How to file a complaint about care →
No fines or payment denials in the published 3-year window.
Lake Balboa Care Center
16955 Vanowen Street, Van Nuys, CA 91406 (opens Google Maps) · Los Angeles County · (818) 343-0700· 50 certified beds · avg 46 residents/day · certified since May 1, 1972 · Medicare and Medicaid certified
Certified for both programmes. Certification means the facility can bill Medicaid — it does not mean a Medicaid-funded bed is free right now, so ask directly. Who pays for nursing home care →
Part of chain: THE ENSIGN GROUP (342 facilities, chain avg rating 3.2★)
3/5
Health inspection rating (on-site)
inspected Apr 12, 2026
0
Serious findings on record
$0
Fines, last 3 years
3.45
Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)
Every record stays on this page.
What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)
New to these records? How to read an inspection report →
Health inspection rating: ★★★☆☆3/5 · CMS overall rating: 4/5 · how star ratings work →
The health inspection star above is graded on a curve within each state — a set share of each state's facilities gets each star level — so a facility can have few citations and still rate 2–3 stars if others in its state did even better. The overall rating combines that inspection score with staffing and quality measures from resident assessments and claims.
Inspection findings in the public record
Showing the latest 3 of 28 inspection findings. Open the full record below to read every finding.
The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines. F-0656
The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. F-0684
The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication. F-0760
View all 28 inspection findingsShow only the latest 3 findings
CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed — that window is CMS's, not ours. Within it, every citation CMS publishes for this facility is listed here: none excluded.
| Date | Severity | What the facility was cited for |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2026 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines. · F-0656 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. · F-0684 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not keep residents free from significant medication errors — such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or missing a critical medication. · F-0760 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide. · F-0880 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not serve food and drinks that were appetizing, attractive, and at a safe and pleasant temperature. · F-0804 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards. · F-0812 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not dispose of garbage and refuse properly. · F-0814 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards. · F-0842 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | B · Potential for minimal harm, pattern | The facility had resident rooms smaller than required — at least 80 square feet per person in shared rooms and 100 square feet in single rooms. · F-0912 |
| Mar 12, 2026 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. · from a complaint · F-0684 |
| Mar 12, 2026 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not provide enough food and fluids to keep residents healthy, such as preventing unplanned weight loss or dehydration. · from a complaint · F-0692 |
| Mar 12, 2026 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards. · from a complaint · F-0812 |
| Mar 12, 2026 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not provide food that accounts for each resident's allergies, intolerances, and personal preferences, or did not offer appealing alternatives. · from a complaint · F-0806 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not keep residents' personal and medical information private and confidential. · from a complaint · F-0583 |
| Dec 5, 2025 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide. · from a complaint · F-0880 |
| Mar 30, 2025 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not treat residents with dignity and respect, or did not honor their rights to make their own decisions and communicate freely. This is one of the most fundamental resident rights. · F-0550 |
| Mar 30, 2025 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not keep residents' personal and medical information private and confidential. · F-0583 |
| Mar 30, 2025 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not provide safe and appropriate pain management for a resident who needed it. · F-0697 |
| Mar 30, 2025 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide. · F-0880 |
| Mar 30, 2025 | B · Potential for minimal harm, pattern | The facility had resident rooms smaller than required — at least 80 square feet per person in shared rooms and 100 square feet in single rooms. · F-0912 |
| Dec 18, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals. · from a complaint · F-0684 |
| Dec 13, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide. · from a complaint · F-0880 |
| Mar 21, 2024 | E · Potential for more than minimal harm, pattern | The facility did not provide pharmacy services that meet each resident's needs, or did not employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist. · F-0755 |
| Mar 21, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not treat residents with dignity and respect, or did not honor their rights to make their own decisions and communicate freely. This is one of the most fundamental resident rights. · F-0550 |
| Mar 21, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not make reasonable adjustments to fit each resident's individual needs and preferences — things like call buttons within reach, preferred wake-up times, or accessible room setups. · F-0558 |
| Mar 21, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not honor residents' rights to request, refuse, or stop treatment, to decline participation in medical research, or to make an advance directive — a written statement of their wishes for future medical care. · F-0578 |
| Mar 21, 2024 | D · Potential for more than minimal harm, isolated | The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards. · F-0812 |
| Mar 21, 2024 | B · Potential for minimal harm, pattern | The facility had resident rooms smaller than required — at least 80 square feet per person in shared rooms and 100 square feet in single rooms. · F-0912 |
Inspection trend by year
Citations from standard inspections increased between the last two inspection cycles (5 → 9).
All citationsSerious citations (G–L)
2024
All citations: 8
Serious citations (G–L): 0
2025
All citations: 6
Serious citations (G–L): 0
2026
All citations: 14
Serious citations (G–L): 0
All bars start at zero. Exact values and supporting details remain below.
| Year | Citations | Serious (G–L) | Worst severity that year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | E |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | D |
| 2026 | 14 | 0 | E |
Counts reflect the current CMS public record (~3 inspection cycles plus complaint investigations); years with no surveys show no row. Inspection frequency varies, so compare severity as well as counts.
Fines and enforcement (last 3 years)
Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)
What these staffing numbers mean →
This facilityCalifornia averageU.S. average
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)
This facility: 3.45
California average: 4.31
U.S. average: 3.95
Registered Nurse hours
This facility: 0.70
California average: 0.61
U.S. average: 0.69
Weekend total nurse staffing
This facility: 2.88
California average: 3.90
U.S. average: 3.50
All bars start at zero. Exact values and supporting details remain below.
| Measure | This facility | California avg | U.S. avg | Where it stands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day) | 3.45 | 4.31 | 3.95 | bottom 9% in California; bottom 34% in the U.S. |
| Registered Nurse hours | 0.70 | 0.61 | 0.69 | top 24% in California; top 36% in the U.S. |
| Weekend total nurse staffing | 2.88 | 3.90 | 3.50 | bottom 2% in California; bottom 25% in the U.S. |
| Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted) | 0.45 | 0.51 | 0.48 | top 38% in California; top 40% in the U.S. |
| Total nursing staff turnover (%) | 26.7 | 36.7 | 45.8 | top 21% in California; top 9% in the U.S. |
| RN turnover (%) | 30.0 | 38.1 | 42.9 | top 38% in California; top 29% in the U.S. |
Hours are per resident per day for the most recent quarter of payroll data in this CMS release (2026-08-01) — the same quarter for every facility — case-mix adjusted by CMS so facilities caring for sicker residents can be compared fairly (same basis as the CMS staffing star). "Top X%" means better than most facilities: more staffing hours, or lower turnover. Raw (unadjusted) reported hours: total 4.95, RN 1.01, weekend 4.13.Comparing with Medicare Care Compare? Care Compare shows the raw figure (4.95 here, displayed there as hours and minutes), not the adjusted one above. Both are correct; they answer different questions. Staffing rating: 3/5.
Quality measures: assessments & claims
Note: CMS combines facility-reported resident assessments (MDS) with claims-based measures. These are different sources from on-site inspection findings. Read the measures alongside inspection and staffing records; a high QM rating does not establish that a home is safe.
Quality measures rating: 5/5 · long-stay residents: —/5 · short-stay residents: 5/5
Costs & payment
Price evidence · separate from quality
No verified facility-specific private-pay price is available in our data for Lake Balboa Care Center. CMS inspection and staffing records do not tell us what this home will charge you.
Calculate a stay from a quote you receive
Use a written private-pay quote. This worksheet adds only the amounts you enter; it does not calculate Medicare, Medicaid or insurance benefits.
Formula: (room rate + daily extras) × days + one-time charges. A 30-day scenario is not a calendar-month quote. Refundable deposits, rate changes and charges you omit are not automatically included. Entries are not saved or sent to our server.
Before you compare prices
- Request the room type, effective date and itemized daily rate in writing.
- Ask about therapy, medicines, supplies, care-level charges, deposits, refunds and annual increases.
- Confirm insurance or Medicaid eligibility and bed availability directly; certification alone does not guarantee either.
Understand who pays for care · How we handle price evidence · Report an incorrect price
Who owns this facility
How to read ownership records →
Ownership records as published by CMS on 2026-08-01. CMS records when an owner joined but not when they left. Listed here and no longer involved? Tell us →
For profit - Corporation
| Owner / manager | Type | Role | Stake | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barron, Craig | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2023 |
| Barron, Craig | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2023 |
| Barron, Craig | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2023 |
| Burnam, Soon | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 11/08/2022 |
| Ensign Services INC | Organization | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 11/01/2022 |
| Gamero, Alicia | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/01/2023 |
| Keetch, Chad | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 03/01/2011 |
| Port, Barry | Individual | Individual Is an Owner, Partner or Trustee of Any ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 06/29/2025 |
| Sato, Ami | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 09/09/2024 |
| Shirazi, Keyvan | Individual | Managing Control - Governing Body | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2023 |
| Shirazi, Keyvan | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2023 |
| Shirazi, Keyvan | Individual | ADP of the SNF | NOT APPLICABLE | 02/01/2023 |
| Willits, Adam | Individual | Corporate Director | NOT APPLICABLE | 11/08/2022 |
All 13 owning or managing parties CMS has on file are shown — none excluded.
Other facilities in the same chain
CMS lists this facility under the chain The Ensign Group — 342 facilities in the current records. Chain membership says who operates these homes. It says nothing about how any individual one of them was inspected; each has its own record.
- Lemon Grove Care and Rehabilitation Center — Lemon Grove, CA · overall 3/5
- Lomita Post-Acute Care Center — Lomita, CA · overall 3/5
- Madera Post Acute Center — El Monte, CA · overall 1/5
- Magnolia Post Acute Care — El Cajon, CA · overall 3/5abuse
- Mainplace Post Acute — Orange, CA · overall 2/5
- Mission Care Center — Rosemead, CA · overall 4/5
- Mission Hills Post Acute Care — San Diego, CA · overall 4/5
- New Orange Hills — Orange, CA · overall 1/5
Listed by state, then facility name — not a ranking. Showing 8 of the 341 others, continuing from this facility's own place in that list.
Questions to ask on your visit
Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.
- "Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
- "How do you make sure each resident's care follows the doctor's orders, and what changed after this citation?"
- "What systems do you use to prevent medication errors, and what happens when one occurs?"
- "Who leads your infection prevention program, and how do you make sure staff follow practices like hand hygiene every day?"
- "Could I join residents for a meal to see the food quality and temperature for myself?"
- "What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
- "Can I see where garbage is stored and how often it's removed?"
- "How do you keep residents' medical records accurate, complete, and secure?"
Also worth asking anywhere
- "Your weekend nurse staffing is reported below the California midpoint — how does the weekend schedule differ from a weekday?"
- "Can I see the plan of correction for the findings in your most recent state inspection?"
- "CMS reports 27% total nursing staff turnover here — who on the care team has been with you longest?"
- "The ownership record on file lists 13 owning or managing parties — who makes the decisions about staffing levels?"
- "Can I visit again unannounced, at a mealtime or on a weekend?"
Nearby facilities (12 closest of 168 within 20 miles)
| Facility | Distance | City | Overall | Inspection | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center | 1.7 mi | Van Nuys, CA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Berkley Post-Acute | 1.7 mi | Van Nuys, CA | ★★★☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Terrace Post Acute | 1.9 mi | Van Nuys, CA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Park View Nursing and Subacute | 2.3 mi | Reseda, CA | ★★☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Eisenberg Village | 2.3 mi | Reseda, CA | ★★★☆☆ | 3/5 | |
| Encino Hospital Medical Center D/P SNF | 2.6 mi | Encino, CA | ★★★★★ | 5/5 | |
| Northridge Care Center | 2.6 mi | Reseda, CA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Tarzana Health and Rehabilitation Center | 2.7 mi | Tarzana, CA | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | abuse |
| Joyce Eisenberg Keefer Medical Center D/P SNF | 2.9 mi | Reseda, CA | ★★★★☆ | 3/5 | |
| The Meadows Post Acute | 3.0 mi | Panorama City, CA | ★★☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| The Care Center on Hazeltine, LLC | 3.4 mi | Van Nuys, CA | ★★★★☆ | 3/5 | |
| Woodland Care Center | 3.5 mi | Reseda, CA | ★★☆☆☆ | 1/5 | SFF |
Compare this facility with the 3 closest →
Other facilities in the same county
CMS records place this facility in Los Angeles, CA — 369 certified facilities there. These are outside the 20-mile list above, or far enough down it not to appear.
- Lakewood Healthcare Center — Downey, CA · overall 1/5abuseSFF
- Landmark Medical Center — Pomona, CA · overall 2/5abuse
- Las Flores Convalescent Hospital — Gardena, CA · overall 1/5
- Laurel Park Behavioral Health Center — Pomona, CA · overall 3/5
- Lawndale Healthcare & Wellness Centre LLC — Lawndale, CA · overall 1/5abuse
- Leisure Glen Post Acute Care Center — Glendale, CA · overall 4/5
- Lighthouse Healthcare Center — Los Angeles, CA · overall 1/5
- Live Oak Rehab Center — San Gabriel, CA · overall 1/5abuse
Listed by facility name — not a ranking. Homes already in the table above are not repeated here.
Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 056180.
This page is the printable visit checklist. If your browser did not open the print dialog automatically, use File → Print (Ctrl/⌘-P).