Sweet Apple Assisted Living
State licensed6858 Amestoy Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91406
Assisted Living
Assisted livingResidential care for the elderly (RCFE)24-hour personal care
Call for pricing
Prices not published
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Medicare-certifiedSkilled Nursing
Lake Balboa Care Center
Van Nuys, CaliforniaMedicare inspection record
About Lake Balboa Care Center
Lake Balboa Care Center in Van Nuys, California provides skilled nursing and rehabilitation services designed to support recovery and wellness. Our team focuses on personalized care plans that help patients regain independence and return home when possible.
Community at a glance
Capacity
50 residents
Location
Van Nuys, CA
Status
Listed in a public registry
Care & services offered
Skilled Nursing
Contact & location
16955 VANOWEN STREET, Van Nuys, California 91406
Medicare inspection record
From CMS Care Compare, the federal record every Medicare-certified nursing home is held to. Data as of September 1, 2026. Check it on Medicare.gov
At its most recent standard inspection, on April 12, 2026, state inspectors cited 17 health deficiencies (the California average is 15.5).
Nurses and nurse aides spend 4 hours 57 minutes with each resident a day, above the California average of 4 hours 31 minutes.
Medicare has not fined Lake Balboa Care Center in the last three years.
Staffing
| Measure | This home |
|---|---|
| Nurse and aide time per resident, per day | 4 hours 57 minutesAbove the California average |
| Registered nurse time per resident, per day | 1 hourAbove the California average |
| Nursing staff who left in the past year | 27%Below the California average |
Inspections
30 health citations in the last three years. Each one is a federal standard inspectors found the home was not meeting.
July 23, 2026 · Complaint investigation · 2 citations
Not require residents to give up Medicare or Medicaid benefits, or pay privately as a condition of admission; and must tell residents what care they do not provide.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Resident RightsFrom a complaintCorrected Aug 15, 2026Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsFrom a complaintCorrected Aug 15, 2026
April 12, 2026 · Standard inspection · 9 citations
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Infection ControlCorrected May 4, 2026Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Pharmacy ServiceCorrected May 4, 2026Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected May 4, 2026Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Quality of Life and CareCorrected May 4, 2026Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nutrition and DietaryCorrected May 4, 2026Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nutrition and DietaryCorrected May 4, 2026Dispose of garbage and refuse properly.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nutrition and DietaryCorrected May 4, 2026Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident Assessment and Care PlanningCorrected May 4, 2026Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
Minimal harm or risk, a pattern (level B)EnvironmentalCorrected May 4, 2026
March 12, 2026 · Complaint investigation · 4 citations+
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Nutrition and DietaryFrom a complaintCorrected Apr 3, 2026Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Apr 3, 2026Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Apr 3, 2026Ensure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nutrition and DietaryFrom a complaintCorrected Apr 3, 2026
January 26, 2026 · Complaint investigation · 1 citation+
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsFrom a complaintCorrected Feb 11, 2026
December 5, 2025 · Complaint investigation · 1 citation+
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Infection ControlFrom a complaintCorrected Dec 18, 2025
March 30, 2025 · Standard inspection · 5 citations+
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareCorrected Apr 8, 2025Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Infection ControlCorrected Apr 8, 2025Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Apr 8, 2025Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Apr 8, 2025Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
Minimal harm or risk, a pattern (level B)EnvironmentalWaived by the state
December 18, 2024 · Complaint investigation · 1 citation+
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Quality of Life and CareFrom a complaintCorrected Jan 10, 2025
December 13, 2024 · Complaint investigation · 1 citation+
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Infection ControlFrom a complaintCorrected Jan 21, 2025
March 21, 2024 · Standard inspection · 6 citations+
Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a pattern (level E)Pharmacy ServiceCorrected Apr 10, 2024Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Apr 10, 2024Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Apr 10, 2024Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Resident RightsCorrected Apr 10, 2024Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Risk of harm, no one hurt, a few residents (level D)Nutrition and DietaryCorrected Apr 10, 2024Provide rooms that are at least 80 square feet per resident in multiple rooms and 100 square feet for single resident rooms.
Minimal harm or risk, a pattern (level B)EnvironmentalWaived by the state
Fines and payment denials
No fines or Medicare payment denials in the last three years.
About the home, per Medicare
- Ownership
- For profit - Corporation
- Legal business name
- Nightfall Healthcare Inc
- Medicare-certified beds
- 50
- Average residents per day
- 46
- Accepts
- Medicare and Medicaid
- First certified
- May 1, 1972
- Part of a chain
- The Ensign Group, 344 homes
- Inside a hospital
- No
- Continuing care retirement community
- No
- Resident or family council
- Resident
- Sprinklers in all required areas
- Yes
- CMS Certification Number
- 056180
Location
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16955 VANOWEN STREETVan Nuys, CA 91406
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Senior living near Van Nuys
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Queen Comfort Care Center
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Questions about Lake Balboa Care Center
How did Lake Balboa Care Center do on its last inspection?+
State inspectors visited on April 12, 2026 and cited 17 health deficiencies, 8 of them from complaint investigations. The California average is 15.5.
How much nursing care does each resident get at Lake Balboa Care Center?+
Nurses and aides spend 4 hours 57 minutes with each resident per day, including 1 hour from registered nurses. 27% of nursing staff left over the past year.
Has Lake Balboa Care Center been fined by Medicare?+
Medicare's records show no fines against Lake Balboa Care Center in the last three years.
Does Medicare cover skilled nursing?+
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing per benefit period after a qualifying 3-day hospital stay — fully for the first 20 days, then with a daily copay. Long-term custodial stays are generally not covered.
How much does a nursing home cost?+
A semi-private room averages about $7,900 per month nationally; private rooms cost more. Medicaid is the largest payer for long-term nursing home care.
What is the CMS star rating?+
Medicare rates nursing homes 1 to 5 stars on its Care Compare site. We don't repeat those stars here. Each nursing home page shows Medicare's underlying record instead: inspections, staffing and fines, with a link to check it on Medicare.gov.