Zearing Health Care: Staff Cursed at Struggling Resident - IA
The incident at Zearing Health Care occurred during the dinner hour between 5 and 6 PM when Resident #1 became stuck under a table and required two staff members to move the furniture so she could sit back up. Staff A, a nursing assistant, expressed her frustration with profanity when her supervisor asked what was happening.
The resident had been struggling throughout the meal, repeatedly dropping her silverware before becoming trapped beneath the table. When Staff B, the supervisor, entered the dining room and commented that she had never seen the resident in such a condition, Staff A responded with the expletive-laden remark about the resident's behavior.
Staff A acknowledged her outburst during an interview with inspectors on August 27. She described helping move the table to free the resident and admitted responding "out of frustration" when questioned by her supervisor about the situation.
Despite the verbal abuse, Staff A continued working her regular duties. She helped the resident finish eating dinner, assisted with getting residents settled into bed, and reported that "the rest of the night ran like normal."
The supervisor took no immediate action to remove Staff A from resident care. Staff B assisted the resident with completing her meal after witnessing the incident but allowed Staff A to continue providing direct care to multiple residents throughout the evening shift.
Staff D, another certified nursing assistant who witnessed the incident, reported that Staff A remained on duty when her own shift ended at 6:30 PM. Staff D told inspectors that the resident had been dropping her silverware repeatedly during dinner when the verbal abuse occurred.
The delayed response troubled other staff members. Staff C, who was not present during the incident, said she felt confused when she received a call the next day about what had happened. She told inspectors that Staff B should have immediately found someone to cover Staff A's duties and sent her home rather than allowing her to continue caring for residents.
Staff A worked until nearly 10 PM before being removed from the facility. At 9:55 PM, more than four hours after the verbal abuse occurred, Staff B finally approached Staff A and told her that her language could be considered verbal abuse. Only then did Staff B contact the facility administrator, who directed that Staff A be told to leave.
The facility's own abuse prevention policy, reviewed in October 2024, required immediate reporting and action when allegations of resident abuse occur. The policy directed that all allegations should be reported immediately to the charge nurse, who must then immediately report to the administrator or designated representative.
The policy also mandated immediate protective measures to prevent further potential abuse while investigations proceed. When allegations involve an employee, the facility must separate the accused worker from all residents through suspension, segregation to areas with no resident contact, or in rare instances, supervised contact only with a second employee present at all times.
None of these required protections were implemented during the four-hour period when Staff A continued providing direct care to residents after verbally abusing Resident #1.
Staff A reported having no communication about the incident from the time it occurred at dinner until Staff B told her to leave at 9:55 PM. During those intervening hours, she maintained regular contact with residents, helping with meals, bedtime routines, and other care activities.
The inspection found that few residents were affected by the violation, with minimal harm or potential for actual harm. However, the incident highlighted systemic failures in the facility's response to resident abuse allegations.
The delayed response meant that Resident #1 and other residents remained in the care of a staff member who had just demonstrated verbal abuse toward a vulnerable resident struggling with basic activities. The resident who became trapped under the table and was subjected to profanity continued receiving care from the same nursing assistant who had cursed about her condition.
Staff B's failure to immediately implement protective measures violated federal regulations requiring swift action when abuse allegations arise. The supervisor witnessed the verbal abuse firsthand but allowed the situation to continue for hours without intervention.
The incident occurred during a vulnerable time for Resident #1, who was already experiencing difficulties with eating and mobility that required assistance from multiple staff members. Rather than receiving compassionate care during her struggles, she became the target of a frustrated employee's verbal abuse.
The facility's investigation revealed confusion among staff about proper procedures for handling abuse allegations. Staff C's admission that she was confused about the incident when contacted the following day suggested inadequate training or communication about mandatory reporting requirements.
Federal inspectors documented the violation as part of a complaint investigation conducted on August 27, 2025. The inspection focused on the facility's handling of the verbal abuse incident and compliance with abuse prevention policies.
The case demonstrates how quickly situations can escalate in nursing home settings when proper protocols are not followed. A moment of staff frustration with a struggling resident led to verbal abuse, followed by hours of continued exposure to potential harm while administrators failed to act on their own policies.
Resident #1's experience of becoming trapped under dining room furniture and then being cursed at by her caregiver illustrates the vulnerability of nursing home residents who depend entirely on staff for basic assistance and dignity. The four-hour delay in removing the abusive staff member from resident care compounded the initial violation.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Zearing Health Care, LLC from 2025-08-27 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
Zearing Health Care, LLC in Zearing, IA was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 27, 2025.
Staff A, a nursing assistant, expressed her frustration with profanity when her supervisor asked what was happening.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.