Overall sentiment in the reviews is mixed but leans positive regarding direct care and rehabilitation services, with several serious operational and safety concerns raised by multiple reviewers. A strong, recurring theme is praise for the clinical and caregiving staff: many reviewers describe nurses and CNAs as caring, professional, attentive, and personable. Multiple accounts highlight effective wound and respiratory care, and numerous patients report successful, speedy recoveries after rehab at Sequoia Transitional Care. The facility boasts a notably large and well-equipped therapy gym (described as the largest in Porterville), a rehab kitchen and bath, and reports that many patients leave stronger and able to return home. Several reviews emphasize that the facility has undergone significant renovation (a "million-dollar remodel") and that therapy spaces and private rooms are spacious and comfortable.
Despite these strengths, there are several important and repeating concerns that materially affect the facility's overall reputation. The most alarming items are individual reports of medication and emergency response failures — for example, mention that sleeping medication was given, and an allegation that staff refused to call 911 — and a separate, serious report that a resident's benefits were switched from direct deposit to paper checks that were sent to the facility address and subsequently deposited into the facility's account. These allegations, if accurate, point to possible misuse of resident funds and extremely problematic clinical judgment or protocol adherence. Reports of theft or missing personal items (phone, cash, lottery tickets) and at least one named staff member (CNA Bianca) being described as rude and neglectful amplify safety and trust concerns for families.
Maintenance and facility condition are mixed in the reviews. Several reviewers praise cleanliness, daily room cleaning, and a well-kept, remodeled look. Others note the building is older in places, with mild urine odors in hallways and complaints about hospital-style meals. A specific plumbing problem was described in detail — a leaking toilet with sewage entering a shower drain and an initially unsatisfactory staff explanation and a temporary "unsafe workaround" — though one update indicated the situation later improved. These plumbing/maintenance issues appear to have been facility-wide at one point and warrant verification during any visit.
Operational and management issues also arise repeatedly. Communication problems show up in multiple reviews: long hold times when calling, visitation scheduling difficulties, and at least one report of the family not being informed about a resident's death. Some reviewers describe social or administrative staff as aggressive or unprofessional, while others say problems were resolved promptly and professionally. Response times for assistance are inconsistent in accounts — examples include waiting six minutes for a CNA and 45 minutes for an RN — indicating variability across shifts. Dining and activities receive mixed feedback: some call the food exceptional, others call it terrible or too "hospital-style," and there are varied comments about activities (one reviewer noted a concert in the dining room positively). The facility is pet-friendly (weekend kitty visits noted) which some families appreciate.
In summary, Sequoia Transitional Care appears to offer strong clinical rehab capabilities, compassionate direct care from many nurses and CNAs, and an improved therapy environment after renovation. Those are compelling positives for patients needing rehab, wound care, or respiratory support. However, the facility also shows troubling inconsistencies: isolated but serious allegations related to medication, emergency response, financial handling, and theft; recurring communication and management concerns; and intermittent maintenance or sanitation problems. These issues are significant enough that prospective residents and families should: (1) tour the facility and inspect therapy areas and resident rooms; (2) ask specifically about resident financial safeguards, medication and emergency protocols, and any recent incidents; (3) inquire about current plumbing/maintenance status and staffing levels per shift; (4) confirm visitation policies and communication practices with administration; and (5) secure valuables and document personal items. Overall recommendation: Sequoia may be an excellent choice for rehab and skilled nursing when staffed by its praised caregivers, but families should perform targeted due diligence around safety, finances, and management responsiveness before committing.







