Iowa Eliminates 10 Nursing Home Inspectors

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) has cut 10 of the state’s 38 nursing home inspecting positions. That leaves just 28 people to inspect 442 nursing homes!
Iowa’s financial challenges were the reason for the reduction. Officials said other staffers in the Inspections and Appeals department could be trained to fill in the gaps left by the inspectors.

While campaigning for governor, Branstad said state inspectors often fine Iowa nursing homes unfairly. These comments drew accusations that Branstad was a pawn of the nursing home industry.

Politics aside, the only ones hurt by this are nursing home residents and their families. This is an impossibly few number of inspectors who will spend even less time checking up on how facilities treat your mom and dad.