You’ve done the research, visited several facilities and settled on the nursing home that you believe is the right fit for your loved one. But how do you make sure they are safe once they move into the facility? Some families are turning to video cameras to literally keep an eye on their loved ones for signs of nursing home abuse or neglect.

The nursing home did not allow the camera, citing federal privacy laws under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Many nursing homes use this law to prohibit cameras, according to the article.
The office of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan drafted legislation that would allow nursing home residents and their families to place cameras if the resident or family pays for and installs the camera.

“Residents and family members should have the option, for their own peace of mind, to monitor what is taking place,” Madigan said in the blog item. “If something goes wrong, you can see what actually happened.”
If the legislation becomes law, Illinois would become the fifth state, along with New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington, to have a law or regulation that specifically allows nursing home residents to install cameras in their rooms. Maryland permits cameras if the facility allows them. South Carolina law does not directly address the issue.


If you suspect a loved one has been a victim of abuse or neglect at a nursing home, it’s very important to contact a qualified nursing home neglect lawyer as soon as possible to help you navigate the legal process and keep your loved one safe. You and your loved one may also be entitled to significant compensation.
Sources:
- New York Times – In Nursing Homes, Eyes That Never Turn Away
- The Pew Charitable Trusts – Nursing Home Cameras Create Controversy
- S. Department of Health and Human Services – Nursing Facilities’ Compliance with Federal Regulations for Reporting Allegations of Abuse or Neglect