Care Initiatives, which operates 43 Iowa nursing homes, several assisted living centers, and several hospice locations in Iowa, reportedly has been sued for alleged wrongful death and negligence at least 17 times during a recent 16 month period.
The Iowa Capital Dispatch reported:
Parkridge Specialty Care of Pleasant Hill: The latest lawsuit was filed by the estate of Maris Bergis against Parkridge Specialty Care of Pleasant Hill, for alleged dependent adult abuse, recklessness, negligence, and wrongful death. The lawsuit alleges Parkridge “negligently cared for Bergis and violated numerous regulations, laws, rights, and industry standards, causing (him) personal injury, illness, harm, and a decline in health.”
According to the lawsuit, Bergis was admitted to Parkridge on September 1, 2023 for a 48-hour stay following his hospitalization for pneumonia. Upon admission, he was allegedly alert, awake and oriented, and the nursing home was required to provide physician-prescribed breathing treatments and to monitor him for difficulty with breathing and any signs of anxiety, confusion, or restlessness.
During the course of Bergis’ stay, the staff allegedly failed to administer the breathing treatments. The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing reportedly cited the nursing home for delaying necessary medical care and treatment.
Northcrest Specialty Care, Waterloo: In January 2024, the family of the late Lora Pavlovec sued, alleging that she was admitted to Northcrest in January 2022 after which the home failed to provide sufficient, qualified staff to meet her needs, specifically as related to skin care and the prevention of pressure sores. That alleged failure allegedly resulted in severe pain, septic shock, and her death in May 2022. The matter was resolved shortly before trial with the family filing a motion to dismiss the case.
Northcrest Specialty Care, Waterloo: In January 2024, the family of the late Janice Schmitt sued, alleging Schmitt died on September 28, 2022, after sustaining multiple traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhages and bone fractures as a consequence of a fall caused by the nursing home’s negligence. The case is scheduled for trial on February 17, 2026.
Northcrest Specialty Care, Waterloo: In January 2024, the family of the late John Nichols sued, alleging he was admitted to Northcrest on February 8, 2022, and fell in the shower eight days later. Nichols was taken to a hospital where he allegedly died hours later due to a brain bleed attributed to the fall. The lawsuit is stayed, pending the outcome of arbitration of the claims.
Northcrest Specialty Care, Waterloo: In May 2023, the family of the late Georgia Demuth sued, alleging that he died in June 2021 as the result of Northcrest’s failure to provide adequate care. In September 2024, the family filed a motion to dismiss the case.
Southridge Specialty Care, Marshalltown: In January 2024, the family of the late Larry Nichols sued, alleging that within a few weeks of Nichols’ admission to Southridge in March 2022, he suffered from sepsis and septic shock caused by the staff’s failure to treat pressure sores and wounds. Nichols died on July 24, 2022. The lawsuit is stayed, pending the outcome of arbitration of the claims.
Centerville Specialty Care: In October 2024, the family of the late Debbie Thomas sued, alleging that Thomas suffered second-degree burns on one leg due to a heating element near her bed and that she sustained a serious pressure sore the staff failed to adequately treat. Thomas died after being admitted to a hospital where she was allegedly diagnosed with a 4-inch-long pressure sore, an infection, and dangerously low potassium levels. The trial is scheduled to begin on January 12, 2027.
Corning Specialty Care: In January 2024, the family of the late Angela Segebart sued, alleging that Segebart tested positive for COVID-19 on January 20, 2022, and then on January 27, 2022, the staff allegedly dropped her while transferring her in or out of bed, resulting in two broken legs. The lawsuit alleges that the staff failed to assess Segebart’s injuries and placed her back in bed. Two days later, she was experiencing respiratory problems and was transferred to a hospital, where she later died. The lawsuit was reportedly settled through arbitration.
Wapello Specialty Care: In March 2023, the family of the late Alice Ward sued, alleging that after she was admitted to Wapello in June 2021, she was deemed to be at a high risk for falls. In February 2022, she allegedly wandered from the home, fell, and sustained a neck fracture and head wound, and died five days later. The lawsuit was reportedly settled through arbitration.
Avoca Specialty Care: In January 2024, the family of the late Craig Christensen sued, alleging the staff failed to treat Christensen’s urinary tract infection, leading to the development of sepsis and septic shock, from which he died on February 20, 2022. The case was reportedly settled.
Ravenwood Specialty Care, Waterloo: In May 2025, the family of the late Mickey Neal sued, alleging negligence and wrongful death. The lawsuit alleged that Neal was admitted to Ravenwood on March 15, 2024. On April 3, 2024, the staff allegedly found him on the floor of his room, incontinent and bleeding from a head wound. He was then transferred to UnityPoint Allen Hospital where he died on April 7, 2024. The trial is scheduled for July 13, 2027.
Corydon Specialty Care: In December 2024, the family of the late Gloria August sued, alleging she experienced a series of falls in 2020 and 2021 caused by negligence, which allegedly led to her death. In October 2025, the family filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
Parkridge Specialty Care, Pleasant Hill: In June 2024, the family of Neuang Boun Sisamouth sued, alleging that on June 20, 2022, the staff failed to respond to her deteriorating condition, despite dangerously low blood sugar levels. The LPN allegedly failed to call 911 as ordered, and there was a 90-minute delay in transporting Sisamouth to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later. The trial is scheduled for March 29, 2027.
Parkridge Specialty Care, Pleasant Hill: In August 2024, the family of the late Kerry Morris sued, alleging that Morris died at age 58, one week after being admitted to Parkridge for what was supposed to be a temporary stay to assist with recovery from a leg amputation. The lawsuit alleges that on the evening of August 23, 2022, two nurses failed to respond to a certified nurse aide’s request that they come to the assistance of Morris, who was in respiratory distress.
Morris was allegedly left alone in his room, fell out of his bed, and went into cardiac arrest while the CNA unsuccessfully sought assistance from the staff. Staff were then unable to find the crash cart. Video evidence allegedly shows that there were at least six people who were not attempting to assist Kerry Morris, and were standing in the hallway. In July 2025, the lawsuit was dismissed at the request of the family.
Fonda Specialty Care: In October 2024, the family of Marvin “Pete” Jacobs sued, alleging negligence and wrongful death. Jacobs died in February 2023 at the nursing home, allegedly due to the staff repeatedly failing to clear Jacobs’ tracheostomy tube. The lawsuit has been stayed while the matter is being arbitrated.
Crestview Specialty Care, West Branch: In January 2025, the family of Ruth Bartow sued, alleging recklessness, negligence, and dependent adult abuse. The lawsuit cites state inspection reports that indicate an unauthorized male visitor was found in Bartow’s room on April 5, 2023, lying in bed with Bartow without any clothes on. The trial is scheduled for May 17, 2027.
Odebolt Specialty Care: In February 2025, Elaine Gunderson sued, alleging negligence and breach of contract. The lawsuit alleges that on July 2, 2024, 88-year-old Gunderson was found at the bottom of a set of 13 concrete stairs that led from the Odebolt’s kitchen to the basement. Although the kitchen was considered a restricted area from which residents were barred, a staff member had allegedly propped open the door, allowing Gunderson to wheel herself into the area.
After she was found at the foot of the stairs, she was transported to a hospital where she was admitted with a head wound that required seven stitches to close as well as bruises on her head, hands, legs, hips, and both eyes. The lawsuit has been stayed pending the outcome of arbitration proceedings.
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