Minnesota Nursing Home by Teens
December 11, 2008 by Jay Genkins
Filed under Elder Care, Nursing Home Abuse
Two Nursing home assistance ages 15 and 19 are accused of abusing several elderly at a nursing home in ALBERT LEA, Minn.
But Brianna Marie Broitzman, 19, and Ashton Michelle Larson, 18, each face up to a year in jail and $3,000 fine if convicted of all the charges against them. Prosecutors say the two inflicted humiliating physical, emotional and sexual abuse on 15 residents suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or both.
“I’ve been in the business for 30 years. I have never seen anything like what we’re dealing with here,” said Renae Peterson, the nursing supervisor at Good Samaritan. “Why would anybody do this? I don’t know.”
Four other teenage girls who worked as aides have been charged in juvenile court with failing to report the abuse.
Broitzman, who faces 11 charges, and Larson, who faces 10, are to be arraigned in Freeborn County District Court on Jan. 21. The charges include assault, abuse of a vulnerable adult by a caregiver, abuse of a vulnerable adult with sexual contact, disorderly conduct and failing to report suspected maltreatment.
