Mount Carmel Bluffs
1160 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003
Based on 2026 CMS Data
Official Government Ratings
Health Inspections
Frequency & severity of deficiencies
Staffing Levels
Nurse hours per resident per day
Quality Measures
Clinical outcomes & care quality
Resident Council Active
Active councils indicate resident empowerment and facility transparency.
Vetting This Facility? Get Answers They Don't Volunteer
Free guide: the exact questions to ask Mount Carmel Bluffs, how to pull the public records (ownership, inspections, penalties), and how to request the info that isn't online — like the medical director.
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Care Quality Indicators
Lower is better
Lower is better
Lower is better
Lower is better
How Mount Carmel Bluffs Compares
Mount Carmel Bluffs is a 60-bed for-profit nursing facility in Dubuque, Iowa. It holds an overall CMS rating of 5 out of 5 stars, above the Iowa average of 3.1 stars. Its strongest area is staffing (5 stars), while quality measures (2 stars) is its weakest. Its rate of short-stay residents returning to the hospital (46.1%) is above the Iowa average of 20.8% — a measure worth asking the staff about. With 60 certified beds, it operates near capacity at roughly 90% occupied.
Among the 8 nursing facilities ElderVoice tracks in Dubuque, 3 hold a 5-star rating and the local average is 3.5 stars.
By the numbers vs. Iowa average
- Long-stay antipsychotic medication use: 23.2% — worse than the Iowa average of 19.5%.
- Falls with major injury: 6.1% — worse than the Iowa average of 3.8% (59% higher).
- High-risk pressure ulcers: 3.5% — better than the Iowa average of 4.2%.
- Short-stay rehospitalization: 46.1% — worse than the Iowa average of 20.8% (122% higher).
Comparisons use CMS Care Compare data (updated September 5, 2026) measured against Iowa averages across 387 facilities tracked by ElderVoice.
Questions to Ask Mount Carmel Bluffs
Use these facility-specific questions when calling admissions, touring the building, or comparing Mount Carmel Bluffs with other nursing homes in Dubuque.
How is Mount Carmel Bluffs addressing its quality measures rating?
CMS currently rates this category 2 out of 5 stars, so ask what specific improvements are underway and when the next survey update is expected.
What is Mount Carmel Bluffs doing to reduce long-stay antipsychotic medication use?
Long-stay antipsychotic medication use is 23.2% here versus 19.5% across Iowa. Lower is generally better for this CMS measure.
What is Mount Carmel Bluffs doing to reduce falls with major injury?
Falls with major injury is 6.1% here versus 3.8% across Iowa. Lower is generally better for this CMS measure.
How does Mount Carmel Bluffs maintain staffing when occupancy is high?
The facility reports roughly 90% occupancy across 60 certified beds, so ask how staffing is adjusted during full census periods.
How can a new family connect with existing councils at Mount Carmel Bluffs?
Active resident or family councils can provide useful context about daily life, responsiveness, and recurring concerns.
What explains Mount Carmel Bluffs's rating advantage in Dubuque?
Its 5-star overall rating is above the local average of 3.5 stars across 8 facilities. Ask which practices families can observe during a tour.
The Senior Community Around Dubuque
Dubuque sits in Dubuque County, where adults 65 and older make up about 17.8% of the population — a share of seniors in line with Iowa as a whole (17.1% statewide). The area's median household income is consistent with state averages.
- Residents 65+
- 17,256 (17.8%)
- Median age
- 38.5 years
- Median household income
- $64,493
- Median home value
- $175,300
Demographics for Dubuque County from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Provided as local context for families comparing care options near Dubuque.
Facility Details
Other Facilities in Dubuque
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Ennoble Nursing and Rehab
2000 Pasadena Drive
Stonehill Care Center
3485 Windsor Avenue
Sunnycrest Manor
2375 Roosevelt Street
Dubuque Specialty Care
2935 Kaufmann Avenue
Luther Manor at Hillcrest
3131 Hillcrest Road
Harmony Dubuque
901 West Third Street
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