Teens charged for abuse at elderly care center

Minn, Minn
Dec 3, 2008

Six teenage workers from an elderly care center have been fired. Two are accused of abusing residents, while four others are charged with failure to report the abuse.
The criminal complaints against a 19-year-old and 18-year old, both part-time nursing assistants, say a lot.

Between the two, Brianna Broitzman and Ashton Larson face 21 charges for alleged abuse against Alzheimer's residents at Albert Lea's Good Samaritan Society Care Center.

Right: Ashton Larson, Brianna Broitzman

They look very proud of themselves, don't they?

According to court documents witnesses say on several occasions the women rubbed the breast and genital areas of patients.

Brianna Broitzman also admitted to investigators she spit in the mouth of a resident.
The women would then laugh and talk about the incidents and do more things. According to witnesses, the two thought they would never get caught because the residents did not have their minds.

The incidents happened between January 1st and May 1st, 2008.
But family members of residents say court documents do not tell the entire story. "Mom's in great hands," said Marilss Webber.

Webber's mother has lived at Good Samaritan for four years and says in that time, she has never been abused or treated poorly.

"She goes down the hallway and they call her by name, they'll come in her room and ask her about the family pictures that are on the wall and who are they, they'll compliment her on the sweater she's wearing," Webber said and added she is gracious for all that everybody does.

"This has been a long investigation it's been an ordeal that we have been living for the last seven months," said Good Samaritan's Mark Anderson. Anderson said the investigation has been especially difficult on the ones who continue to work at the care center and said despite the investigation, the center has been a part of the community for fifty years and will continue to care for those who cannot care for themselves.

"We can continue to hold our head up high and be proud of the work we do," Anderson said.