At D’Amico & Pettinicchi, we’ve spent 35 years fighting for the rights of nursing home residents who have suffered due to neglect or abuse. And yet, even with decades of experience, we are still deeply saddened when we see reports like the ones emerging from Iowa this month.

According to reporting by Iowa Capital Dispatch, one of Iowa’s largest nursing home operators – Care Initiatives of West Des Moines, which runs 44 facilities – is now facing three active whistleblower lawsuits from former employees. These lawsuits include alarming claims involving attempts to cover up abuse, suppress reporting, and retaliate against staff who spoke up for residents’ rights. A fourth lawsuit was settled out of court last year.

We want to be clear: these are allegations, and Care Initiatives has denied any wrongdoing. However, when multiple independent whistleblowers come forward with consistent patterns of concern – especially in an industry where vulnerable seniors depend on caregivers for survival – we believe it’s critical to pay attention.

What the Whistleblowers Allege

Among the troubling claims, according to Iowa Capital Dispatch:

• Nurse Tina Weber alleges she was fired after refusing to change a resident’s chart to hide a staff member’s role in causing the resident to fall out of a wheelchair. She says she reported the incident to state regulators – and was terminated the day after a state inspector arrived.
• Certified Nursing Assistant Tylene Schultz alleges she was fired after raising concerns about a nurse who repeatedly refused to suction the airway of a resident with a tracheostomy, leading to the resident’s death. Schultz says she was told to “keep [her] mouth shut” and not speak to the family.
• Caregiver Kandus Jellison says she was terminated after helping a resident call 911 when facility staff allegedly refused to send him to the hospital. She later filed a lawsuit under Iowa’s dependent adult abuse protection laws.

In all cases, the whistleblowers allege they were punished for doing the right thing – advocating for resident safety and refusing to falsify records or ignore abuse.

Why This Matters

We’ve represented countless families who’ve lost loved ones or seen them harmed in facilities where corners were cut, complaints were ignored, or care was dangerously inadequate. These recent Iowa lawsuits remind us that the problem is national, and it often takes brave employees willing to risk their jobs to bring misconduct to light.

We also know from experience: covering up mistakes only makes the problem worse. Caregiving is hard. Staffing shortages are real. But facilities must take responsibility when something goes wrong – not retaliate against those who speak up.

Support Whistleblowers. Protect Residents.

It’s not easy to report your own employer. That’s why we applaud the courage of whistleblowers like Weber, Schultz, and Jellison. Their actions may help prevent future harm, spark regulatory scrutiny, and bring accountability to institutions that fail to protect the elderly and disabled.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by neglect, understaffing, or abuse in a nursing home or rehabilitation facility in New England, we are here to help.

Contact D’Amico & Pettinicchi. For over 35 years, we have fought for justice on behalf of residents of nursing homes, and assisted-living and rehabilitation facility residents, and their families. Let us help you hold negligent and abusive facilities accountable.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on publicly available sources, including those identified below. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an allegation of wrongdoing beyond what has been publicly reported.

Sources:

• Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, June 12, 2025
• Iowa Capital Dispatch, February 22, 2025
• Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing
• Public court filings regarding Care Initiatives whistleblower cases