Monterey Palms Health Care Center

Name: Monterey Palms Health Care Center
Address: 44610 MONTEREY AVENUE, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, US
Telephone: 7607767700

44610 Monterey Avenue, Palm Desert, CA 92260 · Riverside County · 99 certified beds · avg 92 residents/day · certified since Dec 8, 1989

Part of chain: MARINER HEALTH CARE (17 facilities, chain avg rating 3.6★)

2/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

Fines, last 3 years

5.20

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)

Health inspection rating: ★★☆☆☆2/5 · CMS overall rating: 3/5

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 self-reported quality measures.

All citations in the current public record (39)

CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed.

Date	Severity	What the facility was cited for
Jun 17, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide each resident with a nourishing, tasty, well-balanced diet that meets their daily nutritional and special dietary needs. · from a complaint
May 14, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not label drugs according to professional standards or did not store them in locked compartments, with controlled drugs (medications with a high risk of misuse) kept under a separate lock.
May 14, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not have enough support staff to safely and effectively run its food and nutrition service.
May 14, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility's menus did not meet residents' nutritional needs, or were not prepared in advance, followed as written, kept up to date, or reviewed by a dietician.
May 14, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not prepare and serve food in a form that meets each resident's individual needs — for example, chopped, pureed, or softened food for residents with chewing or swallowing problems.
May 14, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide food that accounts for each resident's allergies, intolerances, and personal preferences, or did not offer appealing alternatives.
May 14, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not make sure special medical diets — like low-sodium or diabetic diets — were properly ordered by the resident's doctor or managed by a qualified dietitian as state law allows.
May 14, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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.
May 14, 2026	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not keep all essential equipment working safely — things like heating and cooling systems, kitchen equipment, and medical devices.
May 14, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not make sure residents were fully informed about their own health, care, and treatments in a way they could understand.
May 14, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility gave residents unnecessary mind-altering (psychotropic) medications, or used drugs in a way that restrained residents by dulling their ability to think, move, or function.
May 14, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide treatment and care that follows the doctor's orders and matches the resident's own preferences and goals.
May 14, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it.
May 14, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide pharmacy services that meet each resident's needs, or did not employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist.
May 14, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide special eating equipment and utensils — like adaptive cups or easy-grip silverware — for residents who need them, along with appropriate help at meals.
May 14, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not dispose of garbage and refuse properly.
Jan 29, 2026	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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. · from a complaint
Jun 13, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide pharmacy services that meet each resident's needs, or did not employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist. · from a complaint
Jun 13, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards. · from a complaint
Jan 31, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not have enough support staff to safely and effectively run its food and nutrition service.
Jan 31, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility's menus did not meet residents' nutritional needs, or were not prepared in advance, followed as written, kept up to date, or reviewed by a dietician.
Jan 31, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not serve food and drinks that were appetizing, attractive, and at a safe and pleasant temperature.
Jan 31, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	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.
Jan 31, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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.
Jan 31, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide the help residents need with basic daily activities — like bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom — for residents who cannot do these things on their own.
Jan 31, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not label drugs according to professional standards or did not store them in locked compartments, with controlled drugs (medications with a high risk of misuse) kept under a separate lock.
Jan 31, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide food that accounts for each resident's allergies, intolerances, and personal preferences, or did not offer appealing alternatives.
Jan 31, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not dispose of garbage and refuse properly.
Jan 31, 2025	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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.
Jul 2, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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. · from a complaint
Apr 19, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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. · from a complaint
Mar 21, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not dispose of garbage and refuse properly. · from a complaint
Dec 11, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not protect residents from abuse or neglect. This covers physical, mental, and sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect, by anyone — staff, other residents, or visitors. · from a complaint
Oct 9, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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
Sep 14, 2023	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, including safe support for residents' daily living needs. · from a complaint
Mar 6, 2023	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not label drugs according to professional standards or did not store them in locked compartments, with controlled drugs (medications with a high risk of misuse) kept under a separate lock.
Mar 6, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility provided care that did not meet professional standards of quality — the accepted standards that nurses and other clinicians are expected to follow.
Mar 6, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide appropriate care related to bladder and bowel needs — including care for residents who use catheters and steps to prevent urinary tract infections.
Mar 6, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	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.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections increased between the last two inspection cycles (10 → 15).

Year	Citations	Worst severity that year
2023	7	E
2024	3	D
2025	12	E
2026	17	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)

No fines or payment denials in the published 3-year window.

Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)

Measure	This facility	California avg	U.S. avg	Where it stands
Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day)	5.20	4.31	3.95	top 11% in California; top 10% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	0.44	0.61	0.69	bottom 41% in California; bottom 28% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	4.81	3.90	3.50	top 9% in California; top 8% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.22	0.51	0.48	bottom 15% in California; bottom 16% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	41.0	36.7	45.8	bottom 35% in California; top 39% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	66.7	38.1	42.9	bottom 9% in California; bottom 15% in the U.S.

Hours are per resident per day, 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 4.21, RN 0.35, weekend 3.90. Staffing rating: 4/5.

Self-reported quality measures

Note: these ratings are based on data the facility reports about itself to CMS. They are not independently verified by inspectors, and can look better than inspection findings. Give more weight to the inspection results above.

Quality measures rating: 5/5 · long-stay residents: 5/5 · short-stay residents: 5/5

Who owns this facility

For profit - Limited Liability company

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
GC Holding Company 2 LLC	Organization	5% or Greater Direct Ownership Interest	99%	06/30/2015
Grancare LLC	Organization	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	—	11/17/2010
Grunstein, Emily	Individual	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	—	02/06/2019
Mariner Health Care, INC.	Organization	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	—	11/17/2010
MHC Holding Company	Organization	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	—	11/17/2010
MHC West Holding Company	Organization	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	—	11/17/2010
National Senior Care, INC.	Organization	5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest	—	11/17/2010
Black, John	Individual	Managing Control - Governing Body	NOT APPLICABLE	03/12/2025
Black, John	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	03/12/2025
Black, John	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	03/12/2025
GC Holding Company 2 LLC	Organization	Limited Partnership Interest	NOT APPLICABLE	06/30/2015
Monterey Palms Holding Company GP LLC	Organization	General Partnership Interest	NOT APPLICABLE	08/27/2014
Olivera, Claudia	Individual	Managing Control - Governing Body	NOT APPLICABLE	04/05/2021
Olivera, Claudia	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	04/05/2021
Olivera, Claudia	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	04/05/2021
Presser, Eric	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	03/01/2023
Presser, Eric	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	03/01/2023
Sarcauga, Dennis	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	02/06/2025
Sarcauga, Dennis	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	02/06/2025
Sarcauga, Dennis	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	02/06/2025

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 I see a sample menu, and how do you handle special diets like low-sodium or diabetic meals?"
"Can you show me how medications are stored and secured on the units, including controlled drugs?"
"How is your kitchen staffed, and have meals ever been delayed because of staffing?"
"Who reviews your menus, and can I see this week's menu and join my family member for a meal?"
"How do you handle residents who need modified food textures, and how do you make those meals appetizing?"
"How do you track each resident's food allergies and preferences, and what happens if they don't like what's served?"
"Who oversees residents' therapeutic diets, and how do the doctor and dietitian work together on them?"
"What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
"What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
"Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)

Facility	Distance	City	Overall	Inspection
Rancho Mirage Health and Rehabilitation Center	2.4 mi	Rancho Mirage, CA	★★★★☆	4/5
Desert Springs Post Acute	2.9 mi	Palm Desert, CA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
The Springs Healthcare Center at the Carlotta	3.2 mi	Palm Desert, CA	★★★★★	4/5
Bayshire Rancho Mirage	3.6 mi	Rancho Mirage, CA	★★★★☆	4/5
Desert Springs Healthcare & Wellness Centre	9.2 mi	Indio, CA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Desert Mountain Care Center	9.2 mi	Indio, CA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Premier Care Center for Palm Springs	9.3 mi	Palm Springs, CA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5
Palm Springs Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	10.4 mi	Palm Springs, CA	★★★★☆	4/5
Desert Regional Medical Center D/P SNF	12.1 mi	Palm Springs, CA	★★★★★	4/5
California Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	12.6 mi	Palm Springs, CA	★☆☆☆☆	1/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in Palm Desert →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 555403.

The Care File

Visit checklist — Monterey Palms Health Care Center

44610 Monterey Avenue, Palm Desert, CA 92260 · 7607767700

Health inspection rating 2/5 · CMS overall 3/5· Fines (3y): $0

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "Can I see a sample menu, and how do you handle special diets like low-sodium or diabetic meals?"
☐ "Can you show me how medications are stored and secured on the units, including controlled drugs?"
☐ "How is your kitchen staffed, and have meals ever been delayed because of staffing?"
☐ "Who reviews your menus, and can I see this week's menu and join my family member for a meal?"
☐ "How do you handle residents who need modified food textures, and how do you make those meals appetizing?"
☐ "How do you track each resident's food allergies and preferences, and what happens if they don't like what's served?"
☐ "Who oversees residents' therapeutic diets, and how do the doctor and dietitian work together on them?"
☐ "What did your most recent kitchen inspection find, and can I see how food is stored and prepared?"
☐ "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
☐ "Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"

While you're there, notice:

☐ Smell and cleanliness in hallways, not just the lobby
☐ How staff speak to residents; call lights answered promptly
☐ Residents up, dressed, and engaged (visit mealtimes and a weekend if you can)

Data: CMS Provider Data Catalog, version 2026-08-01 · CCN 555403 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)