Balance Autism in central Iowa is an intermediate level facility that treats and cares for adults with autism. Following a state inspection last January, however, the facility came under fire after being cited for 18 regulatory violations. These violations also resulted in a $5,000 fine against the facility. Situations observed during the state’s investigation were reportedly so bad that the inspectors determined the violations placed residents living there in immediate jeopardy. One of the most serious violations against Balance Autism included delays in obtaining medical treatment for reside ..read more

An assisted living center in Ames, Iowa was fined $6,000 following the death of a resident. This death is the third at Northridge Village in the last three years. Northridge, which consists of both an assisted living facility and a nursing home, was also cited following the deaths of the other two residents. The latest death occurred in January 2024, after a female resident was discovered lying on the floor next to her bed. She was hospitalized and diagnosed with cracked ribs, atrial fibrillation and dehydration. The woman had gone out shopping on December 29, 2023, returning to her apartment ..read more

Over 20 years ago, a group of senior-housing executives created an algorithm-based system, called “Service Alignment.” The purpose of this algorithm was to create a streamlined approach to staffing at assisted living facilities that would help cut costs and raise revenue. Brookdale Senior Living, which currently has over 652 facilities, making it the largest operator of assisted living homes, acquired this system. However, Brookdale employees have complained about this system, called “Service Alignment,” saying that it does not accurately capture staffing needs required for residents living at ..read more

The increase in citations for serious nursing home violations at several Iowa facilities is deeply concerning. It is especially alarming for families with elderly loved ones living in these long-term care facilities. These reports only underscore the need for families to assert increased oversight over their loved one’s long-term care to help ensure their safety and well-being. Do you suspect a loved one is suffering from neglect in his or her Iowa nursing home? Have you observed unexplained injuries or falls? PKSD is a nursing home abuse law firm based in Milwaukee. We accept cases throughout ..read more

Jens Lee, the longtime administrator of New London Specialty Care in Henry County has decided to surrender his license. This devision comes after facing accusations of failing to protect residents at the facility from abuse. According to state records, Lee was the administrator at New London from at least 2006 to 2022. Lee is 51 years old. The Iowa Board of Nursing Home Administrators has not released a formal statement of charges. However, documents reveal that he acknowledged the board’s concerns about not taking appropriate steps to protect the facility’s residents from abuse. However, thes ..read more

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing recently assessed multiple violations against Parkview Manor in Wellman. Following a four-week investigation, inspectors cited the eastern Iowa nursing home with 24 state and federal violations. The number of violations, which is unusually high, includes medication errors, failure to prevent and report resident abuse, inadequate treatment for bed sores, insufficient pain management, lack of professional care standards and a shortage of nursing staff. According to a recent news article, an especially troubling case involved the death of ..read more

In 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services issued four federal citations against Rock Haven nursing home. The citations were issued because residents were threatened, intimidated and financially extorted. Unfortunately, officials in Janesville say those in charge of Rock Haven have not made any changes to help protect residents from further abuse or exploitation. The document outlining the citations is 33 pages long and there are reports that Rock County officials were “appalled” by what was described in the document. Families of Rock Haven residents who were mistreated have spoken ..read more

Four nursing home care facilities in Iowa have been designated as Special-Focus Facilities, indicating serious and ongoing quality issues. This federal list, managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), spotlights nursing homes that require increased regulatory oversight. These four additions bring the total number of Iowa nursing homes on the Special-Focus Facilities list to 10. The other six on the list include: Aspire of Gowrie Dunlap Specialty Care Genesis Senior Living Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Care Center Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center New ..read more

In Enid, Oklahoma, an investigation that began last June led to the arrest of two men in November. A third suspect is still at large. This case is especially disturbing as it involves the abuse and waterboarding of patients with intellectual disabilities and mental illness. The alleged perpetrators were caregivers at the Robert M. Greer Center in Oklahoma, where these heinous acts occurred. The Enid Police Department revealed that the abuse was reported by a former employee in June 2023, who described these acts as brutal and systematic. The perpetrators targeted and choked specific residents ..read more

Journalist Clark Kauffman wrote about numerous incidents of nursing home resident abuse and neglect. The Quad-City Times published those stories in a six-part series back in 1996, revealing a disturbing pattern of neglect and abuse in Iowa nursing homes. Those articles helped to uncover many incidents of neglect and abuse that nursing home residents suffered. Some of those victims even died as a result of the injuries they sustained. While those incidents may have occurred over 27 years ago, they greatly mirror events that are happening in Iowa’s nursing homes today. The amount of neglect and ..read more