Iowa

Burns, 'grapefruit-size' wound and death trigger nursing home lawsuit • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Published

1 year ago

November 20, 2024

Burns, 'grapefruit-size' wound and death trigger nursing home lawsuit • Iowa Capital Dispatch

One of Iowa’s s largest nursing home operators is facing the 10th wrongful death lawsuit filed against the company this year.

Recently, the family of the late Debbie Thomas sued Care Initiatives of West Des Moines and the Appanoose County nursing home the company operates, Centerville Specialty Care, in state court. The family is seeking unspecified damages for professional negligence, wrongful death and dependent adult abuse.

Care Initiatives, which doesn’t comment on pending litigation, has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. So far this year, at least 10 wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against company, which operates 43 Iowa nursing homes as well as several assisted living centers and hospice locations. In each of the lawsuits, Care Initiatives has denied any wrongdoing. Roughly 2,800 elderly or disabled Iowans receive care from one of the company’s facilities.

In August, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported Care Initiatives was facing at least 10 then-active lawsuits, some of which were filed in 2023, alleging negligence or wrongful death. Some of those cases have since been resolved, but additional cases have been filed in the past three months.

One of the new cases involves Thomas, an Appanoose County woman who had sustained brain damage at birth in 1958. As an adult, Thomas could read, write and socialize with others and lived an active adult life, according to court records.

State inspection reports indicate that on Dec. 19, 2022, at the age of 64, Thomas was admitted to Centerville Specialty Care for rehabilitation after a brief hospital stay. According to the recently filed lawsuit, Thomas was joined by family members for dinner at the care facility two days after her admission, at which point the relatives found second-degree burns covering Thomas’ legs.

The family alleges Thomas’ bed had been pushed against a wall near a heating element. According to the lawsuit, the staff at Centerville Specialty Care was unaware of the burns until the family discovered them.

The next day, relatives returned to the home and allegedly discovered Thomas had developed a bed sore that the home’s staff characterized as “minor” – although, the lawsuit claims, the staff refused to say whether the wound was infected.

By Jan. 7, Thomas was allegedly diagnosed as malnourished and dehydrated, and on Jan. 27, the staff allegedly found that her blood pressure had dropped to an extremely low level. On Jan. 29, staff at the home called Thomas’ family to inform them Thomas was in a state of decline and was dying, according to the lawsuit.

“Nobody at Centerville Specialty Care called a doctor or an ambulance for Debbie until (her sister) demanded they do so,” the lawsuit claims.

Thomas was rushed to the emergency room at MercyOne-Centerville, where the medical staff allegedly concluded she was severely dehydrated, had a urinary tract infection, her kidneys were failing, and she had potassium levels so low they could trigger a heart attack. According to the lawsuit, doctors then showed the family a bed sore Thomas had sustained and which measured roughly 4 inches across.

Thomas died on Feb. 1, 2023. State records indicate the cause of death was sepsis – an often-deadly infection – that resulted from a bed sore.

Five days later, the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing initiated an investigation at the Centerville home in response to seven complaints. Four of the complaints were substantiated, according to DIAL records.

The inspectors reported that the hospital’s emergency room physician said that when Thomas arrived there from Centerville Specialty Care, she was in serious pain and was admitted in critical condition with a deep, open, “grapefruit sized” bed sore that had become infected. The physician allegedly described Thomas’ hair as “matted, very dirty and unkempt” when she arrived in the ER.

State inspectors also reported that the physician questioned the accuracy of the nursing home’s claim that Thomas had been up and about and eating breakfast just hours before her admission to the ER.

The state proposed a $9,750 state fine that was then held in suspension while the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services considered a federal fine. CMS records indicate the agency eventually imposed a fine of $56,750 against the Centerville home.

Care Initiatives home cited for dental care

A Marshalltown nursing home operated by Care Initiatives is accused of repeatedly failing to provide emergency treatment for a resident with “grossly decayed” teeth.

According to state inspectors, Southridge Specialty Care of Marshalltown failed over several months to thoroughly assess and follow through on physician-ordered interventions for a female resident’s “grossly decayed and non-restorable teeth.”

According to inspectors, the woman reported mouth pain to the Southridge staff from July through October, during which time she lost one tooth and other teeth broke, cutting her tongue.

In early September, a dentist allegedly gave the Southridge staff instructions to send the woman to the University of Iowa Hospitals emergency room to be evaluated by an oral surgeon for severe pain. According to inspectors, the dentist later complained that “nobody took her to the ER.”

On Oct. 23, the woman was seen again by the dentist who, according to inspectors, observed the woman’s teeth had worsened. “He referred her to go to the university hospital but no one set up the appointment,” inspectors later wrote in their report.

The inspectors’ report indicates University of Iowa Hospitals told the woman’s care providers the soonest they could schedule an appointment for the woman was Jan. 16, 2025, and the emergency room referrals were an attempt to provide immediate care.

On Oct. 29, the woman reportedly met with state inspectors and told them she was still experiencing severe pain and the decayed teeth had yet to be pulled. She allegedly stated that she didn’t know if she could wait a few months to have her teeth removed because “it hurt a lot” and she couldn’t eat or drink.

A proposed $5,500 state fine has been held in suspension for consideration of a federal fine.

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Iowa

Where to watch Iowa women’s basketball vs. Indiana today, TV, time

Published

10 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Where to watch Iowa women’s basketball vs. Indiana today, TV, time

Looking for a second road win this week, No. 14 Iowa women’s basketball heads to Indiana for today’s 4 p.m. contest inside Assembly Hall. BTN will televise the game.

The Hawkeyes (13-2, 4-0 Big Ten Conference) remained perfect in league play with a 67-58 win at Northwestern on Jan. 5, a game in which Iowa survived despite enduring heavy foul trouble.

Meanwhile, Indiana (11-6, 0-5) has reached desperation territory. The Hoosiers have dropped four straight, including two at home, during this extended skid.

Here’s how to watch today’s game.

Watch Iowa vs. Indiana on Fubo (free trial)

What channel is Iowa women’s basketball vs. Indiana on today?

Iowa vs. Indiana time today

Date: Sunday, Jan. 11
Start time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.

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Iowa

Iowa women’s wrestling finishes third at National Duals

Published

22 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Iowa women’s wrestling finishes third at National Duals

CEDAR FALLS − The undefeated start to the Iowa women’s wrestling program has ended after the Hawkeyes lost a dual for the first time in program history at the NWCA National Duals on Jan. 10.

A 40-5 win over William Jewell College and a 39-3 victory over Sacred Heart set up a major semifinal clash with rival North Central College on Jan. 10.

Iowa won six of 10 matches in the semifinals. Karlee Brooks beat national runner-up Yele Aycock by a 8-4 decision, 138-pounder Skye Realin defeated a former national champion by a 6-6 score on criteria in Claire Dicugno with a four-point throw at the buzzer, Reese Larramendy knocked off No. 1 ranked and former Hawkeye teammate Bella Mir in a 10-4 decision at 145 and 180-pounder Kylie Welker wrestled and won in just her second match back after a period of rest to start the season.

All of those wins helped put Iowa in front, 21-18, going into the final bout at 207 pounds.

What did the Hawkeyes in was losses by fall at 110, 124 and 207. The 207 loss, with Dasia Yearby pinning Jaycee Foeller in the first period, gave North Central a 23-21 victory despite the Cardinals dropping six of 10 matches. North Central also scored team points in nine of 10 bouts because they scored match points and did not lose by fall.

As a result, the Iowa program’s 42-0 unblemished record in duals was broken.

The final result was eerily similar to the dual between the two teams at the same tournament two years ago, where the Hawkeyes also lost six of 10 bouts, but got crucial bonus points and at least one team point in all 10 bouts to escape with a 21-20 win.

Iowa women’s wrestling coach Clarissa Chun emphasized to her team two years ago that every point mattered in the win. This time around, it worked against them as the Cardinals got the upset victory.

“Every point does matter,” Chun said. “You can’t replicate those moments in those times, in certain moments and positions. We got to be better at finishing, that’s apparent. We can get to the legs, but we got to continue to wrestle through that to the strong finish.”

Iowa women’s wrestling’s Skye Realin discusses loss to North Central

VIDEO: Iowa women’s wrestling’s Skye Realin discusses loss to North Central

Chun said the emotions were raw afterwards, with wrestlers in and out of the lineup taking the loss to heart. Welker, who won her bout 8-2 against Jael Miller, took it hard since she nearly had a pin that could have flipped the final result.

“There was a lot of us that felt it was hard to take a loss, especially for me, and there was a couple other girls that took it pretty hard,” Welker said. “I have girls that look to me, so I’m like, ‘I got to pull myself together and step forward with them, alongside them so we can finish this tournament.’”

Ultimately, the Hawkeyes finished with a win in the third-place bout shortly after by defeating a solid Grand Valley State team, 26-15. The main difference, they said, was the positive energy exuded from the coaching staff to not harp on the past and look for the next best thing.

Iowa women’s wrestling’s Karlee Brooks discusses loss to North Central

VIDEO: Iowa women’s wrestling’s Karlee Brooks discusses loss to North Central

While the loss brings an unfamiliar feeling to the program, it’s something they knew would come eventually. While it was their main rival today, McKendree will also present a tough challenge to the field when the NCAA Championships come in March.

Behind stars Welker and Kennedy Blades, rising wrestlers like Brooks and Realin, as well as proven veterans in Larramendy, Brianna Gonzalez and Foeller, Iowa will have a good chance to win a third-consecutive team title this season.

Even in a crushing loss, they got some key wins from those like Realin, Larramendy and Brooks that bode well for the Hawkeyes in the future. The places they faltered were spots they’ll have confidence to bounce back or won’t apply come the NCAA Championships, like Nyla Valencia’s loss by fall after controlling most of the bout at 110 pounds, and Welker and Blades giving up team points in their matches.

Regardless, the third-place finish served as a reminder to the program and fans alike that this year is going to bring Iowa’s toughest challenge yet.

“Everyone on our team knows it, this sport has depth,” Chun said. “There are great wrestlers across the entire country.”

Iowa women’s wrestling’s results at NWCA National Duals

Iowa women’s wrestling’s Kylie Welker’s National Duals press conference

VIDEO: Iowa women’s wrestling’s Kylie Welker discusses program’s first loss

Round of 16: Iowa 40, William Jewell College 5

103 – Sterling Dias (Iowa) over Juliana Alejandro (William Jewell College) TF 11-0
110 – Nyla Valencia (Iowa) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
117 – Alexandra Waitsman (William Jewell College) over Harlee Hiller (Iowa) Fall 1:04
124 – Isabella Gonzales (Iowa) over Miyah Palacios (William Jewell College) TF 10-0
131 – Emily Frost (Iowa) over Shelby Kemp (William Jewell College) Fall 1:22
138 – Lilly Luft (Iowa) over Zainab Ibrahim (William Jewell College) Fall 2:01
145 – Cadence Diduch (Iowa) over Mckinzie Ross (William Jewell College) TF 11-0
160 – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) over Paige Barber (William Jewell College) TF 10-0
180 – Katja Osteen (Iowa) over Jianna Chavez (William Jewell College) Fall 1:22
207 – Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) over Desiree Hall (William Jewell College) TF 10-0

Quarterfinal: Iowa 39, Sacred Heart University 3

103 – Valarie Solorio (Iowa) over Aaliyah Payne-Parris (Sacred Heart) Fall 0:54
110 – Ava Bayless (Iowa) over Tiffany Stoshak (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
117 – Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) over Tatiana Walker (Sacred Heart) TF 11-0
124 – Cali Leng (Iowa) over Lauren Nguyen (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
131 – Bella Williams (Iowa) over Bella Sowards (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
138 – Skye Realin (Iowa) over Elleahna Anderson (Sacred Heart) Fall 2:21
145 – Reese Larramendy (Iowa) over Selena Sifuentes shaffer (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
160 – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) over Love Daley (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
180 – Kylie Welker (Iowa) over Madeline Hodges (Sacred Heart) TF 10-0
207 – Josephine Larson (Sacred Heart) over Libby Dix (Iowa) Dec 5-2

Semifinal: North Central College 23, Iowa 21

103 – Valarie Solorio (Iowa) over Brianne Graves (North Central College) TF 12-0
110 – Kaelani Shufeldt (North Central College) over Nyla Valencia (Iowa) Fall 5:38
117 – Riley Rayome (North Central College) over Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) Dec 3-3
124 – Sara Sterner (North Central College) over Cali Leng (Iowa) Fall 1:45
131 – Karlee Brooks (Iowa) over Yele Aycock (North Central College) Dec 8-4
138 – Skye Realin (Iowa) over Claire Dicugno (North Central College) Dec 6-6
145 – Reese Larramendy (Iowa) over Bella Mir (North Central College) Dec 10-4
160 – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) over Taylor Graveman (North Central College) TF 11-1
180 – Kylie Welker (Iowa) over Jael Miller (North Central College) Dec 8-2
207 – Dasia Yearby (North Central College) over Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) Fall 1:38

Third-place dual: Iowa 26, Grand Valley State 15

103 – Sterling Dias (Iowa) over Rayana Sahagun (Grand Valley State) Dec 7-0
110 – Ava Bayless (Iowa) over Kiely Tabaldo (Grand Valley State) Dec 6-0
117 – Brianna Gonzalez (Iowa) over Libby Roberts (Grand Valley State) TF 10-0
124 – Sage Mortimer (Grand Valley State) over Isabella Gonzales (Iowa) Fall 0:37
131 – Karlee Brooks (Iowa) over Aspen Blasko (Grand Valley State) Dec 8-3
138 – Katerina Lange (Grand Valley State) over Lilly Luft (Iowa) TF 10-0
145 – Cadence Diduch (Iowa) over Margaret Buurma (Grand Valley State) TF 10-0
160 – Kennedy Blades (Iowa) over Noelle Gaffney (Grand Valley State) Fall 3:45
180 – Kylie Welker (Iowa) over Maddison Ward (Grand Valley State) TF 10-0
207 – Sabrina Nauss (Grand Valley State) over Jaycee Foeller (Iowa) Fall 4:47

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.

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