Nursing HomeMedicaid Top Rated

Mount Carmel Bluffs

Strong Medicare quality ratings; families often praise compassionate and patient staff. Still worth an in-person visit.

1160 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003|60 beds|Licensed & Active

5/5

Medicare

Inspection

Quality

Staffing

Google rating

4.7/5

based on 7 Google reviews

(563) 556-5474 Directions Website

Open in Google Maps

Watch Mount Carmel Bluffs

Get an email when new inspections, ratings, or penalties are published for this facility.

We’ll only email you about this — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

What this means for your family

Mount Carmel Bluffs receives high marks for its supportive staff and beautiful living environment, making it a strong candidate for families prioritizing a compassionate transition. Because most reviews focus on independent living or short-term stays, we recommend asking specifically about the depth of nursing resources if your loved one requires high-acuity care.

Google Reviews

7 reviews on Google

“Mount Carmel Bluffs is frequently praised by families for its compassionate staff and welcoming atmosphere, particularly during the transition into independent living. Reviewers highlight the facility's beautiful physical environment, including spacious apartments and scenic views, though the limited number of detailed reviews makes it difficult to assess long-term nursing care quality.”

Quality Themes

Tap a score for details

Strengths

Compassionate and patient staff
Beautiful, well-maintained facility
Helpful and professional transition support
Scenic location and views

Rating Trends

Tap a year to see what changed

Distribution · 9 analyzed

How They Respond to Reviews

100%response rate

This facility actively engages with reviewer feedback.

Questions for Your Tour

1I noticed your team is very active in responding to online feedback; how do you incorporate that kind of open communication into your daily interactions with families?
2Given the beautiful, scenic location here at Mount Carmel Bluffs, what kind of outdoor activities or garden access can residents enjoy on a regular basis?
3With a 5-star staffing rating, how do you ensure that the compassionate, patient care mentioned by others is consistently maintained for every resident?
4I see there have been a few recent state-level findings; could you walk me through the steps you’ve taken to address those specific areas and improve your processes?
5Since you have a smaller community of 60 residents, how does that intimate size help your team provide more personalized medical attention during a health emergency?
6What specific transition support programs do you have in place to help new residents feel at home and connected to the community during their first few weeks?

Personalized based on this facility's data

Key Review Excerpts

“We had such a wonderful experience with Mount Carmel Bluffs during a very emotional and important transition for our family. Alyssa and the entire staff were incredibly patient, helpful, and compassionate as we navigated the decision of independent living for my aging parents.”

Independent living family member · 2026★★★★★

“My father was in Mt. Carmel Bluffs nursing care for only a very brief time before his death. In that short time, however, our dad (and our family) was treated very compassionately and professionally by every staff member we encountered.”

Nursing care family member · 2025★★★★★

“We moved into our independent living apartment at the beginning of August. We really love our spacious turret apartment. The views are lovely and we have plenty of room for all our things.”

Independent living resident · 2024★★★★★

Source: 7 Google reviews

Staffing

Staffing Hours

per resident/day · Medicare 2026

RN Hours

1.24hrs

Registered nurses for medical care

Total Nursing

4.49hrs

All nurses + aides combined

Staff Turnover

29%

Lower is better (< 30% = good)

RN Turnover

Lower is better (< 30% = good)

This facility meets the national staffing benchmarks. Higher staffing is linked to fewer falls and better day-to-day care.

Quality Measures

Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 17 measures

Medicare Rating

2/ 5

Better Than Avg

measures

Worse Than Avg

measures

Mixed Results

measures

Long-Stay Residents

🚿

Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse

↓ Lower is better

This Facility31.2%

Worse than Avg

Here

31.2%

19.4%

25.9%

Dubuque

26.0%

🛏️

Residents needing more daily help over time

↓ Lower is better

This Facility26.1%

Worse than Avg

Here

26.1%

14.4%

17.6%

Dubuque

17.5%

💉

Residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better

This Facility97.3%

Better than Avg

Here

97.3%

93.4%

93.9%

Dubuque

86.3%

💊

Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication

↓ Lower is better

This Facility14.7%

Better than Avg

Here

14.7%

19.5%

20.7%

Dubuque

21.9%

😔

Residents with depression symptoms

↓ Lower is better

This Facility6.1%

Mixed vs Avgs

Here

6.1%

12.1%

4.1%

Dubuque

5.2%

Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.

💊

Residents on antipsychotic medication

↓ Lower is better

This Facility21.0%

Worse than Avg

Here

21.0%

15.5%

19.4%

Dubuque

20.6%

Short-Stay Residents (Rehab / Post-Acute)

💉

Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better

This Facility63.2%

Worse than Avg

Here

63.2%

81.8%

84.1%

Dubuque

77.8%

💉

Short-stay residents vaccinated for the flu

↑ Higher is better

This Facility69.6%

Mixed vs Avgs

Here

69.6%

79.8%

73.3%

Dubuque

62.5%

💊

Short-stay residents newly given antipsychotics

↓ Lower is better

This Facility0.0%

Better than Avg

Here

0.0%

1.6%

2.0%

Dubuque

1.9%

Source: Medicare quality measures

US average from Medicare published data

Inspection History

Medicare Inspection History

3-year lookback · Medicare 2026

4deficiencies

Near state avg (6.2)

3 complaint-triggered

Mount Carmel Bluffs has a concerning pattern of recurring fire safety and building maintenance violations, with the same deficiencies appearing across multiple surveys, suggesting persistent infrastructure problems. Families have filed complaints that led to citations for resident dignity, care quality, and accident prevention. While all deficiencies show correction dates, the repeated nature of fire safety issues across 2022-2025 indicates ongoing facility management challenges that could impact resident safety.

Feb 26, 2026Routine3 findings

0353Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

0712Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Miscellaneous Deficiencies

Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.

0725Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Nursing and Physician Services Deficiencies

Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.

Jul 9, 2025Complaint3 findings

0689Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

0550Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Rights Deficiencies

Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

0684Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.

Feb 20, 2025Routine2 findings

0324Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Provide properly protected cooking facilities.

0353Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.

Apr 4, 2024Routine7 findings

0918Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.

0812Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

0311Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Have an enclosure around a vertical opening shaft.

0321Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Smoke Deficiencies

Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.

0920Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Gas, Vacuum, and Electrical Systems Deficiencies

Ensure proper usage of power strips and extension cords.

0658Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

0803Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.

State Inspection History

State Inspections

Source: Iowa Dept. of Inspections, Appeals & Licensing

10total

7deficiencies

Jun 11, 2026OtherNo deficiencies

Clean