San Diego County, California · Nursing home
Parkside Health and Wellness Center
5 of 5 overall from CMS
444 W Lexington, El Cajon, CA 92020
At a glance
- Overall rating 5 of 5 Above the state average of 3.2
- Nurse time per resident, per day 4.20 hours Below the state average of 4.52
- Nursing staff who left in a year 22.6% Below the state average of 36.7%
- Health citations, last 3 inspection cycles 12 None at the harm level or above
- Fines in 3 years None None listed by CMS
- Certified beds in use 96.7% of 52 beds, on an average day
Arrows only show whether a figure is above or below the state average. They are not a judgment of the home.
Parkside Health and Wellness Center is a 52-bed nursing home in El Cajon, California (San Diego County). CMS rates it 5 of 5 stars overall as of Sep 2026. It reports 4.20 nurse staffing hours per resident per day, below the California average of 4.52. CMS lists no fines in the past three years.
- Certified beds
- 52
- Residents per day (average)
- 50.3
- Certified since
- 1994 (32 yrs)
For profit - Corporation Participates in Medicare and MedicaidPart of The Ensign Group (344 homes)
Bed use is this site's calculation: average residents per day divided by certified beds. It is an average, so it does not show today's openings.
Terms used on this page
- CMS
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that publishes the ratings, staffing figures, inspection results and penalties shown here.
- Certified beds
- The number of federally certified beds CMS lists for the home.
- Deficiency or citation
- A federal requirement that inspectors found the home did not meet. Each one gets a letter from A to L for how serious it was and how many residents were affected. What the letters mean
- Actual harm
- Letters G, H and I: actual harm to a resident that is not immediate jeopardy.
- Immediate jeopardy
- Letters J, K and L: the problem caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to a resident.
- Inspection cycle
- A standard inspection plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to it. This page shows the three most recent cycles.
- Special Focus Facility (SFF)
- A home CMS has placed under closer oversight because of its inspection record. More about the program
Questions to ask Parkside Health and Wellness Center
Chosen from this home's public data.
- Reported nurse staffing is 3.65 hours per resident on weekends against 4.20 overall. Who covers Saturdays and Sundays?Weekend staffing in CMS data
- About 96.7% of certified beds are in use on an average day. Is there a waiting list, and how long is it?Certified beds and average residents in CMS data
- Registered nurse time is 0.58 hours per resident per day; the California average is 0.67. Is an RN on site overnight?RN staffing in CMS data
More in what to ask on a nursing home tour.
CMS star ratings
- Overall 5 of 5 California average 3.2
- Health inspections 5 of 5 California average 2.8
- Staffing 5 of 5 California average 3.3
- Quality measures 4 of 5 California average 4.1
The vertical line marks the California average. Ratings run from 1 to 5. How to read CMS star ratings
Nurse staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, as the home reported to CMS.
What these roles do
Nurse aides give most hands-on daily care, such as help with bathing, dressing and meals. Licensed practical nurses give medications and routine nursing care. Registered nurses assess residents and direct their care.
- All nursing staff 4.20 h California average 4.52
- Nurse aides 2.58 h California average 2.65
- Licensed practical nurses 1.05 h California average 1.20
- Registered nurses 0.58 h California average 0.67
- All staff, weekends 3.65 h California average 4.09
How much nurse staffing is enough? All bars share one scale, 0 to 12 hours. The vertical line marks the California average; the national average for all nursing staff is 3.86 hours.
- Nursing staff turnover22.6%
- California average36.7%
- Registered nurse turnover25.0%
- California average38.1%
- Administrators who left1
Quality measures
CMS calculates these from residents' assessments and Medicare claims. They are shown as published, next to the California and national averages. marks the measures CMS uses in its quality star rating; for those, the rating gives more points for a lower rate.
Long-stay residents
| Measure | This home | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased | 10.4% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight | 3.5% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms | 9.3% | 7.3% | 12.8% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained | 0.0% | 0.4% | 0.1% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury | 0.0% | 1.6% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 99.0% | 98.6% | 93.6% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | 7.6% | 9.8% | 14.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication | 43.9% | 13.7% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | 98.2% | 98.2% | 95.5% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | 0.0% | 4.3% | 4.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence | 9.8% | 10.2% | 19.0% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | Too few residents or stays to report | 12.0% | 15.4% |
| ★ Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days | Too few residents or stays to report | 2.25 | 1.90 |
| ★ Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days | Too few residents or stays to report | 1.57 | 1.78 |
Short-stay residents
| Measure | This home | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | Too few residents or stays to report | 94.4% | 82.0% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | Too few residents or stays to report | 1.5% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | Too few residents or stays to report | 93.2% | 79.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission | Too few residents or stays to report | 23.0% | 23.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit | Too few residents or stays to report | 11.2% | 12.0% |
Measure periods: April 2025 to March 2026 for most measures; July 2024 to June 2025 for the flu vaccine measures; January to December 2025 for the hospital and emergency department measures, which CMS risk-adjusts. See the measures on Medicare.gov
Inspection history
Inspectors cited 12 health deficiencies in the three most recent inspection cycles. None was graded as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
| Standard inspection | Health | Fire safety |
|---|---|---|
| May 30, 2025 | 4 | 5 |
| Dec 9, 2021 | 3 | 5 |
| Feb 7, 2020 | 5 | 3 |
California homes averaged 15.6 health deficiencies in the latest cycle; the national average is 9.2. Each cycle's health count covers the standard inspection on that date plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to that cycle.
Health citations, three most recent inspection cycles (12)
-
EPotential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 19, 2025)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 19, 2025)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 19, 2025)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Infection Control · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jun 19, 2025)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 14, 2022)
Show 7 more
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Employ sufficient staff with the appropriate competencies and skills sets to carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service, including a qualified dietician.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 14, 2022)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 14, 2022)
-
EPotential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 23, 2020)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 23, 2020)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Protect each resident from the wrongful use of the resident's belongings or money.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 23, 2020)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 23, 2020)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Mar 23, 2020)
What severity letters A to L mean
Each sentence above is the requirement that was not met, in CMS's wording. For the inspection results as Medicare publishes them, open this home's page on Medicare.gov and look under "Health inspections".
Penalties, past three years
CMS lists no fines or payment denials for this home in the past three years.
California homes averaged 0.8 fines and $23,986 in fine amounts; the national averages are 0.9 and $30,972.
Cost
Not in the public data. CMS does not publish what a nursing home charges.
Ask the home for its daily private-pay rate and whether a bed is open for your coverage. See what Medicare covers and how Medicaid pays for a nursing home.
Compared within California
- Size971 of 1161 by certified beds
- California average residents per day87.9
- ChainThe Ensign Group
- Chain average overall rating3.2 of 5
- Resident or family councilNone
- Homes in El Cajon12
- Homes in San Diego County83
Common questions
What is the CMS star rating for Parkside Health and Wellness Center?
Parkside Health and Wellness Center has an overall rating of 5 of 5 stars from CMS as of Sep 2026. Its health inspection rating is 5, staffing is 5 and quality measures is 4.
How many beds does Parkside Health and Wellness Center have?
Parkside Health and Wellness Center has 52 certified beds. It averages 50.3 residents per day, about 96.7% of its certified beds.
How much nursing care do residents get at Parkside Health and Wellness Center?
The home reports 4.20 hours of nurse staffing per resident per day, including 0.58 hours from registered nurses. The California average is 4.52 hours and 0.67 hours from registered nurses.
Has Parkside Health and Wellness Center been fined?
CMS lists no fines for this home in the past three years.
Does Parkside Health and Wellness Center accept Medicare or Medicaid?
CMS lists its participation as "Medicare and Medicaid". Ask the home whether a bed is open for your coverage.
Guides for families looking at this home
- Understanding the recordWhat to ask on a nursing home tourQuestions that turn a home's public record into a useful conversation when you tour, plus what to look for yourself.
- Understanding the recordInspection severity letters A to LHow inspectors grade each deficiency by harm and by how many residents were affected.
- Understanding the recordHow to read CMS star ratingsWhat the overall, health inspection, staffing and quality measure ratings cover, and what they leave out.
Nearest nursing homes
- 3 of 5 Somerset Post Acute Care 65beds 67.5%in use 4.68nurse hours a day
- 3 of 5 Magnolia Post Acute Care 99beds 96.0%in use 3.89nurse hours a day
- 2 of 5 Stillwater Post-Acute 256beds 96.1%in use 3.98nurse hours a day
Sorted by straight-line distance. This is not a ranking or a recommendation. Compare all homes in San Diego County
Who to call in California
These offices serve residents of every nursing home in California.
- Long-term care ombudsman Statewide Ombudsman Hotline 1-800-231-4024 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) An advocate for residents and their families.
- File a complaint about a nursing home Licensing and Certification district offices The state agency that inspects nursing homes.
California staffing, bed-hold and Medicaid rules · Residents' rights in every state
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home datasets processed Sep 1, 2026. CMS Certification Number 555596. See this home's official record on Medicare.gov
See something shown incorrectly? Tell us. This site shows each record as CMS publishes it and cannot change the underlying record.