But no one was laughing when the reports went public and lit up news media across the country. Two aides now face at least 10 charges, and family members of residents who were victims to the crimes have come together to raise awareness of elder abuse and advocate for reform in long-term care facilities across the country. The group, which has held town hall meetings about the Albert Lea incident, is called Families Against Nursing Home Abuse.

The group is now gathering more supporters through social media. It has pages on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Some members have videos on YouTube, and one writes a blog.

“We’re trying to get the community involved,” says Jan Reshetar, co-founder of Families Against Nursing Home Abuse. “We’re trying to get the attention of our local people.”

Reshetar writes in her blog about her experiences as a family member of a victim of the horrible crime at Good Samaritan Society. “How I long for the days before that, when I was in total ignorant bliss, where I lived in a naïve world in which people took care of one another, and would not intentionally hurt anyone; especially someone so vulnerable as Mom,” she writes. She continues to say that the organization “is trying to get the community to understand that changes in policy procedure and law have to come or this is what we can expect all our last years on earth to be.”

Source: Albert Lea Tribune

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Families of nursing home abuse victims speak out using social media

Bledsoe, founder of the watchdog group A Perfect Cause, returned to Albert Lea, Minnesota, to rally support for his efforts. Bledsoe has been to Albert Lea numerous times in response to news reports about the “abuse-for-thrills” case at Good Samaritan Society nursing home where two nursing aides have been charged with a linty of crimes including disorderly conduct, assault and criminal sexual abuse.

According to prosecutors, Brianna Broitzman and Ashton Larson held down residents, put their fingers in residents’ mouths and noses to quiet their cries and screams for help, hit and rubbed their breasts and genitals, and sexually “humped” some residents. They told coworkers that they partook in the crimes for “work fun or to get a good laugh.”

Bledsoe explained the problem with the five-star reporting system by poring through Minnesota Department of Health reports, including one that was released last August in which the “abuse-for-thrills” case was reported by Good Samaritan. He said since nursing homes self report incidents of abuse and neglect and implement a plan of correction before the state Department of Health arrived, Good Samaritan received no deficiencies for the abuse.

Since the federal database tracks deficiencies at homes and not substantiated abuse cases, people who refer to the federal database have no way of seeing an accurate picture of the care a nursing home provides. Bledsoe is fighting to get substantiated abuse cases added to the federal database, and urged others to contact their state legislators, U.S. congressmen and senators.

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Advocate wants federal nursing home database to include abuse cases

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Bledsoe urged a group of concerned citizens at a town hall meeting last week that vigilance and frequent visits can help prevent neglect.

Bledsoe’s advocacy group has continued to look out for the rights of nursing home residents. The group has lobbied for a stand-alone, long-term care facility in Oklahoma for sex offenders so they would not have to be admitted into other facilities. The group also has fought to have all allegations of abuse be reported to police for investigation, rather than just to state agencies that don’t always follow through with a formal investigation. The group also has helped garner attention for cases of abuse and neglect in nursing homes, most recently the “abuse-for-thrills” case at Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Nursing home advocate says to heed warning signs of neglect, abuse

Broitzman and Larson are charged with abusing seven nursing home residents at the Good Samaritan Society. As many as 15 residents were abused and each had a previous diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. A total of six aides were charged in the crime, but only Broitzman and Larson were charged as adults, as the other aides were juveniles when the crimes occurred.

Broitzman is charged with 11 gross misdemeanors and Larson faces 10 for fifth-degree assault, physical and sexual abuse of vulnerable adults, disorderly conduct by a caregiver and failing to report suspected abuse, according to the Star Tribune/Associated Press. The abuse involved aides allegedly holding down residents, putting their fingers in residents’ mouths and noses to quiet their cries and screams, hitting and rubbing their breasts and genitals, and sexually “humping” some residents. A coworker said the aides called the abuse “work fun or to get a good laugh.”

Among the four juveniles charged, one pleaded guilty to failing to report the alleged abuse and three others pleaded not guilty.

Because the crimes Broitzman and Larson are charged with are considered gross misdemeanors, the aides will likely face suspended jail sentences and probation.

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Albert Lea abusers meet with judge, enter pleas

The members of the group share a terrible connection – each had a family member who was abused by a group of nursing aides at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea. The victims were all cognitively impaired and were subjected to abuse that included being held down, having aides’ fingers and hands over their mouths and noses to quiet their cries and screams, having their breasts and genitals rubbed and hit, and being sexually “humped” by nursing aides. A coworker who told investigators she was aware of the heinous acts said the nursing aides called the abuse “work fun or to get a good laugh.”

The group’s members were first brought together when watchdog group A Perfect Cause founder Wes Bledsoe came to Albert Lea last month to talk with family members. Bledsoe has since been called on again by the group, which spurred a second trip by the activist.

Six aides have been charged in the crime. Two of the aides – 19-year-old Brianna Broitzman and 18-year-old Ashton Larson – are charged as adults and face various charges including assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, and abuse of a vulnerable adult with sexual contact. Members of the group are outraged that the charges the two aides face are considered gross misdemeanors, and the aides will likely face suspended jail sentences and probation. The group is gathering documentation for Bledsoe in hopes he can help in the fight for justice for the victims of the Albert Lea case.

Broitzman and Larson have arraignments scheduled for later this week.

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Albert Lea victims family members form support group

The town of Albert Lea was rocked last year when an investigation revealed that six nursing home aides at Good Samaritan Society were charged in connection to disturbing cases of abuse on patients who suffered from diseases that affect memory and cognition. A coworker told authorities that she had seen the aides holding down residents, putting their fingers in residents’ mouths and noses to quiet their cries and screams for help, hitting and rubbing their breasts and genitals, and sexually “humping” some residents. The coworker said the aides called the abuse “work fun or to get a good laugh.”

Two of the aides – 19-year-old Brianna Broitzman and 18-year-old Ashton Larson – were charged as adults and face various charges including assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, and abuse of a vulnerable adult with sexual contact.

Bledsoe held a press conference and town hall meeting last month in Albert Lea. He says his return visit this week is in response to several family members of victims who have contacting him asking for guidance.

A Perfect Cause is a victim’s advocacy organization that fights “to end needless suffering and preventable deaths while protecting the rights of citizens from corporate greed and negligence.”

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Watchdog group founder plans second visit to Albert Lea

The story first broke in May with reports that investigators were looking into allegations of abuse at the nursing home. By August, the details began to be revealed. An employee at the nursing home told facility authorities that she was aware that other aides in the home were holding down residents, putting their fingers in residents’ mouths and noses to quiet their cries and screams for help, hitting and rubbing their breasts and genitals, and sexually “humping” some residents. She said the aides called the abuse “work fun or to get a good laugh.”

The laughter ended for those who engaged in the abuse when the story came to light. In total, six former certified nursing aides at Good Samaritan Society were arrested – two are charged as adults. The remaining four are charged as juveniles as they were younger than 18 at the time of the incidents. All six face gross misdemeanor charges in the alleged abuse of 15 cognitively impaired residents.

Details of the abuse radiated through the country, garnering attention from national media, including the “Today” show on NBC. The story also drew the attention of A Perfect Cause, a national watchdog group dedicated to ending “needless suffering and preventable deaths while protecting the rights of citizens from corporate greed and negligence.”.

“The story will continue to reverberate in 2009 as the wheels of the legal system move,” the news story continues.

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › ‘Abuse-for-thrills’ case top 2008 news story in Albert Lea

“What they did was awful. My mother-in-law tried to tell us … she did everything to keep people away — biting, hitting, striking out,” she was reported as saying in a story by the Star Tribune. “Somebody needs to stand up for our moms and grandparents.”

The abuse is part of a investigation into the “attacks-for-thrills” case where six nursing home aides were accused of abusing cognitively impaired residents at Good Samaritan Society for on-the-job entertainment. According to prosecutors, the aides held down residents, put their fingers in residents’ mouths and noses to quiet their cries and screams for help, hit and rubbed their breasts and genitals, and sexually “humped” some residents.

Two of the accused – 19-year-old Brianna Broitzman and 18-year-old Ashton Larson – are charged as adults with assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, abuse of a vulnerable adult with sexual contact, disorderly conduct, and failure to report suspected maltreatment. All are gross misdemeanors. Four other aides, all charged as juveniles, are charged with not reporting the suspected abuse. The Freeborn County Attorney says Broitzman and Larson will likely face suspended jail sentences and probation, which family members think is an outrage.

A family member, who is not named, contacted Wes Bledsoe, president and founder of A Perfect Cause, a watchdog group that fights “to end needless suffering and preventable deaths while protecting the rights of citizens from corporate greed and negligence.” Bledsoe came to Albert Lea to organize a town hall meeting, which was preceded by the press conference. At the gathering, Bledsoe denounced the county attorney who filed the charges, Good Samaritan, and the Minnesota State Health Department. Bledsoe argued that had the two women charged with the crimes been men, they would be facing much more serious felony charges instead of misdemeanors.

“They thought they could get away with it, because the residents had dementia, couldn’t speak up for themselves. Well, if they are guilty, maybe they will get away with a slap on the wrists,” the Star Tribune quoted Bledsoe.

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Families, advocate speak out at Albert Lea town hall meeting

Brianna Marie Broitzman, 19, and Ashton Michelle Larson, 18, are charged with assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, abuse of a vulnerable adult with sexual contact, disorderly conduct, and failure to report suspected maltreatment. Broitzman and Larson are face up to a year in jail and $3,000 fine if convicted.

Prosecutors say that the women held down residents, put their fingers in residents’ mouths and noses to quiet their cries for help, hit and rubbed their breasts and genitals, and sexually “humped” some residents. The aides called the humiliating abuse, “work fun to get a good laugh,” according to reports.

Four other teenaged employees have been charged in juvenile court for failing to report the abuse.

State health department investigators reviewed the medical files of all patients who were suspected of being abused, and made personal visits to the 12 survivors. All 15 patients had some form of cognitive disorder, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Many were physically disabled and almost all required assistance with activities of daily living.

Minnesota health officials told the Associated Press this week that abuse in nursing homes is rare. However, this week the department reported another case of alleged sexual, emotional and physical abuse of six resident by a nurse’s aide at a nursing home in Montevideo, Minn. The employee, who was fired, denies the allegations. Authorities say that it is unlikely the nurse’s aide will be charged as the patients suffer from cognitive disorders that limit their ability to testify.

Albert Lea has a population of 20,000. With 240 employees, Good Samaritan Society is one of the town’s largest employers.

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Three victims deceased in Albert Lea ‘abuse-for-thrills’ case

Wes Bledsoe, president and founder of A Perfect Cause, arrives Thursday and will host a town hall meeting addressing the abuse at Good Samaritan Society. A Perfect Cause is a victim’s advocacy organization that fights “to end needless suffering and preventable deaths while protecting the rights of citizens from corporate greed and negligence.”

According to prosecutors, the nursing aides held down residents, put their fingers in residents’ mouths and noses to quiet their cries and screams, hit and rubbed their breasts and genitals, and sexually “humped” some residents. The aides allegedly called the abuse “work fun or to get a good laugh.”

But it was no laughing matter. The adults in the case, 19-year-old Brianna Broitzman and 18-year-old Ashton Larson, are charged with assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, abuse of a vulnerable adult with sexual contact, disorderly conduct and failure to report suspected maltreatment. All are gross misdemeanors. The Freeborn County Attorney says they will likely face suspended jail sentences and probation.

The abuse reportedly began early this year and lasted for several months. Three of the 15 residents have died and the others cannot be interviewed by investigators because they suffer from diseases that affect memory and cognition.

Bledsoe said the reports of recreational abuse at the nursing home disturbed him, but did not surprise him. “Where is the moral compass of these employees?” He posed in the newspaper story.

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Watchdog group holds town hall meetings in Albert Lea

When we first brought you this story in August, only four aides had been charged in the case that has horrified family members of the suspects’ victims. A coworker revealed to the nursing home that she was aware of the accused aides allegedly holding down residents, putting their fingers in residents’ mouths and noses to quiet their cries and screams, hitting and rubbing their breasts and genitals, and sexually “humping” some residents. The aides called the abuse “work fun or to get a good laugh.”

But it was no laughing matter. The adults in the case, 19-year-old Brianna Broitzman and 18-year-old Ashton Larson, are charged with assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, abuse of a vulnerable adult with sexual contact, disorderly conduct and failure to report suspected maltreatment. All are gross misdemeanors. The Freeborn County Attorney says they will likely face suspended jail sentences and probation.

The abuse apparently began early this year and lasted for several months. Family members were told in May that something had occurred but did not get details until August. Three of the 15 residents have died and the others cannot be interviewed by investigators because they suffer from diseases that affect memory and cognition.

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Nursing home aides face serious charges in abuse-for-thrills case

The four aides from Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Albert Lea, Minn., were fired after a coworker revealed that she was aware of the four women abusing residents, the Star Tribune reported. The aides allegedly held residents down whey they resisted, put their fingers in residents’ mouths and noses to quiet their cries and screams, hit and rubbed their breasts and genitals, and sexually “humped” some residents, according to the Star Tribune. Three additional aides who knew about the abuse but did not tell authorities also were fired.

The story quoted one aide as telling investigators that the four women did the reprehensible acts to make “work fun or to get a good laugh.” Another aide was quoted in the story as saying the women accused were confident that the residents wouldn’t complain because they “don’t have their minds.”

The abuse apparently began early this year and lasted for several months. Family members were told in May that something had occurred but did not get details until this week. The story reported that three of the 15 residents have died and the others cannot be interviewed by investigators because they suffer from diseases that affect memory and cognition.

Good Samaritan Society is based in Sioux Falls, S.D., which operates 40 nursing homes in Minnesota. The Freeborn County Attorney is considering criminal charges.

SOURCE: Nursing Home Abuse › Minnesota nursing home aides abuse patients for thrills