In 2018, family members testified in a hearing before the U.S. Senate to talk about abuse and neglect in nursing homes, including the daughter of an Iowa nursing home resident who succumbed to neglect. During the hearing, it was noted that while assessment of nursing homes are performed by state investigators, it is the Centers… [Read More]
Improper Supervision in a Nursing Home Resulting in Injury
Nursing homes have the responsibility to properly supervise residents, many of whom suffer varying levels of cognitive decline, which can result in falls or fatal injuries if they wander into unsafe areas or elope from the nursing home facility. If a resident is injured in a nursing home facility because the nursing home did not… [Read More]
Nursing Home Fall Prevention
Falls in nursing homes result in many injures. Because falls can be devastating for elderly residents who are at higher risk for broken bones, infections and the like, it is important to recognize some of the common causes to prevent falls from happening in the first place. Nursing homes have a legal obligation to minimize… [Read More]
Nursing Home Bed Rail Injury
Bed rails are regularly used in nursing home facilities to create a supportive and assistive sleeping environment for residents. Rails are not only designed to reduce the risk of falling from bed, but also to provide support for elderly residents to get in or out of bed or reposition. Although bed rails are designed to… [Read More]
Understaffed Nursing Homes Linked to Neglect & Abuse
Many cases of nursing home neglect and abuse are linked to understaffing, leaving certified nursing assistants and other healthcare workers simply too overworked and overwhelmed to properly care for the elderly residents in their care. With many staff assigned more patients than they can possibly handle in a shift, call lights go unanswered from residents… [Read More]
Iowa Nursing Home Visitation Expands
This year has been a challenging one for older Iowans living in nursing homes and their families who have had to limit visits with their loved ones because of Covid 19. However, with cases across the country dropping, many states including Iowa have recently issued new guidelines which will bring families together. Per Iowa… [Read More]
Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes
Recently, the family of a nursing home resident suffering from expressive receptive dysphasia discovered their loved one was being sexually abused by a staff member who was later apprehended and charged with sexual assault. While sexual abuse in nursing homes is less common when compared to other kinds of nursing home abuse and neglect, it… [Read More]
Nursing Home Wrongful Death
When you placed your loved one in an Iowa nursing home you expected they provide your parents with a comfortable and safe place, a place they could get the quality nursing home care and the personal attention that was assured you. When a nursing home engages in neglect, abuse or dangerous behaviors that lead to… [Read More]
Nursing Home Elopement | Wandering | Improper Supervision
A large part of keeping Iowa nursing home residents safe and free from injury involves supervising their activities to ensure that they do not wander away from the nursing home. When a nursing home resident wanders away because of improper supervision, serious injury or even death could result. The potential for harm and injury increases… [Read More]
Iowa Covid-19 Nursing Home Deaths
According to a story in the Iowa Capital Dispatch, by Clark Kauffman, 6/24/20, titled, “At Iowa nursing home where 11 residents died of COVID-19, employees worked while showing symptoms, inspectors say,” a Dubuque Nursing Home, Dubuque Specialty Care, owned by Care Initiatives, allowed their nursing home employees to continue to care for the elderly despite… [Read More]
