Ever wonder when we decided a resident’s worst moment was worth a laugh online? It’s a hard truth, but social media abuse in senior living communities continues to pop up, despite years of headlines, heartbreak, and calls for change. From a staffer posting an image of a resident with visible feces on Snapchat, as reported by ProPublica, to videos mocking confused residents, it’s happening more often than any of us would like to believe.

The Colorado Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s October 2025 report lays it bare, these incidents are ongoing, underreported, and deeply harmful. A McKnight’s Long-Term Care News article reminds us that even ten years after a landmark 2015 investigation, social media abuse hasn’t disappeared. While some communities have put policies in place, not all staff fully understand how damaging one photo, one video, or even one careless comment online can be. This isn’t just about privacy laws, it’s about dignity.

The AHCA recently released a guide to help communities address social media abuse, encouraging stronger oversight, clearer policies, and consistent training. It’s a helpful tool, but it can’t replace a culture of respect. Every staff member needs to be reminded, the people we care for aren’t characters in a story, they are someone’s parent, grandparent, or friend. Addressing social media abuse in senior living communities requires more than rules — it calls for leadership, empathy, and accountability.

Communities would be wise to review their onboarding, refresh training materials, and make sure smartphones are treated with the same caution as medications, powerful, potentially harmful, and never used casually around those we serve. The goal isn’t to shame, it’s to protect. After all, the measure of good care is how well we preserve someone’s dignity, even when no one’s watching.

Stay well and stay informed!