All states › Iowa › Dubuque › Mount Carmel Bluffs
1160 Carmel Drive Dubuque, IA 52003 · Dubuque County
All 8 nursing homes in Dubuque, IA (8 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 165792 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Mount Carmel Bluffs a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Mount Carmel Bluffs as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall, above the Iowa average of 3.1.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 4.63 hours per resident per day at Mount Carmel Bluffs, above the Iowa median of 3.76 (US median: 3.72). About 1.28 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 4.07 hours, 12% below its all-week average. 30.9% of nursing staff left within a year (Iowa median 41.7%). That is lower than most homes in Iowa, a sign of a steadier team.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Mount Carmel Bluffs: Medicare and Medicaid
Mount Carmel Bluffs is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Iowa's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on February 26, 2026 and found 1 deficiency. In total, inspectors issued 7 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 7 citations at Mount Carmel Bluffs across 3 inspection dates, 3 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 7 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were nutrition and dietary (2) and quality of life and care (2). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level E, July 9, 2025).
February 26, 2026 · 1 citation
DProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
July 9, 2025 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
EEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
April 4, 2024 · 3 citations
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
DEnsure 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.
Questions to ask on a tour of Mount Carmel Bluffs
- CMS rates short-stay quality 2 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Mount Carmel Bluffs
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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1.5 mi
Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque DubuqueEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 24m for patients treated and sent home
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2.1 mi
The Finley Hospital DubuqueEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 1h 54m for patients treated and sent home
- 10.3 mi
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
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Other Presbyterian Homes & Services nursing homes in Iowa
- Walnut Ridge · Clive · 5 stars
- Mill-Pond · Ankeny · 5 stars
- Prairie Gate · Council Bluffs · 3 stars
- Highland Ridge Care Center · Williamsburg · 3 stars
- Hallmar Village · Cedar Rapids · 2 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 21 Presbyterian Homes & Services nursing homes ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.