‘Confidential’ report sheds more light on GRC investigation

A 34-page report made public last week shed more light on the abuse and neglect of 20 clients at the Glenwood Resource Center. The report was written by a private, medical care-based consulting firm hired by the Iowa Department of Human Services (IDHS).

The “confidential” report was released by IDHS following the submission of an open records request by the Des Moines Register, indicates employees at the state-managed facility for people with profound intellectual disabilities lacked proper training, were poorly supervised and lacked the confidence to report problems and improper treatment of clients.

Earlier this year, IDHS disclosed that its own investigation determined seven GRC clients had been physically abused and 13 were verbally abused or neglected. The IDHS investigation resulted in the resignation or firing of 12 workers and a subsequent criminal investigation by the Glenwood Police Department resulted in charges being filed against six former GRC employees.

According to the report, “Many of the administrative and supervisory staff interviewed were overwhelmed and felt they could not adequately supervise and complete all of their required workload. Many of the administrative / supervisory staff were tearful and remorseful, blaming themselves for incidents at the facility over the past months. Many stated they felt hopeless to accomplish everything they are tasked to do.”

IDHS officials called the client abuse “shameful,” but stressed that the actions of the former employees charged with neglect and abuse are not reflective of the professional and compassionate care provided by the majority of GRC staff members.

In January, Richard Shults, IDHS director of mental health and disability services, said action has been taken to prevent similar incidents of abuse and neglect from occurring in the future. That action includes increased supervision of staff, more rounds by middle and top management at varying times and mandatory retraining for all staff on the stardards of client treatment and on reporting suspected mistreatment.