually filed in the Superior Court of the county where the facility is located; records for Santa Clara County are searchable through the Santa Clara County Superior Court's online case records. If your family member was injured at Palo Alto Post-Acute, the records that matter most are usually the resident's own: nursing notes, care plans, fall-risk assessments, wound records, medication administration records, physician orders and incident reports. Talk to us about what happened.

Family touring a California nursing home and asking staff questions. Illustration on the page for Palo Alto Post-Acute in Palo Alto, California.
Family touring a California nursing home and asking staff questions

Frequently asked questions

Is Palo Alto Post-Acute a good nursing home?
CMS gives Palo Alto Post-Acute an overall rating of 4 of 5 stars, with a health inspection rating of 3 of 5 based on in-person state surveys. California has issued 7 state citations against the facility. A rating is a starting point, not a verdict. Read it alongside the inspection dates and what you see for yourself.
What should I do if my loved one was injured at Palo Alto Post-Acute?
Document the injury with dated photos, request the care plan and treatment records, and report your concern to the California Department of Public Health and the Santa Clara County Long-Term Care Ombudsman. If the injury is serious, such as a bedsore, a fall, or an untreated infection, you can also speak with a nursing home attorney about whether you have a claim.
Has Palo Alto Post-Acute been fined or cited for serious violations?
Public records show 7 California state citations with $11,300 in state penalties.
How many state citations does Palo Alto Post-Acute have?
The California Department of Public Health has issued 7 citations against Palo Alto Post-Acute in Palo Alto between August 1, 2012 and August 27, 2020: 7 class B, with $11,300 in assessed penalties.
How do I report a problem at Palo Alto Post-Acute?
File a complaint with CDPH through its Cal Health Find system, or contact the Santa Clara County Long-Term Care Ombudsman at (408) 944-0567. In an emergency, call Adult Protective Services or 911.

If your loved one was harmed

We came to this work from the other side. We spent years defending nursing homes, which means we know how a facility builds a file to protect itself and where the gaps in that file tend to be. Under California's Elder Abuse Act (Welfare and Institutions Code sections 15600 to 15675), a family that proves, by clear and convincing evidence, that neglect was committed with recklessness, oppression, fraud or malice can recover remedies beyond an ordinary injury claim, including attorney's fees (section 15657).

If your loved one was harmed at Palo Alto Post-Acute, talk to our Santa Clara County nursing home abuse lawyers. We handle cases in Palo Alto and across California. The consultation is free and confidential, we are available around the clock, and you owe nothing unless we recover for you.

Call (888) 999-0169. Available 24/7. Free consultation. No fee unless we win.

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Sources

  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Care Compare: Palo Alto Post-Acute provider record, CCN 055646. Ratings, staffing, and federal deficiency data processed August 1, 2026.
  • CMS Provider Data Catalog: Provider Information, Penalties, and Health Deficiencies datasets.
  • California Department of Public Health, Cal Health Find: Palo Alto Post-Acute state license record, FACID 220001046, license 220000425.
  • California Department of Public Health, Health Facilities State Enforcement Actions dataset (CHHS Open Data), citations July 1, 1997 through June 30, 2024.

Disclaimer

The inspection data, ratings, citations, staffing figures, and ownership information on this page come from public sources, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (medicare.gov) and the California Department of Public Health. This information is reported as published by those sources and may not reflect the most current findings or conditions at the facility. Deficiencies and citations listed may have been corrected or appealed since the date shown. Inclusion of Palo Alto Post-Acute in this directory is not a statement, allegation, or suggestion that the facility has committed abuse, neglect, or any wrongdoing. This page is attorney advertising and an information resource. It is not legal advice, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Young & Wallin is not affiliated with Palo Alto Post-Acute, and neither the facility nor any government agency endorses this page.

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