Mill Valley Care Center
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Mill Valley Care Center in Bellevue, Iowa, has received a Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended and performing excellently compared to other facilities. It ranks #51 out of 392 nursing homes in Iowa, placing it in the top half of the state, and it is the best option among three facilities in Jackson County. The facility's trend is improving, with the number of reported issues decreasing from 2 in 2024 to none in 2025. Staffing is rated 4 out of 5, but with a turnover rate of 51%, which is average for Iowa, meaning staff stability may be a concern. Notably, there were no fines assessed, which is a positive sign. However, some weaknesses were found in the inspector's reports. For example, the facility failed to use proper transfer techniques for a resident, which resulted in an injury. Additionally, there were missed weekly assessments for pressure ulcers in two residents, leading to worsening conditions. Finally, there were concerns about staff using a spoon instead of a napkin to wipe a resident's mouth, indicating potential gaps in proper care practices. Overall, while Mill Valley Care Center has many strengths, families should be aware of these specific issues when considering this facility.
- Trust Score
- A
- In Iowa
- #51/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 51% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 47 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Iowa. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 10 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Iowa avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 10 deficiencies on record
Jul 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review, staff interview, and policy review the facility failed to follow appropriate transfer techniques resulting in injury for 1 of 1 resident reviewed (Resident #184). ...
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Feb 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on clinical record review, staff interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to document Weekly Pressure Ulcer Assessments for 2 of 3 residents reviewed with pressure ulcers (Resi...
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May 2023
7 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. The MDS Assessment Tool dated 4/10/23, listed diagnoses for Resident #8 that included: severe cognitive disability, dysphagia...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0637
(Tag F0637)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review and staff interview, the facility failed to complete a significant change MDS (Minimum Data ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review and staff interview, the facility failed to develop a Comprehensive Care Plan to address the indwelling catheter the resident had for one of one residents reviewed ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on clinical record review, staff interviews and policy review, the facility failed to revise a Care Plan with significant ...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review and staff interview, facility staff failed to provide proper incontinence care in a manner t...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Incontinence Care
(Tag F0690)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, record review and staff interviews, the facility staff failed to properly maintain a Foley catheter bag off the floor to prevent potential urinary tract infections for one of on...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0725
(Tag F0725)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, resident and staff interview, the facility failed to answer call lights in a timely manner ...
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Apr 2023
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, staff interviews and policy review the facility failed to report allegations of alleged abuse in a timel...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Iowa.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Mill Valley Care Center's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Mill Valley Care Center an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Iowa, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Mill Valley Care Center Staffed?
CMS rates Mill Valley Care Center's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 51%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. RN turnover specifically is 58%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.
What Have Inspectors Found at Mill Valley Care Center?
State health inspectors documented 10 deficiencies at Mill Valley Care Center during 2023 to 2024. These included: 10 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Mill Valley Care Center?
Mill Valley Care Center is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by HEALTHCARE OF IOWA, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 46 certified beds and approximately 42 residents (about 91% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Bellevue, Iowa.
How Does Mill Valley Care Center Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Mill Valley Care Center's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (51%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Mill Valley Care Center?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Mill Valley Care Center Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Mill Valley Care Center has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Iowa. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Mill Valley Care Center Stick Around?
Mill Valley Care Center has a staff turnover rate of 51%, which is about average for Iowa nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Mill Valley Care Center Ever Fined?
Mill Valley Care Center has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Mill Valley Care Center on Any Federal Watch List?
Mill Valley Care Center is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.