(Des Moines, Iowa)  – Several Iowa nursing homes are facing fines of $500 or more as the result of the alleged exploitation or physical abuse of residents. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the incidents include a situation at the Living Center West nursing home in Des Moines, which was cited for failing to prevent the sexual exploitation of a resident.

According to state inspectors, early this year the management of Living Center West had learned of a relationship between its activities director and a male resident of the home who has been diagnosed with dementia. On Feb. 29, 2024, inspectors’ reports allege, the resident’s guardian had emailed the home’s then-administrator to report that the resident had declared his love for the home’s activities director, who was married, and had explained to the guardian that the two were attempting to “figure out how to go out on dates together.”

The administrator responded to the email the next day, promising to address the matter, according to inspectors’ reports. The inspectors subsequently determined there was no evidence the home investigated the matter or reported the allegation to the state as required. Months after the email was sent, on May 7, a certified medication aide was looking for the resident when she noticed the door to the activities room was slightly ajar. Inspectors’ reports allege that she looked inside and saw the activities director sitting on the knee of the resident with the two engaged in a long kiss on the mouth.

The aide reported that she gave the resident his medication and then quickly left the room. She told inspectors the activities director later approached her and asked her not to say anything to others. The aide then informed a registered nurse at the home that she’d seen the activities director “making out” with a resident, according to state reports.

According to the aide, the nurse told her not to tell anyone else, according to inspectors’ reports. However, the nurse told facility’s management that she had instructed the aide to report the matter to the home’s director of nursing. In early June, the activities director gave a written statement in which she acknowledged a relationship with the resident had existed for about six months and was continuing. According to the inspectors’ written reports, the activities director denied any sexual contact or intimate relationship, but during an interview she “admitted to the allegations and walked out of the facility.” She was fired on June 17.

When contacted by state inspectors, the home’s former administrator allegedly said she didn’t recall receiving the Feb. 29 email from the guardian. According to state inspectors, the resident of the home has been tearful, depressed and withdrawn since the activities director was fired. As a result of the alleged abuse, the state inspections agency has proposed, but held in suspension, fines totaling $28,500.

Other Iowa nursing homes recently cited for abuse include:

— One Vision Cedar House of Fort Dodge, which is an intermediate care facility for people with intellectual disabilities. The home was cited for failing to promptly identify, investigate and report two occurrences of potential physical abuse by one of its employees.

— Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation of Marion, which was fined $500 for failing to ensure residents remained free of physical abuse. According to inspectors’ reports, a resident, who was known to be combative at times, struck a female nurses aide, after which the aide punched the resident in the shoulder with a closed fist and allegedly said, “If you punch me, then I will punch you. Next time I’ll give you a black eye and tell everyone I don’t know how it happened.”

— Ramsey Village of Des Moines, was fined $500 for resident abuse.

— At the Good Samaritan Home of Holstein, at least three employees were suspended due to an incident involving the alleged abuse of an elderly female dementia patient. The state proposed, but held in suspension, a $500 fine for resident abuse and a $500 fine for failing to report abuse.