Wisconsin Accident Injury & News Blog
Resident’s Death Highlights Understaffing, Other Problems in Iowa’s Nursing Home Industry
The death of Leslie Wells at an Iowa assisted living facility is yet another example of the ongoing care crisis in Iowa’s nursing homes. Axios Des Moines reports Wells died in 2021 just four months after transferring to Deerfield assisted living facility. Her husband, Sam Wells, decided to initiate the…
Read MoreA Man Living in a Nursing Home Was Suddenly Evicted and Homeless
Steven Block is a 70-year-old man who was sent to recover from a broken hip and shoulder in a Taos Healthcare nursing home. The facility, while noted for having a view of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, is poorly rated for its quality of care by the government. According…
Read MoreBalance Autism Cited; Residents Were Put in Immediate Jeopardy
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…
Read MoreStory City Nursing Home Cited for Staffing Issues That Led to a Death
Staffing issues have once again contributed to the death of a nursing home resident. This latest incident occurred at an Iowa nursing home. Bethany Life, a care facility in Story City, was cited for failing to provide proper supervision of a resident who needed help with his meals. This citation…
Read MoreThe Crisis in Iowa Nursing Homes: Urgent Need for Staffing Reform
Understaffing in nursing homes has been a nationwide issue for decades. Inadequate staffing leads to negligence, poor quality care and other serious errors that put the safety and well-being of residents at risk. In recent years, staffing shortages have become an escalating issue. Iowa’s long-term care facilities currently have some…
Read MoreState Inspectors Assess $6,000 Fine on Northridge Village After Resident’s Death
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…
Read MoreAlgorithm Blamed for Understaffing Issues at Assisted Living Facilities
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,…
Read MoreMore Family Oversight Needed Amid Rise in Nursing Home Violations
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…
Read MoreTwo Iowa Nursing Home Residents Died After Staff Failed to Attempt CPR
On January 18, an aide working at Aspire of Donnellson found a male resident at 5:15 a.m. with no vital signs. Although he appeared lifeless, the aide reported the man still felt warm when he was first discovered. The aide sought help to determine whether someone should attempt CPR. However,…
Read MoreCorrectionville Specialty Care Rape Suspect Had Prior Complaints
A female caregiver employed by a nursing home in Audubon allegedly filed a complaint with the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) last spring. This alleged complaint described a male co-worker’s disturbing behavior towards her and other female co-workers at the Friendship Home in Audubon. According to this…
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