Former Nursing Home Administrator Put on Probation by State Board

The Iowa Board of Nursing Home Administrators placed an Ames nursing home administrator on probation for two years, after one resident in her facility's care went missing for hours and others engaged in sexual activity.

The board released its decision on Cynthia Gentz on Monday. Gentz was the administrator for Abington on Grand from Nov. 12, 2008 to Jan. 20, 2011. During that time one resident left the facility in August 2010 and November 2010, according to the board's complaint. The resident was treated for hypothermia and frostbite and suffered a mild heart attack, which was not reported to the Department of Inspections and Appeals.

The board's complaint also said that three other residents engaged in sexual activity with one another throughout 2010 and there was no policy in how to deal with such activity. Staff believed some of the contact was consensual, but the residents had limited cognitive and decision-making ability, the complaint said. The abuse was not reported to the Department of Human Services, according to the complaint.