An Iowa nursing home recently left a female resident trapped outside overnight during a thunderstorm for 10 hours. Not one staff member checked on her throughout the entire night.
This horrifying July incident at Harmony Marshalltown nursing home shows what happens when facilities fail to follow basic safety rules. This breakdown in care raises serious concerns about how nursing homes protect and monitor their residents.
A Night of Terror in a Nursing Home Courtyard
A female resident went outside Harmony Marshalltown – the nursing home where she lived – to go smoke in the courtyard. That was around 8 p.m. on July 7. When the woman tried to go back inside, she found she was not able to open the door.
What is really horrifying is that this woman spent the next 10 hours trapped outside in a thunderstorm. No one heard her pounding on the door as she cried out for help. No one missed her from her room either, because none of the staff checked on her. The resident spent a 10-hours long cold, wet, and frightening evening in this storm. During this time, she pushed the doorbell over and over, not knowing it was broken.
The woman was scared and huddled against the door to keep warm. She said she saw a gas grill in the courtyard but was afraid to go near it because of the lightning.
State Inspectors Say the Door Was Too Heavy for Her to Open Alone
State inspectors investigated the incident and found that the door wasn’t actually locked. But the elderly resident did not have the amount of strength needed to force the door open. The door’s weight and latch made it impossible for her to budge the door or even open it enough to get back into the facility.
Nursing Home Staff Did Not Check on Resident for 10 Hours
This resident remained outside in a frightening thunderstorm all night because he nursing home staff never conducted a bed check that night. They didn’t look for the resident for 10 full hours. Basic nursing home rules require staff to regularly check on residents, especially at night.
A kitchen worker finally heard the woman pounding at 6 a.m. the next morning. The worker opened the door and found the resident crying and shaking. She was wet, cold, and terrified.
Staff members who saw her that morning used words like “hysterical” and “devastated” to describe her condition. A nurse told state inspectors the woman suffered serious emotional and psychological harm as a result of this incident.
The Lasting Damage to Quality of Life
State inspectors said the resident experienced “serious actual psychosocial harm” from the incident. The trauma changed how she lives her daily life.
The woman now refuses to go outside alone to smoke. She fears getting trapped again. This fear has taken away her independence. It has damaged her sense of security in the place she calls home. Nursing homes exist to provide safe, dignified care. This facility did the exact opposite.
A recent article about this serious safety violation reveals there have been other incidents at Harmony Marshalltown that put residents in harm’s way. Another resident faced danger when the facility failed to help him return after he left the premises.
State Inspectors Take Action
Iowa officials proposed $19,000 in fines against Harmony Marshalltown. The fines remain on hold while federal authorities review the case. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will determine whether additional federal fines may apply.
Inspectors investigating this incident documented multiple safety failures at the facility. They found the courtyard door created a safety hazard and confirmed staff failed to monitor residents properly. These violations put vulnerable people at serious risk.
Your Family Deserves Better. Call PKSD When You Suspect Nursing Home Negligence
No one should endure what this woman experienced. Your loved one deserves proper care, regular monitoring, and working safety equipment. When nursing homes fail to provide these basics, families have rights.
If a Wisconsin nursing home has harmed your loved one through negligence, such as poor supervision or safety failures, we can help. Our experienced nursing home injury attorneys in Milwaukee have extensive experience advocating for injured residents. We are deeply committed to holding at fault parties accountable for their actions.
Currently, we accept cases of nursing home negligence or abuse in Wisconsin, Iowa, and New Mexico. Your loved one deserves better care. We offer a free case review, and when we represent you, there are no upfront fees or out-of-pocket costs to pay. We only get paid if you do.
Call PKSD to get the justice your family deserves. 414-333-3333
