Memorialcare Hospice and Palliative Services
A hospice in Laguna Hills, California 92653
24411 Health Center Dr, Suite 100, Laguna Hills, California 92653. (949) 460-1500.
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The short answer
Record last released by CMS on Oct 23, 2026. We couldn’t read Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ list since Oct 27, 2026: qcor.cms.gov now refuses our reader. This record is as of then.
- 9 deficiencies cited in the last three years
- 3of 5 family caregiver rating
- 10of 10 CMS’s Hospice Care Index
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean3
- Star ratings
- CMS rates some kinds of place from 1 to 5 stars, more stars meaning better on CMS’s own measures for that kind: for a nursing home, its health inspections, staffing and quality measures. A rating is CMS’s summary of those measures; it doesn’t promise good care. Source: CMS, Care Compare and the Five-Star Quality Rating System.
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
9 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 91 hospices serving ZIP code 92653 had 8.
The last inspection on record was on Feb 28, 2025: a reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, Hospice ZIP Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
When those deficiencies happened
9 deficiencies in 1 month of the last 36. Last cited Feb 2025. Most serious: Standard-level. The last 3 years, to Oct 27, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nov | Dec | ||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each deficiency, as cited
Rule titles as CMS’s inspectors cite them, set in sentence case.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
Feb 28, 2025: reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission9 deficiencies
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Content of comprehensive assessment (42 CFR 418.54(c)(5))
“Observed in Patient Home. In 1 of 3 visits with wound care, the plan of care states wounds will be measured weekly yet no measurements were observed or found in the medical record, including the admission visit. This was verified with the Hospice director and the quality improvement coordinator.”
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Coordination of services (42 CFR 418.56(e)(2))
The inspectors’ words, 134 words
“Observed in Record Review. In 2 of 8 patient records reviewed, of patients with CHHA on the case, the surveyor found that CHHA missed multiple schedule visits without communication of any kind. For example RRNV # 4 during the weeks 11/3/24, 11/11/24, 11/18 and 12/29 each week had at least one missed aide visit without communication of any kind. Further during review of record associated with HHV#6 it was observed in record that during the weeks of 10/3/24, 11/18/24, 11/25/24, 12/31/24, 1/20/25, 2/3/25 and 2/10/25 each week had at least one missed aide visit without communication of any kind. The surveyor confirmed with hospice quality RN , who had reviewed records along with surveyor, that the IDG had not been informed or that any communication note had been completed related to aide missed visits.”
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Prevention (42 CFR 418.60(a))
The inspectors’ words, 148 words
“Observed in Patient Home. The surveyor observed the hospice CHHA give a bed bath to a patient that had been discharged status post sepsis, without following organization policy or CDC guidelines. The surveyor observed the CHHA wash hands at start of visit and never again during visit, which included cleaning fecal matter, handling foley catheter. At one point the surveyor observed the CHHA don 3 pair of gloves and just remove and continue with care without cleaning hands. The surveyor also observed during visit the aide leave patient bath to go into patient clean closet with dirty gloves on. Observed in Patient Home. In 1 of 6 visits, multiuse equipment was not cleaned before being put back in the bag with clean equipment, which was not consistent with the organization’s Nursing Bag Technique policy. This was discussed and confirmed with the Hospice Director and the Quality Improvement Coordinator.”
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In-service training (42 CFR 418.76(d))
“Observed in Tracer Activities. In 1 of 1 hospice aide competency files reviewed, the organization was not able to validate that a hospice aide had completed at least 12 hours of in-service training during the past 2 year period. This finding was discussed with the hospice leaders at the time of discovery.”
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Hospice aide assignments and duties (42 CFR 418.76(g)(1))
The inspectors’ words, 101 words
“Observed in Individual Tracer. The hospice surveyor observed that the hospice aide Care Plan had included two types of baths , a shower and a bed bath organization policy requires that one bath type be ordered on care plan. When discussed with organization leadership it was stated that the admit nurse put one type of bath and the case manager RN changed to other type, however no nurse removed any of the two baths and therefore had not complied with organization policy. The surveyor discussed and confirmed with hospice quality RN that reviewed records with surveyor that this was an issue.”
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Supervision of hospice aides (42 CFR 418.76(h)(1)(i))
“Observed in Record Review. In 3 of 18 patient records reviewed, In 3 of 18 records, hospice aide supervision was not conducted every 14 days or less. Days late were anywhere from 2 days to 7 days late. This was confirmed by the Quality Improvement Coordinator.”
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Level of activity (42 CFR 418.78(e))
“Observed in Tracer Activities. The organization was not able to validate that its volunteer staff provided day to day administrative or direct patient care in an amount that equals at least 5% of the total patient care provided by the organization. The organization’s calculated volunteer activity for Fiscal Year 2024 was 4.4%. This finding was discussed with hospice leadership.”
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Discharge or transfer of care (42 CFR 418.104(e)(1)(i))
“Observed in Record Review. In 3 of 3 patient records reviewed, of hospice patients that revoked and went to hospital the surveyor found no evidence that the discharge summary had been provided to the next provider. This issue was discussed with hospice leaders and confirmed.”
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Criminal background checks (42 CFR 418.114(d)(1))
“Observed in Tracer Activities. The organization’s contracts for pharmacy services, and durable medical equipment did not have a stipulation that the outside agency would complete a criminal background check on contracted employees who provide direct patient care of have access to patient records. This finding was discussed with hospice leadership.”
The one inspection in the last three years
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 28, 2025 | Reaccreditation inspection by The Joint Commission | 9 deficiencies cited |
Is it certified?
- Medicare-certified hospice since Sep 3, 1992.
- Ownership: non-profit.
- No For hospices, home health agencies, hospitals and dialysis facilities, CMS writes deficiencies at two levels. Standard is the usual one; condition-level is the more serious, when a problem is serious enough that the provider doesn’t meet a whole condition of taking part in Medicare. Source: CMS, State Operations Manual. deficiency or CMS’s most serious finding: the place’s failure to meet a rule caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to someone in its care. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 489.3. on record in the last three years.
CMS, Hospice General Information. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
Has anything been proven against it?
- CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospices, so none are shown.
- 0 deficiencies cited in the last three years came from inspections that included a complaint investigation.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
Who does the caring?
- From Medicare claims (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024): 17.7 nurse care minutes per routine home care day, 9.5% of skilled nursing minutes at weekends and a visit near death for 99.1% of patients who died.
- Where its patients were cared for (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024): 69% at home, 25% in assisted living, 2% in a skilled nursing facility, 3% in a hospital.
CMS, Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | This provider |
|---|---|
| Nurse care minutes per routine home care day | 17.7 min |
| Skilled nursing minutes at weekends | 9.5% |
| Visits near death | 99.1% of patients who died |
Who owns it?
- Saddleback Memorial Medical Center owns 100% directly since Jan 7, 2010.
- 17 owners or officers are people: Theresa Evans (corporate director, 0%); Dale Vital (corporate director, 0%); Thomas Rogers (corporate director, 0%); Tam Nguyen (corporate director, 0%); David Wolf (corporate director, 0%); Sharon Cheever (corporate director, 0%); Rhonda Longmore Grund (corporate director, 0%); Louis S Scarcella (managing employee (under contract), 0%); Julio A Ibarra (corporate director, 0%); Eugene D Elliott (corporate director, 0%); Frank J Marino (corporate director, 0%); Shela Kaneshiro (corporate officer, 0%); Lorina D’amore (managing employee (on the payroll), 0%); Michael D Moneta (corporate director, 0%); David S Kim (corporate officer, 0%); Christopher Finch (corporate officer, 0%); Aaron Coley (corporate officer, 0%).
- No private-equity firm among the owners CMS lists.
- No real-estate investment trust among the owners CMS lists.
CMS, Hospice All Owners and Hospice Enrollments. Released Sep 29, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Organisation | Role | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saddleback Memorial Medical Center | Owns 5% or more directly | 100% | Jan 7, 2010 |
What do families say?
- Family caregivers rate it 3 of 5 in CMS’s survey (Oct 1, 2023 to Sep 30, 2025): 81% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10, and 85% would definitely recommend it.
- CMS’s Hospice Care Index: 10 of 10 (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
- 91.38% of patients were assessed on all seven of CMS’s measures at the start of care (Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025); 61.3% had visits from a nurse or social worker on at least 2 of their last 3 days (Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024).
CMS, CAHPS Hospice Survey and Hospice Provider Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Measure | Rating |
|---|---|
| Family caregiver survey ratingCMS star rating from its survey of patients’ family caregivers, 1 to 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Hospice Care IndexCMS’s Hospice Care Index, 0 to 10 (higher is better): a point for each of ten measures from Medicare claims on which the hospice meets CMS’s threshold | 10 of 10 |
How does it compare nearby?
- Of the 91 hospices CMS’s data show serving patients in ZIP code 92653, where this hospice’s office is, the middle number of deficiencies cited in the last three years was 8; this one had 9.
CMS, Hospice ZIP Data. Released Aug 26, 2026. Updated quarterly.
CMS, QCOR hospice inspection reports. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated quarterly.
| Place | Deficiencies, 3 years |
|---|---|
| Memorialcare Hospice and Palliative Services This hospice | 9 |
| Care Plus Hospice | 10 |
| California Mission Hospice, LLC | 12 |
| Parentis Hospice | 24 |
| Western Horizon Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. | 6 |
| Hospice of Hope | 4 |
| Laguna Hills Hospice | Not given |
| VNA of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. | Not given |
| Vitas Healthcare Corporation of California | 3 |
| Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care of California | 3 |
| Providence at Home With Compassus Hospice Care Orange County | 5 |
| Bristol Hospice-Orange County | 8 |
What the record doesn’t say
- CMS doesn’t publish fines or other penalties for hospices, so none are shown.
- Only complaints that led to a citation appear; complaints that didn’t aren’t published.
- CMS ended its Special Focus Program for hospices with serious problems on Feb 14, 2025, so no hospice is marked as one.
- Hospice quality measures have a gap from October 2025: CMS replaced its patient assessment then, and public results from the new one (HOPE) are expected around November 2027.
Sources
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice General Information (yc9t-dgbk).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice Provider Data (252m-zfp9).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CAHPS Hospice Survey (gxki-hrr8).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, QCOR hospice inspection reports (Hospice Survey Reports - Oct 2021 through Sep 2026.xlsx).
Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice All Owners (e983965e-1603-4cb8-82b5-c40090e380d1).
Released Sep 29, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice Enrollments (25704213-e833-4b8b-9dbc-58dd17149209).
Released Sep 29, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Hospice ZIP Data (95rg-2usp).
Released Aug 26, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated quarterly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: CMS. CMS’s own record is on Care Compare. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Oct 27, 2026.
From the hospice
The public record above comes first. Anything the hospice adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the hospice will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.
Paid listing
None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the hospice”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.