Iowa Nursing Home Fined for Falls
Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge, Iowa was slapped with a $10,000 state fine after a resident was injured stumbling in a bathroom on more than one occasion. The $10,000 fine was reduced after a federal penalty of $260 was imposed.
The resident was taken to the restroom by a nurse's aide on March 8, 2008. After the resident was seated, the aide turned to take the resident's dentures to the sink. When the aide turned back to assist the resident, the resident was standing and stumbling backward. The back of the resident's head struck a wall. The resident was later transported to Trinity Regional Medical Center and transferred to a Des Moines hospital for treatment of a broken arm, broken hip, and cut on the back of the head.
The resident returned to the facility on March 14, 2008. On March 25, the same resident suffered another injury when the resident stood up in the restroom and stumbled backward, striking the head on the wall. The resident died on April 2.
In another incident involving a resident, Agnes Thompson, 103, died on January 21, after falling just hours earlier. She fell while returning to bed after using the bathroom and suffered a cut to the head and a broken left hip. Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals imposed a $8,000 fine, which was reduced to $5,200.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases involving falls at nursing homes. Please contact us at 1 (888) 317-2525 or visit us at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
