A former caregiver at Encore Memory Care in South Barrington has been charged with illegally recording and sharing nude videos of residents at the facility. Madison Russo, 25, of Bartlett, faces charges of unauthorized videotaping and unauthorized dissemination of images of individuals in their residence without consent. Her arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday.

The allegations came to light when Bernard “Skip” Fisher II’s wife, Kristen Fisher, received a call from Encore’s executive director five days before Fisher’s death in July. Fisher, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease and was non-verbal, was one of several residents videotaped while nude. According to police reports, other victims included a resident caught naked in the shower, another on the toilet, and a third in undergarments in front of her wheelchair.

Madison Russo reportedly told investigators that one resident gave her difficulty during showers, and she shared the videos with coworkers via Snapchat to illustrate the challenges she faced. The videos were taken over a period from January through July of this year.

South Barrington Police Chief Michael Garrison stated the investigation is ongoing but described the incident as isolated. Police learned of the situation after an employee at Encore notified the facility’s director, who then contacted law enforcement on June 25. As a result, six employees at the care home were terminated. Families of residents were reportedly informed only that some staffing changes had occurred.

Kristen Fisher described her late husband as a vibrant man before Parkinson’s disease severely limited his mobility and speech. He entered Encore Memory Care in 2023 after she was unable to continue providing in-home care due to injury. She expressed shock and distress over the abuse, emphasizing her husband’s vulnerability and inability to defend himself.

Fisher is pursuing both criminal charges and exploring legal action against Encore Memory Care. She advocates for stricter policies prohibiting staff from using cell phones in patient rooms, showers, or on social media during work hours, and for enhanced supervision to prevent similar incidents.

Attorney Jaime Koziol Delaney, representing Fisher, highlighted that such cases are part of a troubling pattern of elder abuse, especially targeting patients with dementia who may be unable to report mistreatment. She encouraged any other potential victims to come forward as the investigation continues. Encore Memory Care officials did not respond to requests for comment.