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Since 1976, Steve Levin has been dedicated to helping people injured by others’ negligence. He is one of the first attorneys in the U.S. to prosecute nursing homes for abuse and negligence. He’s also helped write new legislation that governs the operation of nursing homes, including the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. Moreover, Levin & Perconti has obtained the top three jury verdicts in nursing home negligence cases in Illinois.
Read Bio
Since 1976, Steve Levin has been dedicated to helping people injured by others’ negligence. He is one of the first attorneys in the U.S. to prosecute nursing homes for abuse and negligence. He’s also helped write new legislation that governs the operation of nursing homes, including the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. Moreover, Levin & Perconti has obtained the top three jury verdicts in nursing home negligence cases in Illinois.
Key Takeaways
The 2025 Ombudsman report found CNAs recording and sharing videos of residents in private areas, mocking them on social media while they are undressed, crying, or confused, instead of providing care.
88% of victims were residents with dementia, unable to defend themselves or consent to being filmed. This abuse reflects deeper neglect within facilities, where staff policies and training are lacking.
If you notice staff using personal phones or a resident showing anxiety, act quickly. An attorney can help preserve deleted digital evidence and ensure the facility is held accountable.
A new 2025 report from the Colorado Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program reveals a disturbing and fast-growing problem in long-term care facilities: social media abuse. This abuse occurs when staff take unauthorized photos or videos of residents, often those with dementia or major physical impairment, and share them online.
The 2025 Ombudsman report makes one thing clear: social media abuse in nursing homes is real, widespread, and deeply harmful. Families should stay alert, ask hard questions, and act quickly if something feels wrong. And if you suspect your loved one was targeted, consulting a private attorney can be a crucial step in protecting them and holding the facility accountable.
Below is a summary of the report’s key findings as well as information on how to better ensure your loved one’s safety.
What Is Social Media Abuse in Nursing Homes?
Social media abuse in nursing homes includes:
- Taking unauthorized photos or videos of residents
- Recording residents in vulnerable or undignified situations
- Sharing images or videos on platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram
- Mocking or humiliating residents through captions, filters, or comments
- Spreading content to peers or the public without consent
Residents with cognitive impairment are especially at risk because they cannot understand or consent to being recorded.
Key Findings From the 2025 Social Media Abuse Study
The Ombudsman report analyzed 100 state investigation files from 30 states (2017–2025). Major findings include:
1. Who the victims were:
- 147 residents were identified.
- 88% had cognitive impairment.
- Nearly half had moderate to severe cognitive impairment.
- Many required extensive help with daily activities, making them extremely vulnerable.
2. Who committed the abuse
- 73% of perpetrators were Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).
- Others included licensed nurses, support staff, and in some cases, multiple employees acting together.
3. What was posted
- 207+ media items
- 68% were videos
- 25% were photos
- Common platforms: Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram.
- Many posts mocked residents or showed them partially undressed, confused, crying, or in bed.
4. Where the incidents occurred
- Residents’ bedrooms
- Bathrooms
- Hallways, dining rooms, and activity areas
5. Harm to residents – Residents experienced:
- Embarrassment and humiliation
- Anxiety or distress
- Loss of trust in caregivers
- Fear about who saw their image and how it might be used
- Families described feeling horrified, violated, and powerless.
6. Facility failures – Surveyors cited nursing homes for:
- Failing to protect residents from abuse
- Violating privacy rules
- Poor policies on phone/camera use
- Delayed reporting to state authorities
- Inadequate staff training
- Lax enforcement of cell-phone restrictions
Why Social Media Abuse Is Especially Dangerous for This Vulnerable Population
This form of abuse is uniquely harmful because:
- Digital images spread instantly and may never disappear.
- Victims cannot control who sees the content.
- Residents often do not understand what happened, increasing confusion and distress.
- A humiliating photo or video may circulate long after the incident.
- Abuse often reflects a deeper culture of disrespect or neglect inside a facility.
Warning Signs Residents and Families Should Watch For
You may want to investigate further if you notice:
- Staff frequently using cell phones around residents
- A loved one appearing online in photos/videos you did not authorize
- Comments from staff about “funny moments” they “caught on video”
- Unexplained fear, distress, or withdrawal in a resident
- A facility with no written cell-phone or social-media policy
If an incident happens, keep note of everything you observe: who was involved, what was posted, and when you became aware.
Questions to Ask Long-Term Care Facilities
To protect your loved one, ask the nursing home:
- “Do you have a written cell-phone and social-media policy for staff?”
- “Are staff prohibited from recording residents without consent?”
- “How do you monitor compliance with your policy?”
- “What are the consequences if staff violate it?”
- “How quickly do you report abuse to families and state agencies?”
A facility that struggles to answer these questions is a concerning sign.
When Should a Family Contact a Private Attorney?
Social media abuse is not only unethical — it may be illegal, and facilities can be held accountable. A private nursing home abuse attorney can help:
- Preserve evidence, including deleted posts, device data, or witness statements
- Identify violations of resident-rights laws, privacy rules, and federal nursing-home regulations
- Investigate corporate negligence, including failure to supervise or train staff
- Pursue compensation for emotional distress, humiliation, and privacy invasion
- Ensure the facility faces consequences so this does not happen to other residents
If you believe someone recorded or posted photos/videos of your loved one without consent, especially if it was mocking, degrading, or abusive, reach out to an attorney experienced in nursing home cases to understand your legal options.
How to Take Action Against Nursing Home Neglect
If you believe that a loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect or elder abuse in Chicago or throughout Illinois, take action and immediately contact Levin & Perconti online or call us at 312-332-2872 to set up a free consultation with an experienced Chicago elder abuse lawyer.
Our consultations are free, confidential, convenient, and respectful of your experience. No other legal team in Illinois has a track record like ours. We’re ready to help you recover from nursing home abuse and neglect and get the reimbursement you deserve. Contact us today for your free case review.
Source used: Snapped and Exposed: Social Media Abuse in America’s Nursing Homes
