When families place a loved one in a nursing home, the hope is that they will be protected during their golden years. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
The United States General Accounting Office (GAO) recently reported that more than 5,600 nursing homes across the nation were cited for abuse in 1999 and 2000. Even more alarming, the GAO found that the mental and physical dependencies of most nursing home residents allow many cases of abuse and neglect to go unreported.
Sadly, many Illinois nursing homes suffer from the same deficiencies noted in the GAO report. These startling findings are causing many families to search for new ways to protect their loved ones in nursing homes.
One solution has been video and Web-based surveillance cameras. Technology is now available to allow families to monitor care through in-room video boxes or via the Internet, and with the cost of cameras and equipment dropping significantly, it is becoming more affordable to install monitoring systems.
“Cameras can create a win-win situation,” said Christopher Hurley, a Chicago lawyer who represents victims of nursing home abuse. “They provide security and comfort for families, while protecting nursing homes from frivolous claims.”
Some nursing homes are recognizing the benefits and installing systems of their own that they offer to residents for a monthly fee. Others allow families to enter the rooms and set-up their own cameras.
If you are interested in taking steps to arrange a surveillance system for a loved one, Hurley offers the following tips.
Camera Placement: Bedside care is an important aspect of nursing home life. Therefore, place a camera to record the area immediately surrounding the bed. Focusing on your family member’s care also avoids any issues of privacy for a roommate.
What to buy?: The most basic equipment can be used for Web surveillance. Web cameras range from $50 to $100 and an inexpensive computer can be purchased for around $500. A standard video surveillance system can be purchased through the non-profit group Nursing Home Monitors for $600. (Visit www. nursinghomemonitors .org.)
Illinois law on nursing home monitoring: Currently, there is no law in Illinois to prevent these video and Web monitoring systems from being used. Families on a case-by-case basis throughout the state are introducing cameras to nursing homes. Pilot programs are currently underway in Maryland, Florida, Texas and California.
Some nursing homes are beginning to understand the value that cameras can bring. One home in Florida has reported that their insurance premium has decreased by $47,000 per year and they have a significant decrease in employee turnover. Video and Web-based surveillance cameras are one way families can help protect their loved ones in nursing homes. For more comprehensive answers to these and other questions, turn to www.hurley-law.com/nursinghome.htm.
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