Iowa Intimidation

Clark Kaufman wrote a great article for the Iowa Capital Dispatch on a scary situation. The Lenox Care Center nursing home cited for abusing residents through intimidation and punishment.  At least two residents were reportedly denied food, beverages or privileges because the staff felt their incontinence was deliberate, attention-seeking behavior.

Last year, a nurse at the home allegedly tied a resident of the home to a chair using a bed sheet. Federal officials fined Lenox Care Center $34,661 last year for the alleged physical abuse of a resident.

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals imposed, and immediately suspended, several fines against the facility totaling $27,000. The fines tied to findings of resident abuse in the form of unreasonable intimidation and punishment; failing to put in place interventions to prevent falls; failing to ensure staff members possessed the basic skills necessary to address residents’ needs; and failing to report to the state resident abuse and accidents with major injuries.

The home is managed by Arboreta Healthcare of Florida.  The company is headed by CEO Louis Collier and operates 21 health care facilities in Iowa and a total of 10 facilities in Nebraska, Texas, Florida and Georgia.