Iowa Nursing Home Bypasses Fines for Alleged Abuse and Understaffing
Jeffrey A. Pitman · September 29, 2024
Jeffrey A. Pitman
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The state of Iowa has paused $47,500 in fines against the Garden View Care Center in Shenandoah, a nursing home that has been repeatedly cited for violations. This time, the facility was flagged for inadequate staffing and instances of resident abuse.
State inspectors noted the understaffing during a recent investigation into four complaints against Garden View. During this investigation, they also noted the director of nursing said she was under pressure from the facility’s management to make further staffing cuts, despite risks to resident safety.
Garden View Has a History of Complaints and Federal Violations
Garden View, managed by an out-of-state real estate investment trust, has been cited for multiple federal violations in the last two inspections. They were cited for ten violations of federal regulations and four state violations in the most recent inspection. However, just weeks before the latest investigation, the home was cited for additional issues, including nine federal violations, during a routine inspection.
Allegations against the facility, including employees verbally abusing residents and failing to report those incidents appropriately. Residents reported significant delays in receiving assistance, sometimes being made to wait over an hour for help. The director of nursing expressed concerns about staffing shortages, particularly during evening and overnight shifts, where there was just one nurse and one aide to manage many residents.
Persistent Issues Despite New Administrator
According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, since the current administrator took charge in December 2019, the home has repeatedly been cited for insufficient staffing and other issues, yet there has been no effective corrective action. Additionally, the facility has other significant issues, including inadequate bedding and poor infection control, with medical records stored in a damp basement.
Garden View is linked to Arboreta Healthcare and CareTrust, both of which manage multiple nursing homes facing similar issues. Despite recent management changes, the facility continues to struggle with low ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) across all evaluation criteria.
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Jeffery A. Pitman, who has more than 28 years of legal experience and handled thousands of personal injury cases while obtaining millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements in Wisconsin.
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