5151 Knudsen Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308 · Kern County
Kern River Transitional Care is a skilled nursing home focused on the safety, wellness, and healing of our patients.
Photos via google places, facility website.
Typically 95% full (133 of 140 beds occupied on an average day). Openings here tend to go fast.
If this community is on your shortlist, checking current openings sooner rather than later genuinely matters here.
Source: federal census data (average daily residents vs. certified beds, CMS Care Compare). Confirm current openings with an advisor — availability changes weekly.
An honest, data-grounded look at this community — every claim is drawn from public inspection data.
Kern River Transitional Care is a for-profit skilled nursing facility in Bakersfield, CA, with 140 certified beds and an average of about 133 residents per day. It operates as part of the Pacs Group network.
Medicare rates it 1 out of 5 stars overall — below the national average of about 3 stars. Component ratings: 1/5 on health inspections, 2/5 on staffing, 3/5 on quality measures.
Staff provide about 4.59 total nurse hours per resident each day (0.65 of them from registered nurses), above the national benchmark of roughly 3.9 hours. Annual nursing-staff turnover is about 48.9%, better than the ~52% national average — a sign of staffing stability. On the safety record, CMS notes 28 health deficiencies at its most recent standard survey, and 1 federal fine totaling $77,720 in the recent record.
From the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), on a 1–5 star scale.
We publish transparent estimates and verify exact pricing on request. No surprises.
| Level of care | Monthly cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Nursing | $10,130–$15,210/mo (median $12,250) | Local market estimate |
2024–2026 published survey medians, state median adjusted to local Bakersfield prices (BEA regional price parities). Request a quote for exact pricing. Range spans semi-private to private rooms. How we estimate costs
More nursing time per resident — and lower turnover — generally means more attentive care.
Federal inspectors survey nursing homes roughly once a year. Here's the latest on file.
The most recent findings from federal health inspections (95 citations on record — showing the latest 8). Every nursing home is inspected roughly once a year; most receive some citations.
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being.
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Ensure that residents are fully informed and understand their health status, care and treatments.
Severity uses the CMS scope/severity scale: D–F = potential for harm, G–I = actual harm, J–L = immediate jeopardy. Source: CMS Care Compare health citations; data as of the latest federal release. Discuss any finding directly with the community on a tour.
Federal fines and Medicare/Medicaid payment denials on record.
| Date | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-07 | Fine | $77,720 |
5151 Knudsen Drive, Bakersfield, CA
We aggregate ratings across Google, Yelp, and verified families — and link back to every source so you can read more.
No verified family reviews yet for Kern River Transitional Care.
Have a loved one here, or recently toured? Help other families by sharing your experience — we verify every review before it's published.
Talk to an advisor about this communityKern River Transitional Care does not publish exact rates. Comparable skilled nursing in the Bakersfield, CA area typically runs $10,130–$15,210 per month (median $12,250, based on published survey medians adjusted for local prices). A Haven advisor can confirm current pricing for free.
Medicare (CMS) rates Kern River Transitional Care 1 out of 5 stars overall, including 1/5 for health inspections, 2/5 for staffing, 3/5 for quality measures. The national average is about 3 stars.
Staff provide about 4.59 total nurse hours per resident per day (national benchmark ≈ 3.9), and annual nursing-staff turnover is about 48.9% (national average ≈ 52%). These figures are reported to the federal government and updated regularly.
Kern River Transitional Care has 95 health citations on its recent federal inspection record (last standard survey: 2025-04-24). The full citation-by-citation detail, with severity levels, is published on this page.
Typically 95% full (133 of 140 beds occupied on an average day). Openings here tend to go fast. Availability changes weekly — a Haven advisor can confirm current openings at no cost.
Kern River Transitional Care in Bakersfield, CA offers skilled nursing and is licensed for 140 beds.
Most families start this search after a fall, a hospital stay, or a caregiver reaching a breaking point — and end up choosing from whatever has a bed open that week. Families who plan even a few weeks ahead get to choose on quality, fit, and price instead of availability alone.
Last verified 2026-07-06. We refresh inspection data monthly and reviews continuously.
Bakersfield, CA · 79 beds
A highly rated skilled nursing and rehab community in Bakersfield.
Shafter, CA · 99 beds
A highly rated skilled nursing and rehab community in Shafter.
Bakersfield, CA · 99 beds
A solid, federally rated skilled nursing option in Bakersfield.