Sea Cliff Healthcare Center
- Reviewed By
Anthony C. Lanzone, Founding Partner
Public data reveals concerning trends in the level of care residents might receive at Sea Cliff Healthcare Center in Huntington Beach. Here are some key facts to be aware of before you place a loved one in this nursing home’s care:
- Residents at Sea Cliff Healthcare Center receive an average of only 16 minutes of care per day from Registered Nurses, compared with California’s statewide average of 39 minutes.
- Multiple inspections performed in 2025 found that staff incorrectly documented a resident’s food intake, failed to administer prescribed medications, and prepared food in unsanitary conditions.
- In 2013, Sea Cliff Healthcare Center’s operator, The Ensign Group, settled with the federal government for $48 million to resolve Medicare fraud allegations involving billing for unnecessary therapy services.
- The facility has earned a two-star overall rating from Medicare.
Overall Ratings & Reviews for Sea Cliff Healthcare Center
According to Medicare’s rating system, Sea Cliff Healthcare Center has an overall rating of two out of five stars. Subcategory ratings include two stars for health inspections, three stars for staffing, and four stars for quality measures.
The facility provides 3.95 nurse hours per resident per day, which is below California’s 4.5-hour statewide average. Only 16 minutes of that care comes from Registered Nurses, compared with the state average of 39 minutes. Sea Cliff Healthcare Center also reports a 33.1% nurse turnover rate, indicating that roughly one-third of its nursing staff left their positions in the previous year.
Online reviews from residents and families describe troubling experiences at the facility. Negative feedback mentions communication problems with staff, unsanitary living conditions, verbal mistreatment, residents left in soiled diapers for long periods, significant weight loss, medication mistakes, and unanswered calls for assistance. Overall, Sea Cliff Healthcare Center has a 3.0-star average rating on Yelp and 35 one-star reviews.
Sea Cliff Healthcare Center Deficiencies and Penalties
Inspection reports show several instances where Sea Cliff Healthcare Center failed to meet federal care standards.
Health Citations
The facility has received 21 health citations over the past several years. This number is significantly higher than the U.S. average of 9.6. Each citation reflects a specific violation of federal standards.
October 2025 Inspection
A recent inspection found that staff failed to administer warfarin as ordered by the resident’s physician. Warfarin is a medication used to prevent blood clots, and missed doses put residents at higher risk of serious health complications.
Inspectors also found that staff did not properly follow up after a resident struggled to swallow medications. Staff failed to update the resident’s care plan after the swallowing issue occurred.
February 2025 Inspection
Another inspection determined that staff transferred a resident to an acute care hospital without properly notifying the resident or their representative. Federal rules require elder care facilities to provide notice explaining the reason for a transfer and informing the resident of their right to appeal the decision.
During a meal observation, a resident ate only about 25% of their lunch, but staff documented that the resident consumed at least 76% of the meal. Inspectors noted that this discrepancy could interfere with monitoring vulnerable residents’ nutritional intake.
Inspectors also observed multiple sanitation problems, including the improper thawing of frozen meat and dirty food preparation equipment. These conditions created a risk of foodborne illness for the facility’s residents.
2013 False Claims Settlement
In 2013, The Ensign Group agreed to pay $48 million to resolve Medicare fraud allegations involving the Sea Cliff Healthcare Center and five other facilities. At the time, the settlement was one of the largest Medicare fraud cases against a nursing home chain in U.S. history.
The government alleged that the company’s facilities, including Sea Cliff, billed Medicare for physical, occupational, and speech therapy services that were not medically necessary. Investigators also found that some residents remained in facilities longer than their condition required, solely to increase the company’s Medicare reimbursement.
What To Do if You Suspect Abuse or Neglect in a California Nursing Home
If you believe a loved one may be experiencing mistreatment at Sea Cliff Healthcare Center or another facility, quick action is essential to protect them from further harm. Take photos of any visible injuries or unsafe conditions and write down what you have observed.
Call 911 if you think your loved one is in immediate danger. For other matters, you can report your suspicions to the appropriate California agencies:
- If the situation involves abuse or neglect currently happening in a nursing home, call the California Department of Aging Long-Term Care Ombudsman CRISIS Line at (800) 231-4024.
- To file a complaint about care in a nursing home, contact the California Department of Public Health at (800) 554-0354.
- For matters involving an assisted living or residential care facility, submit a complaint online with the California Department of Social Services.
In addition, if you suspect your loved one has been abused or neglected, speak with a California nursing home abuse lawyer to learn more about your rights and options. An experienced lawyer will investigate to determine if your loved one has experienced abuse or neglect. If so, your lawyer will gather evidence and build a strong claim.
We’re Here To Help You Take Action Against Nursing Home Abuse
Abuse and neglect can happen in any nursing home, but it’s especially likely in facilities with documented histories of care deficiencies like Sea Cliff Healthcare Center. If you suspect your loved one has been harmed in a nursing home, Lanzone Morgan, LLP, can help you pursue accountability and fair compensation.
Our team has more than 75 years of combined experience fighting back against mistreatment in nursing homes. We’ve recovered over $250 million for victims and their families and are ready to put that track record to work for you. Contact us online or call 888-887-9777 for a free consultation about your rights and options today.
Disclaimer: The inspection information provided above comes from public sources. Lanzone Morgan, LLP, cannot ensure that this page reflects the most current data or complete findings. For the latest information, visit https://projects.propublica.org/ or medicare.gov. Deficiencies listed may have been corrected since the inspection date and the time of publication. This page is a legal advertisement and information resource. It is not endorsed by the named facility or any government agency. Lanzone Morgan, LLP, is not affiliated with the facility discussed.
- Fact-Checked
This content has been legally reviewed and approved by nursing home abuse attorney, Anthony Lanzone. Anthony holds notable memberships with professional organizations including the American Association for Justice and Consumer Attorneys of California.
VIEW SOURCES
- Nursing Home Operator to Pay $48 Million to Resolve Allegations That Six California Facilities Billed for Unnecessary Therapy. (2013, November 19). U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/nursing-home-operator-pay-48-million-resolve-allegations-six-california-facilities-billed
- Sea Cliff Healthcare Center. (n.d.). Medicare.gov. https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/nursing-home/555249/view-all?state=CA&measure=nursing-home-staffing
- Sea Cliff Healthcare Center Inspection Report. (2025). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
- Fact-Checked
This content has been legally reviewed and approved by nursing home abuse attorney, Anthony Lanzone. Anthony holds notable memberships with professional organizations including the American Association for Justice and Consumer Attorneys of California.
VIEW SOURCES
- Nursing Home Operator to Pay $48 Million to Resolve Allegations That Six California Facilities Billed for Unnecessary Therapy. (2013, November 19). U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/nursing-home-operator-pay-48-million-resolve-allegations-six-california-facilities-billed
- Sea Cliff Healthcare Center. (n.d.). Medicare.gov. https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/details/nursing-home/555249/view-all?state=CA&measure=nursing-home-staffing
- Sea Cliff Healthcare Center Inspection Report. (2025). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.