Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center

    1391 E Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA, 92021
    4.4 · 62 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    5.0

    Excellent rehab with minor issues

    I had an excellent rehab stay - thoughtful, skilled nurses, CNAs and therapists (physical, occupational and speech) helped me recover mobility and walk again - shoutouts to Daniel, Kelsey, Kayla, Laura and Adam. Administration, social work (Mina, Ana) and activities staff were attentive, rooms were comfortable, meals were good with healthy options, and the place felt clean and welcoming. Overall the team treated me like family, motivated me, and delivered life-changing rehab. A few problems surfaced for some patients - occasional delays with baths/meds, laundry hiccups, understaffing and rare hygiene/infestation or theft complaints - so stay involved and report concerns. Despite that, I would recommend this facility for rehabilitation.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 12-16 hour nursing
    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.35 · 62 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.2
    • Staff

      4.4
    • Meals

      4.8
    • Amenities

      5.0
    • Value

      4.0

    Pros

    • Highly praised, compassionate nursing staff
    • Strong, effective physical and occupational therapy teams
    • Dedicated, hardworking CNAs who go above and beyond
    • Welcoming, family-like atmosphere and friendly staff
    • Engaging activities program (games, music, Bingo) open daily
    • Quality, tasty meals with prompt dietary accommodations and substitutions
    • Clean, well-maintained facility and rooms (frequently reported)
    • Thorough housekeeping and dedicated cleaning staff
    • Hands-on, approachable administration and social services when responsive
    • Successful rehabilitation outcomes and dramatic recoveries
    • Good wound care and specialized therapy (speech/swallowing) reported
    • Efficient appointment scheduling and discharge assistance when available
    • Strong infection-control presence noted by some reviewers
    • Long-tenured staff and continuity of care praised
    • Multilingual/staff supportive to Spanish-speaking families
    • Caring activities staff and well-run celebrations
    • Comfortable rooms and overall pleasant environment
    • Helpful dietary/food team offering healthy options
    • Positive family involvement and communication in many cases
    • Many reviewers would recommend the facility

    Cons

    • Inconsistent quality of care across shifts and staff
    • Medication errors and delayed or missed medication administration
    • Reports of some RNs displaying petty or unprofessional behavior
    • Instances of poor follow-through by social services and Director of Nursing
    • Allegations of bedbugs, mice, and infestation-related hygiene concerns
    • Occasional neglect of personal hygiene (missed or delayed showers/baths)
    • Understaffing and staff shortages affecting care timeliness
    • Laundry service problems: lost or delayed return of clothing
    • Poor complaint handling and inconsistent management response
    • Some CNAs and staff with poor attitude or competence reported
    • Reports of theft, extortion, threats, and serious safety concerns (alleged)
    • Pass-the-buck behaviors and meaningless care lists leading to unmet needs
    • Smell/odor complaints in some areas
    • Discharge transportation and coordination issues in some cases
    • Inconsistent adherence to doctors' orders
    • Occasional unresponsiveness to infestation or cleanliness complaints
    • Variability between exemplary staff and those described as neglectful
    • Reports of being charged by staff (alleged inappropriate charges)
    • Contradictory impressions of infection control vs. infestation reports
    • Some reviewers expressed desire to move loved ones out due to care issues

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment: Reviews for Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center are strongly mixed but lean positive overall, with a large number of reviewers praising the facility’s therapy programs, nursing and CNA teams, food service, activities, and the welcoming, family-like atmosphere. A dominant theme is exceptional rehabilitation care: multiple reviewers describe dramatic recoveries (for example, patients going from bed-bound to walking with a walker) and single out therapists and therapy teams (several reviewers name individuals such as Daniel, Laura, Kelsey and others) for their clinical skill, motivation, and supportive approach. Many families and former patients attribute successful returns home to the therapy staff’s diligence and encouragement. Nursing, CNAs, housekeeping, and dietary teams receive frequent commendations for compassion, responsiveness, and consistency from a large portion of reviewers.

    Care quality and staff: The facility is repeatedly described as having attentive, compassionate nurses and CNAs who ‘‘go above and beyond.’' Multiple reviews highlight hands-on administration and long-tenured employees who keep operations steady. Many commenters note clear communication, effective care plans, and strong teamwork—particularly between nursing and therapy—leading to positive patient experiences. Activities staff are praised for offering engaging programming seven days a week (games, music, Bingo) that helps resident morale. Dining is also a commonly cited strength: reviewers note healthy options, timely meals, and willingness to provide substitutions or meet dietary needs.

    Consistency and variability of care: Despite numerous positive reports, a recurring and significant theme is inconsistency. Several reviewers report that care quality varies widely by shift, by individual caregiver, and over time. Specific concerns include medication errors, late or missed medication administration, and failure to consistently follow physicians’ orders. Some reviews directly call out particular RNs for unprofessional or petty behavior, and others say social services or the Director of Nursing have failed to follow through on promised actions. These inconsistencies produce strong fluctuations in family confidence: while many families feel well cared for, others report avoidable mistakes and poor follow-up.

    Cleanliness, infection control, and serious facility concerns: Many reviewers praise facility cleanliness, thorough housekeeping, and a noticeable infection-control presence. That said, a small but alarming set of reviews describe bedbugs, mice, and infestation concerns—claims that staff were unresponsive or provided minimal remediation (for example, only changing the top sheet). Related hygiene complaints include delayed or missed showers and strong odors in some areas. This creates a contradictory impression: some visitors see Cottonwood Canyon as very clean and infection-aware, while others describe conditions that could pose infection and comfort risks. These contradictory reports are among the most serious patterns raised and warrant careful attention and verification by prospective families.

    Safety, allegations, and complaint handling: Beyond care variability, a minority of reviews report extreme grievances—allegations of theft, extortion, threats, and being charged improperly by staff. Several reviews describe poor handling of complaints and inadequate responses from management in some instances. While these complaints are less numerous than the positive comments, they are severe when they occur and contribute to a sense of unpredictability for some families. Taken together with reports of pass-the-buck behaviors and unmet grooming/care needs, they highlight potential weaknesses in complaint resolution, oversight, and staff accountability.

    Operational challenges: Understaffing is mentioned repeatedly and appears linked to delays in medication delivery, bathing, and responsiveness to family requests. Laundry issues and lost or delayed return of clothing are recurring practical complaints that affect family satisfaction. Discharge coordination and transportation have also been flagged as inconsistent by some reviewers. Conversely, many reviewers praise efficient appointment scheduling and successful discharge transitions when social services are engaged and follow-through occurs.

    Overall assessment and recommendations: Cottonwood Canyon receives many strong endorsements—particularly for rehabilitation outcomes, therapy staff, compassionate nurses and CNAs, activities, and food service. Those positives make it an attractive option for families seeking aggressive, therapy-focused recovery. However, variability in staff performance, instances of medication errors, serious allegations about infestation and safety, and inconsistent management follow-through are meaningful concerns that prospective residents and families should investigate further. Practical next steps for decision-makers would be: (1) ask the facility about recent infestation investigations and infection-control audits, (2) inquire how medication administration errors are tracked and remediated, (3) confirm staffing ratios and weekend coverage for nursing and bathing/ADL support, (4) request examples of how complaints and incidents have been addressed, and (5) seek references from recent families with similar care needs. In summary, Cottonwood Canyon can deliver outstanding, even life-changing rehabilitation and compassionate care for many patients, but prospective residents should carefully vet the facility’s current operational consistency and responsiveness to the more serious negative reports before committing.

    Location

    Map showing location of Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center

    About Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center

    Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare Center sits at 1391 East Madison Avenue in El Cajon and serves as a nonprofit skilled nursing facility run by Administrator Mr. Curtis Green. The center supports both long-term and short-term stays with a focus on skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and recovery for people aged 60 and older. Nurses and licensed staff give 24/7 care, while therapists provide physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapy, all intended to help residents heal and regain day-to-day abilities. If someone needs post-operative recovery or convalescent care, Cottonwood Canyon has specialized programs and a state-of-the-art rehab gym to offer services that match each resident's needs. The therapy and admissions teams, which people often describe as positive, knowledgeable, and helpful, help new residents feel welcome and comfortable.

    The single-story building, which recently got a remodeled entrance and a new family room, features spacious courtyards, a pond, gardens, and comfortable common areas where residents can relax or join in social activities. There's a focus on nutritious meals every day, weekly housekeeping, laundry services, and various fitness and recreation programs. Residents can take part in outings or activities aimed at keeping them engaged and active, and the center offers transportation for those who need to get out for appointments or errands. Cottonwood Canyon is known for its clean and well-maintained surroundings, which help create a peaceful place for both patients and visiting families to enjoy. With English-speaking staff, the facility keeps a warm, community feel where personalized care plans help support individual health, wellness, and recovery goals. Right now, the center isn't taking new residents. Many people say the care here is nurturing and attentive, aiming to keep everyone safe, comfortable, and feeling at home during their stay.

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