DULUTH, Minn. — A nursing home worker admitted to recording humiliating videos of residents and posting them on social media.
It started with a call to authorities by a former employee of the Bayshore Residence and Rehabilitation center. That whistleblower says a current employee posted inappropriate videos and photos of residents on social media.
According to the tip, the images of four residents, all with physical, communication and cognitive disabilities, were disturbing and appeared to be getting worse.
The Minnesota Department of Health investigated the abuse allegations.
In one incident, it was alleged the employee took off a resident’s shoes and threw them into his bare chest and face.
According to the complaint, the employee also took revealing photos of three other vulnerable residents, partially nude or posing with pornographic images.
“It’s just inhumane and it shows a lack of connection to basic human life,” says Suzanne Scheller.
Scheller specializes in elder abuse and neglect lawsuits.
“It’s actually twofold,” Scheller said. “There’s one related to physical abuse and then it’s taken to another level to have fun and add light to the physical abuse on social media.”
Bayshore management said the employee was immediately fired and police were contacted when they became aware of the videos and photos.
The state says the employee admitted to the assault.
Scheller says families can protect their loved ones by staying in touch with the facility and knowing that Minnesota is one of the few states with a law where cameras can help.
“We’ve developed a law in Minnesota, an electronic monitoring law, that allows the family and the resident to put a camera in their living space so they can try to monitor these things and see what’s happening. going on,” Scheller said.
WCCO reached out to Bayshore for comment and did not hear back from them.
The Minnesota Department of Health has information about steps you can take if you think a loved one may be being abused in a long-term care facility. For more information, click here.
