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Families in elder abuse case are using online networks
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, blogging spread message
Published Saturday, June 27, 2009
The families of the alleged abuse victims at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea are reaching out on social networking Web sites to spread the message of reform in long-term care facilities across the country.
The families, who have formed under a group called Families Against Nursing Home Abuse, have pages on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. They also have videos on YouTube. One writes a blog.
At these sites, people can read reactions to elder abuse and get to know the alleged victims of abuse in words and photos.
Jan Reshetar, co-founder of the group, said she and the others decided to branch out to these Internet sources to enact changes on the local, state and national level.
“We’re trying to get the community involved,” Reshetar said. “We’re trying to get the attention of our local people.”
Then, hopefully, once people get involved, they will call their state and national representatives and senators and voice their concerns.
At her blog, Reshatar wrote: “It’s been over one year since we first got the phone call that Mom ‘may or may not, be a victim of what may or may not be abuse.’ It’s been over 12 months … over 365 days … over 8,760 hours … over 525,600 minutes … over a lifetime ago.”
A description of the group on Facebook states Families Against Nursing Home Abuse is “committed to providing information and resources for the continuum of long-term care — from successful aging, to aging in the home, to assisted living, to hospice care, as well as nursing home care.”
They formed around the same time charges were filed in Freeborn County District Court in December 2008 against Albert Lea High School graduates Brianna Broitzman and Ashton Larson.
Broitzman and Larson, former Good Sam nursing assistants, each face at least 10 charges related to the alleged abuse of multiple residents at the nursing home over several months.
Amid the pain the families experienced knowing their family members could have allegedly been victims of this abuse, a few of them started seeking out the other families to gain strength from each other.
They’ve since met regularly at local establishments to talk about their experiences and the strategies they’re taking to contact state and national leaders.
They’ve also worked closely with A Perfect Cause, an Oklahoma-based advocacy group, and are diligent in attending Broitzman and Larson’s hearings.
“There are many laws, policies and procedures that need to be changed,” Reshetar said.
She said it’s hard for her to realize that in the last 40 or 50 years, laws for other age groups have moved forward. But to her, it seems like laws for the elderly have been forgotten, she noted.
“We want people to understand what this does,” Reshetar said, of the alleged abuse. “It doesn’t just hurt one person or one son or daughter. It affects everybody’s lives. The numbers are countless.”
Reshetar has blogged, or journaled, about her own feelings of the case on Blogspot.com.
“We need to get people to understand this is not a one-time situation,” Reshetar said.
The Facebook page can be found at Facebook.com.
The Twitter, MySpace and YouTube pages can be found by doing a search. In most cases people have to be a member of the Web site to access them.
The next Families Against Nursing Home Abuse group meeting will be July 23.
People interested in joining can call Reshetar at 402-4749 or Myrna Sorensen at 383-6963.
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Comments
Posted by wingo (anonymous) on June 27, 2009 at 5:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The link for the facebook doesn't work.
Posted by iamwoman (anonymous) on June 27, 2009 at 8:22 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by speakup (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 8:41 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by wingo (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo speakup! What does iamwoman do, go to nursing homes and just sit there to see how long other people visit. How does she know how many times a day someone visits. In very bad taste iamwoman. This has nothing to do with how often or long someone visits there loved one, it's the fact that some helpless adults were victimized.
Posted by nationalobserver (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you speakup and wingo. Obviously iamwoman wasn't watching carefully enough. How dare she disparage ANYONE who has a loved one in a nursing home as to how often or how long a time they spend. Was she there 24 hours a day and kept a time clock on them? Is it possible they were there when she wasn't? Did she know their personal circumstance? Did she know what their work schedule was? Did she know who else they took care of besides their mom? Has she any clue how many times their mother's hand was held by them? And a song sung to her? Will she disparage the daughter that lives out of state too? Does she keep tract of all the other group family members? Does she have a time card on all of them? I don't care how much time anyone spends out there. They have no clue who comes at what time, and how long they stay.
I apologize for my sarcasm, but that is just plain intentionally mean and hurtful; anyone who REALLY knows the families, knows better. Trying to disparage someone or a group of people for trying to do something GOOD, and that needs being done! For shame!
This is about bringing to light the broken system that the elderly are living in. They and the group they helped co-found are doing whatever they can to bring needed change. Are we (the community) helping to make sure that all residents, of all nursing homes, never have to ask the question, "are we safe from harm?" Are we helping to make sure that this doesn't happen to anyone else?; because that is what needs to be done. We all need to be doing whatever we can to help.....not hinder.
One last point: Iamwoman, you needn't be watching for them. They don't have a loved one there anymore. If you read the paper, you would know she passed away last February, adding even more pain to their already horrifying journey.
Posted by ladyslsr (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 12:58 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by CC (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's not forget this part of iamwomans post : "so in a way, isn't that being abusive to your relative for not just sitting there and holding there hand and talking to the relative even if they can't respond." Given the kind of abuse these people really did experience, that comparison is just disgusting. So apparently you only have the right to be outraged that your loved one was subjected to sexual and physical abuse if you spend a certain amount of time with them at the nursing home? Maybe iamwoman can enlighten us as to how much time she thinks is sufficient.
Posted by chrish (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tim - you remove comments for a lot less than iamwoman's. Her comment is very hurtful and not seemingly substantiated by any facts. This should not be allowed.
To iamwoman - what pleasure, benefit or satisfaction do you get out of posting something like that? I challenge you to address that directly right here on this post. Are you related to or friends with the accused by any chance? Or are you one of the accused?
There are many of us who have "gone at it" on posts, had disagreements over politics, disliked what someone has said and called them out on it - myself included. However, this comment is too personal and going way too far. No need for this whatsoever.
Posted by chrish (anonymous) on June 28, 2009 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Trib for removing the comment.
Posted by lulu (anonymous) on July 5, 2009 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You all should be ashamed of yourselves for judging, its all she said this she said that, grow up, get a life, maybe the families should visit their loved ones, more often and sit with them, their are people out there that really don't know, visit more often, These loved ones go into a nursing home because they can no longer care for themselves, give nursing some credit, there are alarms put on them and motion sencers for their safety, what do you think your loved ones are going to think they don't understand, and most of especially when they have alt., and demtetia, they don't understand why they are there, or whats going on why they need to take medcine or brush their teeth, they don't wipe themselves anymore they can't clean, there are residents rights and they do deny cares, so maybe the families should go and help out once in awhile help their loved one once in while and find out how their loss of mind is, help with feeding GIVE ME A BREAK GET A REAL LIFE AND STOP JUDGING!!!!
Posted by chrish (anonymous) on July 6, 2009 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lulu - are you by any chance iamwoman or a friend of hers? What users are you directing your comments at? Did you even read her post? If you are directing your comments at her, I get it and apologize. If not, I don't.
Her comment personally attacked this family and had no basis of fact whatsoever. Why do you think the Trib removed it?
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