Memory careIndependent livingAssisted living
Dubuque Specialty Care
0.00 reviews · 0 verifiedDubuque, IALic. 165228
DENYCMS payment denial (16 days)Source: CMS Penalties
FINECMS fine: $53,372Source: CMS Penalties
VBPLower SNF VBP program ranking (#10,800)Source: CMS SNF VBP (PDC)
Provided by facility
Dubuque Specialty Care, located in Dubuque, IA, offers quality care for up to 84 residents, available 24/7. The facility focuses on providing an engaging and active lifestyle through various social and educational activities. As part of Care Initiatives, Iowa's largest nonprofit provider of skilled nursing, hospice, assisted living, independent living, and memory care, Dubuque Specialty Care is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for its residents. The facility features a compassionate team of over 70 members committed to delivering high-quality care in a home-like environment.
TherapiesOn-Site Rehabilitation Services
Inside AmenitiesLibrary
Safety & SecuritySecured Memory Care Unit
CMS Care CompareView on Medicare.gov →
Medicare overall
2/5Medicare.gov Care Compare stars are shown for context only. They are never part of the Unbeatable composite score.
Staffing (PBJ)
2.14 total HPRDRN 0.48 · weekend 81%Oct 2025 – Dec 2025
Survey history
6 inspections38 deficiencies on record
Federal IDs
CCN 165228
Overall: 2/5 · Health: 2/5 · Staffing: 2/5 · QM: 3/5
Unbeatable ratings come only from verified family, staff, and professional reviews on this site. CMS stars, staffing, and citations are public regulatory signals — useful for context, not blended into our score.
Recent inspections
Health surveyJul 2025 · CMS8 deficiencies
- F-644SS D — Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
- F-657SS D — Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
- F-725SS D — Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
- F-740SS D — Ensure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
- F-760SS D — Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
- F-812SS D — Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
- F-865SS F — Have a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
- F-880SS D — Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Fire safetyJul 2025 · STATE FIRE MARSHAL2 deficiencies
- K-353SS F — Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- K-363SS F — Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Health surveyJul 2024 · CMS14 deficiencies
- F-550SS D — Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
- F-580SS D — Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
- F-584SS D — Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
- F-623SS B — Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
- F-625SS B — Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
- F-657SS D — Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
- F-658SS E — Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
- F-684SS D — Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
- F-686SS G — Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
- F-689SS D — Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
- F-725SS E — Provide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
- F-812SS E — Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
- F-880SS D — Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
- F-919SS D — Make sure that a working call system is available in each resident's bathroom and bathing area.
Fire safetyJul 2024 · STATE FIRE MARSHAL6 deficiencies
- E-39SS F — Conduct testing and exercise requirements.
- E-41SS F — Implement emergency and standby power systems.
- K-223SS E — Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
- K-321SS D — Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- K-353SS F — Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- K-918SS F — Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
Health surveyOct 2023 · CMS1 deficiencies
- F-689SS G — Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Fire safetyMay 2023 · STATE FIRE MARSHAL7 deficiencies
- K-223SS E — Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector.
- K-321SS E — Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system.
- K-324SS F — Provide properly protected cooking facilities.
- K-345SS F — Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems.
- K-353SS F — Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
- K-511SS D — Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
- K-918SS F — Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
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Write a reviewOperated by CARE INITIATIVES (nonprofit) since 1994.
- Sep 2009
operator transition — CARE INITIATIVES
5% OR GREATER DIRECT OWNERSHIP INTEREST (100%) — CARE INITIATIVES