Tell Iowa’s leaders to act on shocking violations in care facility

We all have those moments that we will never forget. The moment we realized the Sept. 11, 2001 plane crashes were not an accident or when COVID-19 shut down the world. I will never forget when I checked my parents into the “home.” It was a gut wrenching experience. My heart was full of sadness, worry, fear and agony. I prayed that they would be well cared for, as we all do for our friends and family in care facilities.

Correctionville is my home and the “home” there has some very distressing violations. In one recent incident a man was found in his wheelchair at night near Highway 20, while the staff was unaware of his absence. Last March the state proposed and suspended a $9,250 fine for failure to provide adequate supervision. In May the state proposed and suspended an $8,250 fine for failing to prevent abuse of a resident. The latest incident involves a resident who alleges she was raped in the parking lot by an employee and after reporting the incident was dumped at a homeless shelter in Sioux City.

The Correctionville Specialty Care is owned and operated by Care Initiatives based in West Des Moines. Care Initiatives ended the 2020 fiscal year with $5.8 million in net income and the former CEO Miles King collected $605,487 in compensation that year.

I appeal to all to contact the governor and state legislators and express your outrage. Our state should care about their elderly.

Joann Sadler

Correctionville