Home care workers used translation apps for patient records, Finnish investigation finds

A Finnish public broadcaster investigation has uncovered that home care workers with insufficient Finnish language skills relied on translation apps to write patient records, raising concerns over patient safety.

Yle’s examination of elderly care services revealed that employees at Keltakulta Hoiva, a home care provider in the Uusimaa region, used tools like Google Translate to document patient visits. The resulting records were so poorly written that the company’s managing director later edited them, according to regional welfare authorities.

The Länsi-Uusimaa welfare district conducted unannounced calls in January 2024 to test employees’ language proficiency after receiving a tip about inadequate Finnish skills among Keltakulta Hoiva staff. Two workers could not answer basic questions in Finnish, including what a “medication deviation” was or where patient records were documented. Authorities suspected the workers would be unable to complete the theoretical exams required for medication administration permits.

A subsequent anonymous tip alleged that the company’s managing director had taken these exams on behalf of employees. While the welfare district later confirmed that workers had used translation apps for records, the company denied wrongdoing. The managing director told Yle that staff language skills were sufficient and rejected claims of writing records for employees.

Keltakulta Hoiva, which served dozens of clients with fewer than 30 employees, reported revenue of €1.2 million in 2023 and around €300,000 in 2024. The Länsi-Uusimaa welfare district terminated its contract with the company in February 2024, citing risks to patient safety. In February 2025, the Regional State Administrative Agency issued a formal reprimand to Keltakulta Hoiva and its managing director for deficiencies, including poor record-keeping, medication errors, and inadequate language skills.

The investigation also found that even qualified nurses had used Google Translate for patient reports, creating risks in medication management. One emergency services worker filed a concern report stating that a patient did not understand whether they had received pain medication due to caregivers’ poor language skills.

Yle’s broader review of regulatory decisions by the Finnish Licensing and Supervision Authority (LVV) from late 2023 to early 2026 found that inadequate language proficiency among care staff has led to errors and safety risks in elderly care nationwide, affecting both private and public providers.