Skilled NursingContinuing Care (CCRC / Life Plan)CMS verified

The Sequoias

501 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028 · San Mateo County

The Sequoias Portola Valley is the best senior living in San Mateo with independent apartments, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.

5.0CMS overall rating(650) 851-1501 Visit website ↗

100

Exceptional

Haven Scout Score

Our composite of CMS ratings, staffing, and safety. This community rates exceptional.

Photos via google places, facility website.

Availability outlookModerate availability

Typically 74% full — openings are usually available.

Source: federal census data (average daily residents vs. certified beds, CMS Care Compare). Confirm current openings with an advisor — availability changes weekly.

Our evaluation

An honest, data-grounded look at this community — every claim is drawn from public inspection data.

One of Portola Valley's top-rated skilled nursing communities

The Sequoias is a non-profit skilled nursing facility in Portola Valley, CA, with 43 certified beds and an average of about 32 residents per day. It is part of a continuing care retirement community, so residents can often move between levels of care on one campus.

Medicare rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall — above the national average of about 3 stars. Component ratings: 5/5 on health inspections, 5/5 on staffing, 5/5 on quality measures.

Staff provide about 4.91 total nurse hours per resident each day (0.86 of them from registered nurses), above the national benchmark of roughly 3.9 hours. Annual nursing-staff turnover is about 10%, better than the ~52% national average — a sign of staffing stability. On the safety record, CMS notes 5 health deficiencies at its most recent standard survey, and 1 federal fine totaling $12,703 in the recent record.

Strengths

✓5-star overall CMS rating
✓Strong health-inspection rating
✓Above-average nurse staffing (4.91 hrs/resident/day)
✓Low staff turnover (continuity of care)
✓Full sprinkler system
✓Active resident & family council

Things to ask about

None noted in the public data.

Best for: Families who want a highly rated, well-staffed setting in Portola Valley for 24/7 skilled nursing or post-hospital rehabilitation.

At a glance

Certified beds: 43
Avg. residents/day: 32
Ownership: Non profit - Corporation
Part of a chain: Independent
Continuing care: Yes — multiple care levels
CMS provider #: 055466

Federal quality ratings

From the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), on a 1–5 star scale.

Overall rating

Health inspections

Staffing

Quality measures

Pricing & cost

We publish transparent estimates and verify exact pricing on request. No surprises.

Level of care	Monthly cost	Source
Skilled Nursing	$11,600–$17,440/mo (median $14,030)	Local market estimate
Continuing Care (CCRC / Life Plan)	$3,290–$7,870/mo (median $7,670)	Local market estimate

2024–2026 published survey medians, state median adjusted to local San Francisco prices (BEA regional price parities). Request a quote for exact pricing. Range spans semi-private to private rooms. How we estimate costs

Request exact pricing for The Sequoias →

Staffing & care

More nursing time per resident — and lower turnover — generally means more attentive care.

Total nurse hrs / resident / day: 4.91; National avg ≈ 3.9
RN hrs / resident / day: 0.86; National avg ≈ 0.75
Nursing staff turnover: 10%; National avg ≈ 52%

Safety & inspection record

Federal inspectors survey nursing homes roughly once a year. Here's the latest on file.

Health deficiencies (last survey): 5
Federal fines: 1 ($12,703)
Total penalties: 1
Last standard survey: 2025-08-07
Sprinkler system: Yes
Resident & family council: Resident

What inspectors found

The most recent findings from federal health inspections (20 citations on record — showing the latest 8). Every nursing home is inspected roughly once a year; most receive some citations.

2025-08-07Severity E — potential for harmNutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

2025-08-07Severity D — potential for harmResident Rights Deficiencies

Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.

2025-08-07Severity D — potential for harmResident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.

2025-08-07Severity D — potential for harmPharmacy Service Deficiencies

Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.

2025-08-07Severity D — potential for harmInfection Control Deficiencies

Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use.

2024-05-24Severity F — potential for harmNutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

2024-05-24Severity D — potential for harmResident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.

2024-05-24Severity D — potential for harmResident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Encode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.

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.

Penalty history

Federal fines and Medicare/Medicaid payment denials on record.

Date	Type	Amount
2023-10-30	Fine	$12,703

Services & amenities

✓ Continuing care community (multiple care levels on one campus)
✓ Full automatic sprinkler system
✓ Medicare & Medicaid certified
✓ 24-hour licensed nursing
✓ On-site rehabilitation therapy
✓ Memory care
✓ Scheduled transportation
✓ Restaurant-style dining
✓ Fitness center
✓ Wellness programs
✓ Housekeeping & laundry
✓ Daily activities & events
✓ Gardens / walking paths
✓ Studio apartments
✓ 24-hour staff

Location

501 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA

Monday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Reviews & reputation

We aggregate ratings across Google, Yelp, and verified families — and link back to every source so you can read more.

Google

4.6

29 reviews →

Verified family reviews

No verified family reviews yet for The Sequoias.

Have a loved one here, or recently toured? Help other families by sharing your experience — we verify every review before it's published.

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Common questions about The Sequoias

How much does The Sequoias cost?

The Sequoias does not publish exact rates. Comparable skilled nursing in the Portola Valley, CA area typically runs $11,600–$17,440 per month (median $14,030, based on published survey medians adjusted for local prices). A Haven advisor can confirm current pricing for free.

What is The Sequoias's Medicare rating?

Medicare (CMS) rates The Sequoias 5 out of 5 stars overall, including 5/5 for health inspections, 5/5 for staffing, 5/5 for quality measures. The national average is about 3 stars.

How is the staffing at The Sequoias?

Staff provide about 4.91 total nurse hours per resident per day (national benchmark ≈ 3.9), and annual nursing-staff turnover is about 10% (national average ≈ 52%). These figures are reported to the federal government and updated regularly.

What did inspectors find at The Sequoias?

The Sequoias has 20 health citations on its recent federal inspection record (last standard survey: 2025-08-07). The full citation-by-citation detail, with severity levels, is published on this page.

Does The Sequoias have availability?

Typically 74% full — openings are usually available. Availability changes weekly — a Haven advisor can confirm current openings at no cost.

What types of care does The Sequoias offer?

The Sequoias in Portola Valley, CA offers skilled nursing, continuing care (ccrc / life plan) and is licensed for 43 beds.

The best time to decide is before a crisis decides for you

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.

Move-ins take time: assessments, paperwork, and preparation typically run 2–6 weeks in San Francisco.
The best communities fill first: top-rated communities often run a waitlist — touring early holds your place in line.
Touring costs nothing and commits you to nothing — but it turns a future emergency into a calm, informed choice.

Start with a free shortlist →Take the 2-minute assessment

Your next steps — this week

1
Confirm the fit
Check the inspection record and staffing data on this page against your loved one's needs.
2
Get exact pricing & availability
Request current rates for The Sequoias — takes one minute, answered same day.
3
Tour 2–3 communities
Compare this community against two alternatives. Ask about staff turnover, all-in monthly cost, and care-plan changes.
4
Hold a spot
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