Iowa Advocate for Elderly Is Demoted After Critical Report
Iowa’s advocate for the elderly has been demoted after a critical report he issued on the way the state regulates nursing homes.
“They’ve given me new duties: muzzle duties,” said Carl McPherson, whose job as ombudsman for the Department of Elder Affairs was dissolved.
Department director Betty Grandquist said the position will be handled by committee, of which McPherson will be a member. She denied any connection between McPherson’s report and his reassignment.
In a draft report, McPherson said state officials are ignoring chronic and deadly problems with the state’s nursing home industry. He said nursing home inspections have a low priority and fines for incidents that cause injuries to residents are low.
McPherson said he is being punished for the report.
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