Care home workers sacked for secretly filming elderly residents in Lanzarote
Several employees at a care home in Tías, Lanzarote, have been dismissed and reported to the authorities after allegedly filming elderly residents and sharing the videos with colleagues in a WhatsApp group.
The care home is run by the company Amavir, which confirmed it opened disciplinary proceedings against a number of staff members last week after discovering the existence of the group. According to the company, some employees had shared videos of residents and posted messages mocking them. The conversations reportedly came to light after other members of staff alerted management.
Roberto Rodríguez, Amavir’s Director of Communication, Commercialisation and Sustainability, said those responsible could no longer remain in their jobs.
He said, “Those who recorded these videos cannot continue working at the residence,” but insisted that it would be “extremely unfair” to portray the care home as a place where residents are generally neglected. He said the problems reported were isolated incidents rather than evidence of widespread mistreatment.
The company also acknowledged that the centre has faced staffing difficulties since the summer of 2025. Rodríguez described the situation as “very problematic”, saying the home has struggled to recruit and retain workers despite attempts to improve working conditions.
Under the current sector pay agreement, basic care home staff earn a starting salary of around €1,051 per month before tax. Gerocare assistants, who provide direct care and support to elderly residents, earn roughly €1,160 per month.
Rodríguez explained that workers in residential care do not fall under the same pay agreement as healthcare staff, whose wages are generally higher. He said the sector needs greater financial support from public administrations if salaries are to increase.
In an effort to fill vacancies, the company has also tried recruiting staff from mainland Spain to work in Lanzarote. However, the high cost of housing on the island has made it difficult for many workers to relocate.
Rodríguez said the core workforce at the Tías residence is currently covered, although the home still lacks professionals in areas such as medicine and physiotherapy.
He also pointed to high levels of staff absence as an ongoing challenge. According to Rodríguez, on some days, around two out of every ten employees do not turn up for work, sometimes notifying the centre at very short notice. The figures include employees who are on sick leave, which trade unions stress are legally justified absences.
The company is also investigating complaints about a shortage of basic bedding at the residence after images circulated showing some elderly residents sleeping without sheets, blankets or pillowcases.
Rodríguez said the company had supplied around 2,500 items, including sheets, towels and pillow covers, to the 90-bed facility. He suggested that something may have happened to the materials after delivery and said the matter is now under investigation.
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