The Cove at la Jolla

Name: The Cove at la Jolla
Address: 7160 FAY AVENUE, La Jolla, CA, 92037, US
Telephone: 8584594361

7160 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037 · San Diego County · 59 certified beds · avg 51 residents/day · certified since Mar 12, 1993

Part of chain: THE ENSIGN GROUP (342 facilities, chain avg rating 3.2★)

4/5

Health inspection rating (on-site)

Serious findings on record

Fines, last 3 years

4.32

Nurse hours/resident/day (adjusted)

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

Health inspection rating: ★★★★☆4/5 · CMS overall rating: 5/5

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 (21)

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
May 16, 2025	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not keep the environment free of accident hazards, or did not provide enough supervision to prevent accidents like falls.
May 16, 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.
May 16, 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.
May 16, 2025	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.
May 16, 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.
May 16, 2025	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 16, 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.
Jun 6, 2024	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not accurately assess a resident's health and needs. Assessments are the foundation for all the care a resident receives.
Jun 6, 2024	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.
Jun 6, 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.
Jun 6, 2024	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.
Jun 6, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not protect residents' personal information or did not keep complete, accurate medical records that meet professional standards.
Jun 6, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not have a written plan describing how it runs its quality improvement program — the ongoing process of finding problems in care and fixing them.
Jan 17, 2024	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide or obtain laboratory tests when a doctor ordered them, or did not promptly report the results back to the doctor who ordered them. · from a complaint
Sep 28, 2023	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not develop and follow policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft. These written safeguards are the foundation of resident protection. · from a complaint
Aug 29, 2023	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. · from a complaint
Dec 9, 2021	F · Potential for harm, facility-wide	The facility did not keep all essential equipment working safely — things like heating and cooling systems, kitchen equipment, and medical devices.
Dec 9, 2021	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not have enough support staff to safely and effectively run its food and nutrition service.
Dec 9, 2021	E · Potential for harm, repeated	The facility did not serve food and drinks that were appetizing, attractive, and at a safe and pleasant temperature.
Dec 9, 2021	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.
Dec 9, 2021	D · Potential for harm, one-off	The facility did not provide at least one adequately sized room for dining and activities, with good lighting, airflow, and furniture.

Inspection trend by year

Citations from standard inspections stayed about the same across the last two inspection cycles (6 → 7).

Year	Citations	Worst severity that year
2021	5	F
2023	2	D
2024	7	E
2025	7	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)	4.32	4.31	3.95	top 37% in California; top 28% in the U.S.
Registered Nurse hours	1.09	0.61	0.69	top 9% in California; top 12% in the U.S.
Weekend total nurse staffing	3.67	3.90	3.50	bottom 44% in California; top 34% in the U.S.
Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted)	0.89	0.51	0.48	top 9% in California; top 8% in the U.S.
Total nursing staff turnover (%)	44.6	36.7	45.8	bottom 26% in California; top 49% in the U.S.
RN turnover (%)	55.6	38.1	42.9	bottom 20% in California; bottom 28% 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 4.95, RN 1.25, weekend 4.21. 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: 4/5

Who owns this facility

For profit - Corporation

Owner / manager	Type	Role	Stake	Since
Burnam, Soon	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	09/10/2014
Burnam, Soon	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/03/2025
Ensign Services INC	Organization	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	12/01/2014
Keetch, Chad	Individual	Corporate Officer	NOT APPLICABLE	03/01/2011
Mirkarimi, Kamron	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	05/10/2021
Mirkarimi, Kamron	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/17/2025
Oh, Katherine	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	06/01/2025
Port, Barry	Individual	Individual Is an Owner, Partner or Trustee of Any ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/03/2025
Ramesh, Jennifer	Individual	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	12/01/2014
Ramesh, Jennifer	Individual	ADP of the SNF	NOT APPLICABLE	07/17/2025
Sato, Ami	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	09/09/2024
Twomagnets LLC	Organization	Operational/Managerial Control	NOT APPLICABLE	12/01/2014
Willits, Adam	Individual	Corporate Director	NOT APPLICABLE	09/09/2024

Questions to ask on your visit

Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.

"What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
"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 you give me examples of how your staff protect residents' dignity in everyday care, like bathing and dressing?"
"Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
"How many residents here use oxygen or breathing equipment, and who checks that equipment each shift?"
"How do you track each resident's food allergies and preferences, and what happens if they don't like what's served?"
"Who completes resident assessments here, and how do you check them for accuracy?"
"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
La Jolla Post-Acute	1.6 mi	La Jolla, CA	★★★★☆	4/5
The Springs at Pacific Regent	3.7 mi	San Diego, CA	★★★★★	5/5
VI at la Jolla Village	3.7 mi	San Diego, CA	★★★★★	5/5
Kearny Mesa Convalescent and Nursing Home	6.3 mi	San Diego, CA	★★★★★	5/5
The Pavilion at Ocean Point	6.4 mi	San Diego, CA	★★☆☆☆	2/5
Helen Bernardy Center D/P SNF	7.4 mi	San Diego, CA	★★★★★	5/5
The Shores Post-Acute	7.6 mi	San Diego, CA	★★★☆☆	3/5
Hillcrest Heights Healthcare Center	8.3 mi	San Diego, CA	★★★★★	4/5
Mission Hills Post Acute Care	8.6 mi	San Diego, CA	★★★★☆	3/5
Bayshire Torrey Pines Post-Acute	8.6 mi	San Diego, CA	★★★★★	4/5

Compare this facility with the 3 closest →

All facilities in La Jolla →

Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 555545.

The Care File

Visit checklist — The Cove at la Jolla

7160 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037 · 8584594361

Health inspection rating 4/5 · CMS overall 5/5· Fines (3y): $0

Questions for the administrator:

☐ "What is your falls rate, and what specific steps do you take to prevent falls and supervise residents at risk?"
☐ "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 you give me examples of how your staff protect residents' dignity in everyday care, like bathing and dressing?"
☐ "Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
☐ "How many residents here use oxygen or breathing equipment, and who checks that equipment each shift?"
☐ "How do you track each resident's food allergies and preferences, and what happens if they don't like what's served?"
☐ "Who completes resident assessments here, and how do you check them for accuracy?"
☐ "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 555545 · Verify at medicare.gov/care-compare · Printed from The Care File (thecarefile.com)