Have you made the difficult decision to place your aging loved one in a nursing home? If so, then you already know how challenging it is to place your full trust in someone else.
In recent years, there’s been a lot of media coverage devoted to nursing home abuse. How can you prevent your loved one from becoming the next victim? Many have turned to using cameras in nursing homes.
Why are cameras a good idea, and are they legal? Read on to find out.
Why Cameras in Nursing Homes are a Good Idea
As we age, we begin losing the ability to remain independent. This is especially true for adults who suffer from mental or physical conditions. Some aging adults need around-the-clock care.
That’s why so many families turn to nursing homes or assisted living facilities for help.
So, why would surveillance cameras in assisted living homes be beneficial? Elderly adults are more vulnerable to getting abused by their caregivers. Here’s why:
- Cognitive decline prevents the adult from understanding their situation
- Physical decline prevents them from fighting back
- The adults are dependent on their care providers
These vulnerabilities often result in abusive situations. Experts estimate 1-2 million elderly adults have gotten abused by a caregiver. These statistics are unacceptable.
Cameras in nursing homes could prevent abusive situations by holding caregivers accountable. Cameras protect our loved ones while they’re at their most vulnerable.
Are Spy Cameras Legal?
So, what’s stopping you from getting nursing home video surveillance? Are such cameras legal?
Many nursing homes refuse to allow cameras. They cite HIPAA laws, which help protect a patient’s privacy.
Most lawyers disagree, though. Lawyers believe HIPPA laws do not prevent cameras so long as they belong to the patient or their family.
So, what’s the consensus? Is room surveillance an illegal invasion of privacy or a legal protective measure? Consent is what it comes down to.
If the patient and nursing home both give consent, then you have every right to install a camera.
How to Get Consent for a Camera
Surveillance cameras in nursing homes are completely legal in the following states:
- New Mexico
- Texas
- Washington D.C.
- Oklahoma
Measures have passed that allow cameras regardless of consent. Other states, though, let the nursing home itself decide. If a nursing home doesn’t consent, then your camera may not be legal.
What if your loved one receives care by a provider who visits their home? You may be considering a home security camera installation. If so, then you still need to ensure the caregiver consents to getting recorded at the home.
How do you get consent to place a camera? You need to talk with the nursing home staff or the home care provider.
Fighting For the Elderly
Cameras in nursing homes are a controversial issue. Some nursing homes continue to push back against the idea, but others welcome it. Before you decide what you want to do, always verify the legality of your actions.
Have you already gotten the consent you need to install a camera? Are you ready to take the next step? Get a free quote on your camera installation from the experts in San Antonio now.
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