In recent months, Iowa’s nursing home industry has faced severe scrutiny as dozens of facilities have been cited for resident abuse. These violations, from abuse to exploitation, raise serious concerns for families with loved ones in long-term care.
At least 33 Iowa nursing homes have been cited for resident abuse or failing to properly screen job applicants for histories of criminal activity in recent months. Most facilities paid only minimal penalties, with fines set at $500.
Types of Abuse Uncovered in Iowa Facilities
The Iowa Dispatch reported multiple types of abuse at nursing homes throughout Iowa, including in Marion, Des Moines, Grundy, and Waterloo. Some of the facilities that were cited for abuse include Grundy Care Center, Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation, Harmony Waterloo, and many others. These are some of the types of abuse uncovered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing Records (DIAL):
Sexual Misconduct and Exploitation
Several disturbing cases involving inappropriate relationships between staff and vulnerable residents were reported. At Grundy Care Center, inspectors found a nurse aide accepting money during inappropriate contact with a male resident. The aide sent nude photos to the resident and suggested he move in with her. Although the relationship turned sexual during work hours, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reportedly closed the case after police referral.
Financial Abuse
Financial exploitation represents another troubling trend among the violations. At Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation in Des Moines, a camera installed by a resident’s son captured footage of a certified nurse aide stealing $55 from a locked drawer while the resident slept.
Medication Misappropriation
Inspectors cited Silver Oak Nursing & Rehab Center in Marion after 21 to 33 erectile dysfunction tablets went missing. Investigators found a concerning relationship between a nurse and a resident, including reports of inappropriate contact. The facility made no effort to separate the nurse from the resident during investigations.
Verbal and Physical Abuse
Verbal abuse creates hostile living environments for vulnerable seniors. At Tripoli Nursing & Rehab Center, three staff members were cited for being verbally abusive or physically rough with residents. A resident said staff spoke harshly to others, adding, “It’s not ethical. We are family here.”
Systemic Failures Contributing to Abuse
Some facilities failed to conduct proper background screening. At Harmony Waterloo, a nurse aide with a history of third-degree theft was hired and subsequently used a resident’s debit card to pay a $417 cell phone bill, depleting the resident’s account.
Several facilities compounded their violations by failing to report abuse. The Klein Center at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center was cited for failing to report repeated instances of staff profanity, including telling a resident to “shut the f— up” over a shower complaint.
Do You Need a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney? Call PKSD Today
If your loved one has suffered abuse in an Iowa nursing home, contact PKSD today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We are committed to protecting the dignity and rights of nursing home residents and securing the justice they deserve.
At PKSD we work tirelessly to hold negligent nursing homes accountable for abuse and neglect. Our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys currently accept cases in Iowa, Wisconsin, and New Mexico. We are deeply committed to holding at-fault parties accountable for the harm they have caused to victims and their families.
Call our office to speak to one of our attorneys: 414-333-3333
