Bethany Home
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Bethany Home in Dubuque, Iowa, has an impressive Trust Grade of A+, indicating it is an elite facility with a strong reputation for care. It ranks #5 out of 392 nursing homes in Iowa, placing it in the top tier of facilities, and #2 out of 12 in Dubuque County, meaning only one local option is better. The facility is improving, having reduced its reported issues from 2 in 2023 to none in 2025, and it boasts excellent staffing ratings with a 5/5 star score and a low turnover rate of 22%, significantly below the state average. However, there were two concerns noted in the inspector findings, including staff failing to administer medications appropriately and a dietary staff member not using a required beard restraint, which could pose risks to resident safety and hygiene. Overall, while Bethany Home has many strengths, including no fines and good RN coverage, families should be aware of the areas where improvements are still needed.
- Trust Score
- A+
- In Iowa
- #5/392
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ✓ Good
- 22% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 26 points below Iowa's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Iowa facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 58 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Iowa. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ✓ Good
- Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
The Good
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5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
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4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (22%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
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Staff turnover is low (22%)
26 points below Iowa average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.
The Bad
No Significant Concerns Identified
This facility shows no red flags. Among Iowa's 100 nursing homes, only 1% achieve this.
The Ugly 2 deficiencies on record
Mar 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, resident record review, and staff interview, the facility failed to administer medications in a means that care and medication administration services had been provided according...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and policy review the facility failed to have dietary male staff wear beard restraints, according to the current standards of practice per the Food Code of the FDA (Fo...
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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+ (95/100). 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.
- • Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Bethany Home's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns Bethany Home 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 Bethany Home Staffed?
CMS rates Bethany Home's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 22%, compared to the Iowa average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Bethany Home?
State health inspectors documented 2 deficiencies at Bethany Home during 2023. These included: 2 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Bethany Home?
Bethany Home is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 66 certified beds and approximately 65 residents (about 98% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Dubuque, Iowa.
How Does Bethany Home Compare to Other Iowa Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Iowa, Bethany Home's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (22%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Bethany Home?
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 Bethany Home Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, Bethany Home 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 Bethany Home Stick Around?
Staff at Bethany Home tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 22%, the facility is 24 percentage points below the Iowa average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly. Registered Nurse turnover is also low at 7%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.
Was Bethany Home Ever Fined?
Bethany Home 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 Bethany Home on Any Federal Watch List?
Bethany Home 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.