By:  Teresa Palmer MD, Family Medicine/Geriatrics, Laguna Honda 1989-2004; Board member SF Gray Panthers

Testimony at the S.F. Health Commission March 10 hearing convincingly indicated that Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehab Center (LHH) is once again, a state-of-the-art skilled nursing facility (SNF).

San Franciscans who need a bed are encouraged to apply for one. As of Feb 28 2025, less than 460 beds are occupied, leaving over 200 empty available beds.

LHH admissions department is open to inquiries.  LHH has about 1/3 of all SNF beds in SF, and there is a city-wide shortage of beds, especially for those in Medi-Cal.

LHH has, over the decades, generally offered superior care. I am proud to say that I worked there as a ward physician for 15 years and learned best practices. 

The facility has 769 SNF beds (649 are now available-see below) and an 11-bed acute hospital (suitable for LHH residents who need hospital care but not intensive care).

A shutdown of LHH was ordered by the Federal government (CMS) in April 2022 because Local and State Health Department management, since at least 2010, did not obey safety & human rights regulations and did not properly maintain the facility. Evictions were halted in July 2022 because many residents died immediately after leaving. Reform efforts began.

LHH finally began admitting new patients(residents) in late 2024.  The facility is fully recertified (paid by Medicare/Medi-Cal insurance) since mid 2024, but new admissions were delayed and then slow due to concerns about training and managing staff.

Unfortunately, the future use of 120 single rooms/beds is still in jeopardy. The federal government (CMS) requires that rooms meet 2016 regulations (limiting bathroom sharing to 2 patient beds instead of 3). The newly constructed building opened in 2010, and the rooms are spacious and safe. A “waiver” to this 2016 rule is possible, but CMS is not approving one yet.

San Franciscans must demand that that our Mayor and SF Health Department convince state and Federal representatives to make those 120 beds available AND that the agonizing mismanagement that almost led to closure of our public nursing home in 2022 is never repeated.

What you can do:

1.Write to your Supervisor, Mayor and California Elected representatives.

2.Testify or write to the San Francisco Health Commission/Laguna Honda Joint Conference Committee (next meeting April 14-meets second Monday of the Month at 4 pm-City Hall). The agenda comes out on the Friday (April 11) before the meeting at this link: https://www.sf.gov/departments--san-francisco-health-commission  

3.Attend SF Gray Panthers April 23 noon “zoom forum” where you can hear from and ask questions of LHH staff about how to apply for a nursing home bed. Link: https://sfgraypanthers.org/events