Sensitive care home documents containing personal data of 75 elderly clients found in Lappeenranta

A couple discovered four documents containing personal information of 75 elderly care clients while outdoors in Lappeenranta on Sunday, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle. The South Karelia Wellbeing Services County (Ekhva) is investigating the incident.

The papers, found in the Ruoholampi area, included names of care home residents and details about their support needs, such as assistance with eating or mobility. The documents also contained location information about the care facilities. However, according to the wellbeing services county, the papers did not include personal identity codes or medical diagnoses.

The exposed data pertains to clients who were residents of three care units in early March: Pienniemenkatu service home, one section of Juurakkokatu service home, and one floor of Lehmuskoti care home. Ekhva is contacting all 75 affected individuals or their next of kin by phone on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The wellbeing services county has notified both the Data Protection Ombudsman and the police about the breach. A search of the area on Monday morning did not uncover additional documents.

Ekhva’s director, Sally Leskinen, stated that the organisation takes all data protection violations seriously and will provide further staff training on handling client information. An internal investigation into how the documents ended up outdoors is underway.