Iowa caregiver gives patient 6 times medication dosage to make her “job easier”

CORALVILLE – Caring for the infirmed, frail, and sick can test anyone, but this Iowa caregiver allegedly took the sinister route and drugged-up her patient so she could slack off.

According to police in Johnson county, Iowa, law enforcement visited the Brown Deer Place senior care center back on July 8, 2024. Records state that it was reported to care facility administration that a caregiver, 69-year-old Sandra Price-Elder of Coralville, was seen with an oral medication syringe. The amount of medication was nearly 6 times the amount prescribed to the patient. Upon further investigation, it was determined the medication had been ordered more frequently than needed. During an interview, it was disclosed by the defendant, the practice of providing a larger than prescribed dose started around April 30, 2024. The defendant admitted that she gave the patient the higher dose intentionally as to sedate her and make the defendant’s job easier. The defendant worked directly for the care facility and was responsible for providing patient care in the forms of; meals, medications, and hygienic needs.

Price-Elder (pictured at top) was arrested and accused of wanton neglect of the victim, a resident of a health care facility, by knowingly acting in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical or mental welfare of the victim. This is a D felony, administering harmful substances. She was soon released, pending a court appearance.