An Urbandale, Iowa nursing home that has not met minimum health and safety standards for the past five months is being fined $400 for allegedly failing to protect residents from physical and sexual abuse.
According to state records, some of the 150 residents of USA Healthcare of Urbandale have been choked, kicked, punched, and slapped by fellow residents who suffer from dementia. All of the reported assaults took place between February and September 2006.The $400 fine by state regulators is small given the allegations of serious injury and a recurring lack of staff supervision.
In 2004, the nursing home was fined $2,500 for violating the same regulations pertaining to resident abuse and failure to prevent residents from wandering. In that case, residents suffered minor injuries in altercations with each other and one resident wandered outside without employees noticing.
A spokesman for the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, which regulates nursing homes, said the size of the agency's fines is dictated by a formula that takes into account the scope and severity of the violations. He said USA Healthcare's $400 fine was not reduced because of other, larger fines now being levied against the home by federal authorities. (IOWA)
