I-Team: Lowell Nursing Home Scored Well In State Ratings Before Abuse Allegations

BOSTON (CBS) - Two nurse's aides at a nursing home in Lowell are facing charges for allegedly posting humiliating videos of elderly patients on social media.

The state Department of Public Health told WBZ-TV's I-Team it has launched an investigation into both the aides and the Wingate at Belvidere nursing home.

They'll be looking to see if the facility ignored any warning signs or complaints from patients' relatives.

The agency will then determine what sanctions or corrective actions are needed to protect residents at the facility, department spokesman Scott Zoback told WBZ.

Prior to the allegations, there was little evidence to suggest any problems at the nursing home, according to online "performance summary" records.

Wingate at Belvidere scored a 127 out of 132 possible points, which put it ahead of 64-percent of facilities around Massachusetts. The statewide average score is 124.

According to the report card, there were no deficiencies discovered from complaint investigations and no enforcement action from a state agency. The last unannounced inspection at the Lowell nursing home was in February.

Wingate operates 15 facilities around Massachusetts and the Lowell nursing home had the highest score. The average score at all Wingate properties was roughly 118, a review by WBZ found.

Nurse aides found guilty of abuse are banned for life from working in a nursing home, home health agency or hospice care setting, Zoback said.

"DPH views resident abuse as unacceptable behavior," he added.

There are more than 57,000 certified nurse aides in Massachusetts. In 2014, there were 55 valid findings of abuse, neglect and misappropriation.

You can look up any nursing home's report card by clicking this link.

So if you're looking at nursing homes, how do you know you're picking one that's safe?

Anything with a score below 124 is considered below average and should probably have you asking questions and getting more details.

These scores are calculated based on complaints, along with how the facilities perform during unannounced inspections.

Ryan Kath can be reached at rkath@cbs.com. You can follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.