Village Square Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in San Marcos, CA

Pros

• Staff such as Laura Don, Yasmin, and Lucy have helped residents since admission.
• Lucy and Yasmin are always available to answer questions about a resident's care.
• The care provided is very good, with staff who interact with residents warmly and encouragingly.
• The environment is healing and welcoming.
• The rehab team is amazing with very experienced geriatric and orthopedic care staff.
• The nurses are caring, attentive, and keep residents safe.
• The staff are professional, patient, and kind.
• The facility has bright rooms, a nice terrace, and staff who are positive and engaging.

Cons

• They leave patients in their own bathroom waste.
• They do not answer the call buttons in patient rooms.
• The elevator was broken for days and repairs were said to take up to two weeks.
• They do not administer important medications (or nebulizer treatments) on time.
• The facility is dirty and smelled awful.
• They are severely understaffed and patients are ignored for hours.
• They withhold water and failed to provide insulin for diabetics.
• They neglect patients, sometimes leading to serious health decline or death.
• They are unresponsive to family concerns and communications are poor.

Review

Village Square Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in San Marcos is best suited for families that prioritize strong on-site rehabilitation and a caregiver team with long-tenured, personable staff who can establish real relationships with residents. The facility's smaller, homey feel and accessible campus tend to reward residents who respond well to a familiar faces-and-routines approach. For families who want a focused rehab pathway - especially post-surgery or after falls - there is genuine value in the consistency of frontline nurses and therapists who know residents by name and can tailor therapy to mobility goals. In short, it's a workable choice for those who can leverage ongoing staff connections and actively participate in care planning.

Those with serious concerns about staffing reliability, timely medication administration, or safety infrastructure should consider alternatives. A pattern of delayed treatments, unaddressed call buttons, and reports of neglect or unsafe conditions cannot be dismissed. If a resident relies on prompt, 24/7 medical attention or requires a consistently clean, odor-free environment and guaranteed access to essential services, other facilities with stronger staffing ratios and more robust oversight will likely deliver less risk. Families who cannot be present regularly to advocate for care may find the risk profile too high.

On the plus side, the strongest argument for Village Square lies in the care team's dedication and the rehab ecosystem. Reviews repeatedly highlight caring, approachable nurses, therapists with geriatric and orthopedic expertise, and staff members who build trust with residents and families. When care teams communicate well and there is continuity - often with long-standing leaders and a stable nursing crew - the environment feels healing and uplifting. For some families, the ability to see a resident's daily improvement through PT milestones and social engagement is decisive. The facility's location and the renewed sense of community around meals, outings, and activities add tangible quality of life for many residents.

Counterbalancing these strengths are persistent and serious drawbacks. A sizable share of reviews describe understaffing and slow or inconsistent response to assistance requests, with some residents left in distress or unattended for extended periods. Documentation and medication management are repeatedly called into question, including missed doses or delays that can quickly erode health. Infrastructure issues - such as broken elevators, water concerns, odors, or a facility that feels unsettled or dirty to visitors - emerge as recurring triggers for frustration and worry. Communication gaps, especially with families, compound the sense that the facility struggles to translate day-to-day care into predictable, reliable service.

The key challenge is whether the rehabilitative gains and warmth of the caregiving staff outweigh the ongoing safety and reliability gaps. For families who can be actively engaged - participating in care conferences, pressing for timely med administration, and coordinating with staff to monitor a plan - the positives can translate into meaningful recovery and a sense of security. But the cons are not trivial: they intrinsically limit the resident's daily experience and elevate risk, particularly for medically fragile individuals or those with complex needs. In practice, outcomes often hinge on the degree of family involvement and the facility's responsiveness during admission and ongoing care planning.

For families weighing options, a deliberate tour and frank conversations with the DON, the RN supervisor, and the therapy leadership are essential. Verify staffing rhythms, ask to see recent therapy progress notes, and request specifics on call-light response times and medication turnaround. Inspect the environment: cleanliness, smells, and equipment reliability matter, as do the availability of functional amenities like elevators and basic safety features. If choosing Village Square, set a clear plan for regular family updates, establish contingency contacts for urgent issues, and prepare to advocate consistently. In many cases, that vigilance can unlock the best possible rehab trajectory while mitigating the facility's systemic vulnerabilities.

This particular area of San Marcos, California, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. There are several pharmacies nearby, including CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens, ensuring easy access to medications and health supplies. The neighborhood also boasts a variety of dining options such as Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, In-N-Out Burger, and Players Sports Bar for enjoyable meals out. For medical care, there are reputable physicians at Kaiser San Marcos and Scripps Coastal Medical Center within a few miles' radius. Additionally, there are beautiful parks like Santa Fe Hills Park and San Elijo Hills Park for leisurely strolls and outdoor activities. With transportation options like the Vista Transit Center and hospitals like Palomar Medical Center Escondido in close proximity, this area provides both convenience and essential services for seniors looking to settle down in a vibrant community.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Edwards San Marcos (0.6 miles)
• Cinépolis Vista (5.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers (0.8 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (1.5 miles)
• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• Players Sports Bar (2.2 miles)
• Mrs. Taco (2.5 miles)
• San Marcos Community Center (2.6 miles)
• Eureka (3.3 miles)

Physicians

• Kaiser San Marcos (1.9 miles)
• Leonid Slavin M.D. (1.9 miles)
• Carolene Grace Madden, MD (1.9 miles)
• Jessica K Laursen M.D. (2.6 miles)
• Scripps Coastal Medical Center (4.4 miles)
• Graybill Medical Group - Vista Office (5.6 miles)
• Stanton Optical (5.7 miles)

Parks

• Santa Fe Hills Park (2.2 miles)
• San Elijo Hills Park (2.3 miles)
• Montiel Dog Park (2.3 miles)
• Alga Norte Community Park (3.6 miles)
• Woodland Park (4.3 miles)
• Olympus Park (6.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.3 miles)
• Starbucks (7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Mission Hills Church (3.4 miles)

Transportation

• McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD) (4.6 miles)
• Vista Transit Center (5.5 miles)
• Melrose Sprinter Station (6.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Palomar Medical Center Escondido (4.8 miles)
• Premiere Surgery Center (5.9 miles)
• Tri-City Medical Center (6.3 miles)
• Tri-City Medical Center Registration (6.3 miles)
• North Coast Surgery Center (6.4 miles)
• Eye Surgery Associates (7 miles)