Eastern Iowa Nursing Home Accused of Abuse and Neglect

An Eastern Iowa nursing home has been hit with over $64,000 in state fines tied to 28 state and federal violations.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the fines are against Aspire of Washington nursing home. The fines are reportedly being held in suspension while the federal government decides whether and federal penalities should be imposed. The Gazette reports that the violations are from a January investigation conducted by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. Some of the allegations are tied to abuse, however, the state did not cite the facility for abuse, or failing to report cases of abuse.

According to the Gazette, inspectors found that one certified nursing assistant "treated residents terribly." The complaint stated that she had worked in health care for a long time and had "never heard someone be so awful to those residents." Other problems cited in the 190-page report included issues with medical care, dental care, lack of proper management, lack of showers for residents, improper pain management, and more.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Aspire of Washington is a for-profit home owned by Beacon Health Management of Florida. Beacon owns at least seven other Iowa care facilities. According to federal data, Beacon facilities have nearly three times the national average of serious regulatory violations. The company also owed the state of Iowa $1.8 million in legally required payments in 2024, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. They agreed to make a series of 18 monthly escalating payments to repay the state.