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ALBERT LEA, Minn. (AP) _ Prosecutors are considering charges against four nursing assistants who were let go after an investigation revealed multiple incidents of physical, sexual and emotional abuse of residents in their care.
Albert Lea Police Chief Dwaine Winkels said his department has sent the Freeborn County Attorney's Office a report about the incidents and the accused — which include one adult and three juveniles.
The Minnesota Department of Health released a report Thursday showing that 15 residents with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia disorders were abused at the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea earlier this year.
According to the report, the nursing assistants allegedly spit in residents' mouths, poked their breasts and touched their genitals. The residents were also subject to teasing.
The facility won't be punished, because officials followed procedures and notified proper authorities, the Health Department said in its report.
An internal investigation by staff led the nursing home to contact the Health Department and local law enforcement. Mark Dickerson, a spokesman at the facility, told the Albert Lea Tribune that the victims' family members have been contacted.
"At this point, individuals who were either deemed to be involved in the alleged abusive actions or had knowledge of the incidents and failed to report in a timely manner are no longer employed at the center," Dickerson told the newspaper.
Winkels said other staff members at the facility were devastated by what happened.
"It was a shock to the conscience," he said. "That's what we're trying to deal with now — the healing, and making sure to prevent this in the future," he said.
Winkels said the charges could range from assault to malicious treatment at a care facility. While the department report shows that the incidents were found to be substantiated through interviews, Winkels said it will be a challenging case to prosecute. Three of the residents have since died, and authorities were unable to interview most of the others because of their cognitive impairment.
"It's going to be really tough to prove," he said.
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