Two people are suspected of secretly filming residents at a care home in Myllykoski, Kouvola, including during diaper changes, Iltalehti reported. The suspected incidents took place at Mainiokoti Koski, which provides round-the-clock assisted living for elderly people.
Satu Ahola, business director at Mainiokodit, confirmed to Yle that clients were secretly filmed at the Myllykoski unit and said she was sorry about what happened. According to Iltalehti, the case has moved from a preliminary police investigation to prosecution consideration. Yle said it hadn't reached the police.
Ahola said by email that staff have clear data protection instructions as part of their orientation and training, and that these are reviewed regularly. She didn't directly answer how the instructions were broken or when. Iltalehti reported that care home employees have been dismissed over the secret filming, which Ahola didn't directly confirm.
“In situations that go against our instructions, we have intervened immediately through supervisory measures. We also make the necessary notifications to authorities,” Ahola said. She didn't comment further on individual residents or employees and said she wasn't aware of other similar cases beyond the Myllykoski unit in Kouvola.
The Permit and Supervision Agency said Tuesday it had received several notifications of cases in which care staff filmed memory-impaired or other vulnerable clients without permission. In the cases known to the agency, clients were photographed or videoed without clothes, which it said violates professional ethical obligations, clients’ self-determination, and privacy. Mainiokodit is a Finnish company providing housing and care services for older people and is part of the Mehiläinen group.