A male night staff member is said to have lain next to 88-year-old Marianne and put his hand inside her pajamas at the Tallgården nursing home. Even though staff became aware of what had happened, it took four days before the family was informed—and no police report was filed. Daughter-in-law Lotta Vikström wonders how one could even ‘debate whether maybe a police report should be filed’ when a woman reports being subjected to such a crime.
88-year-old Marianne is suffering from multiple illnesses and lives at the Tallgården nursing home in Enebyberg, which is run by Blomsterfonden. According to her daughter-in-law, Lotta Vikström, the story began when Marianne told staff that a man who was working extra shifts at night had entered her room and lain in her bed.
The next day, Marianne revealed more.
– Then Marianne, or grandma, says that she slept better that night. And then she started to tell what had happened the night before. That he came in and lay down next to her and put his hands inside her pajamas, Lotta explains.
According to her, this information was forwarded within the operations and documented. But the family learned nothing until several days later.
– The first account was on Tuesday morning. Then on Friday, they called and told Marianne’s son Anders about what had happened. During those days in between, there was complete silence.
Took for granted that police had been contacted
When the family was finally informed, they assumed Tallgården had already notified the police and had Marianne examined by a doctor. That was not the case.
– We took for granted that a police report had been made. That was absolutely the first thing we believed they would do.
The family therefore emailed the operations manager asking about the police report, medical examination, and whether the man had been suspended. According to Lotta, they received no answers to their questions. Eventually, the family filed a police report themselves on October 13.
The man identified by the family is reported to have been an hourly employee and had been working extra night shifts for about two years.
He only works nights. Marianne describes him as small, quite slim, and dark. He is not Swedish.
Lotta Vikström, daughter-in-law of Marianne
Lotta says the family was told that the man was suspended after the incident and that the shift in question was his last scheduled night shift for now.
The daughter-in-law says the family does not know whether there were previous complaints against the man. She also emphasizes that there are regular male staff at the home in whom Marianne has great trust.
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Do you have any more information about who this man was?
– No, we have received no information at all. He also works only nights. Marianne describes him as small, quite thin, and dark. He is not Swedish. She continues:
– She describes him, as I understand it from her police interview and deviation reports, quite clearly. It matches this person who was working that night. He has worked there for about two years.
“She feels a lot of shame”
Since the incident, Marianne has become more withdrawn, Lotta says.
– She feels a lot of shame.
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When the family went to visit her, Marianne initially did not want to talk about the incident. She also did not want her son Anders to know at first.
– She has very high integrity. She’s a proper lady. Of the old generation.
Lotta says that Marianne has consistently recounted the same story of what she experienced. The police are now investigating, and according to Lotta, Marianne has been interviewed and her statement recorded.
Later, the family got a meeting with the managers at Tallgården. There, according to her own account, Lotta became furious when she heard the reasoning behind why certain actions had not been taken.
She was there for four days and might have needed us. She didn’t even have a chance to contact me or Anders in this situation. It hurts so damn much to know she’s sitting there alone.
Lotta Vikström, daughter-in-law of Marianne
– Then comes this nonsense about having failed in routines and that we should have filed a police report. We talked about doing it on Friday, but we didn’t do it. She continues:
– How can you even debate whether maybe you should file a police report and arrange a medical exam when a woman says she’s been subjected to such a crime? You don’t think—you just do it.
According to Lotta, the operations manager said during the meeting that she was proud, secure, and confident in her professional role.
How did you react to that?
– When you’re talking to someone who hasn’t done what is supposed to be done in such a situation, with an elderly woman being exposed, and who just keeps blaming mistakes on routines… and then insists on being proud, secure, and confident in their professional role. That just blows my top…
Begins to cry: “It hurts so damn much”
For Lotta, the decision to go public is not just about what Marianne claims to have been subjected to. Equally important is how she believes management acted afterwards.
During her interview with Samnytt, her voice breaks and she starts to cry when explaining why she made the story public.
– This isn’t the first time you read about such a case. You never think it will happen to your own relative. She continues:
– Now it has happened to her. And now it’s already done. If it can open up a discussion, bring it into the open—and also highlight how terribly management handled it when it happened. Lotta Vikström continues:
– How they missed filing a police report. How they didn’t arrange a medical exam. How they failed to contact the next of kin…
No, I don’t need to answer that. We have communication with those affected. But all questions I refer to Marika Philipson. I am well aware of most aspects of this case. And I refer any questions you have to Marika Philipson.
Blomsterfonden’s care manager, Susanne Malmsten
When Lotta brings up the four days the family was kept in the dark, she again becomes visibly affected.
– She’s been there four days and might have needed us. She hasn’t even had a chance to contact me or Anders in that situation.
Lotta struggles to hold back her emotions.
– It hurts so damn much to know she’s sitting there and has been alone.
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If Tallgården had contacted you immediately, arranged a medical examination for Marianne and filed a police report—would you still have gone public?
– No. If they had dealt with it correctly and as they’re supposed to, we would have had full confidence in them.
Blomsterfonden’s manager refuses to answer
Samnytt then contacts Susanne Malmsten, head of care at Blomsterfonden, who immediately refers to the organization’s CEO, Marika Philipson.
– All journalists are referred to our CEO, Marika Philipson. You should contact her instead.
I think they don’t want this to come out. They don’t want it to ruin Blomsterfonden’s reputation. I don’t think the managers want these kinds of incidents at their homes, for which they are ultimately responsible, to become known.
Lotta Vikström, daughter-in-law of Marianne
But you’re the one who knows and can say something about what happened?
– Yes, but due to privacy and individual cases, I won’t address it.
Samnytt therefore tries to ask questions not about the suspected staff member’s or Marianne’s personal circumstances, but about Blomsterfonden’s conduct and routines.
I have spoken with relatives who say you said ‘we maybe should have filed a police report’ and my question is simple: Why wasn’t a police report filed from the beginning? Your CEO can’t answer that?
– All matters related to this case, I refer to the CEO. I don’t answer questions about individual cases.
But this is about your or Tallgården’s routines…
– Which newspaper, which journalist, from where?
Samnytt, we’ve written a lot about elderly care.
– Okay.
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Can you say briefly whether you filed a Lex Sarah report?
– No, I don’t need to answer that. We have communication with those affected. But all questions I refer to Marika Philipson.
Are you aware that a relative has gone public with this?
– I am well aware of most aspects of this case. And I refer any questions you have to Marika Philipson.
Does Tallgården’s operations manager Ann Sofie Edin still have Blomsterfonden’s full confidence?
– I have no comments regarding any personnel matters. You can contact Marika Philipson.
She then states that she needs to prepare for an important meeting and hangs up.
Thus no answer is given as to why Tallgården did not file a police report from the start or regarding the organization’s routines.
“They don’t want it to come out”
Tallgården’s explanation of ‘lacking routines’ does not convince Lotta. She herself suspects there is another reason for the slow handling.
– I think they don’t want it to come out. They don’t want it to hurt Blomsterfonden’s reputation. I don’t think the managers want incidents like this at their homes, for which they are ultimately responsible, to become known.
So they put a lid on it?
– Yes, they put a lid on it. They sweep it under the rug.
This is Lotta’s own conclusion, and she says she has no proof that management actually tried to cover up the incident. However, she points out that other relatives, according to her, were informed much later.
– If they had handled this correctly and the way it should be handled, we would have retained our full confidence in them.
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The family at the same time does not want to uproot Marianne from the environment where she has lived for several years. On the contrary, the regular staff get a lot of praise from Lotta, who describes several of them as ‘absolutely fantastic.’ Marianne is 88 years old, has multiple illnesses, and is deeply attached to many of those who care for her.
– We do not think she would emotionally survive such a move.
According to Lotta, the incident has been reported under Lex Sarah. The police investigation into the suspected abuse is ongoing.
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