Preventing Nursing Home Abuse and Negligence with Granny Cams in Tennessee

Of the more than 15,000 nursing homes in the United States, more than one third of them – a number which includes 39 percent of all nursing home residents in the country – received one or two out of five possible stars under Medicare’s Five Star Quality rating system.

In a National Center on Elder Abuse, 7% of study participants experienced abuse, neglect or exploitation in a nursing home. Elders who experience abuse had a 300% higher risk of death than those who had not been abused.  According to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, elders who experience abuse have more health problems than other older adults including:

• Increased bone and joint problems
• Digestive problems
• Anxiety
• Chronic pain
• High blood pressure
• Heart problems

Hidden cameras in nursing home resident rooms

Because of the prevalence of nursing home abuse, some families who are looking for ways to protect their loved ones when they can’t be present, have been installing hidden cameras, also called “granny cams,” in their loved one’s rooms. The purpose of the hidden cameras would be to monitor what is going on and give the family members a bit of peace of mind when they can’t be there with their loved one.

There are a handful of states which either have laws in place or legislation in the works to permit nursing home residents to have cameras only if the facility allows them. There have been legislative proposals to allow video surveillance that have failed in several states because nursing homes and the unions representing health care workers have expressed concerns about their staff’s privacy. Some senior advocates and family members feel that cameras are too invasive.

Things to think about when it comes to granny cams

If you are thinking about installing a granny cam in your loved one’s room there are a few precautions that you might consider according to a piece by the Pew Charitable Trust. If the resident has a roommate, they must consent if they are going to be visible on camera. The resident or their representative would own the recording and for residents who are incapacitated, family members might consider the resident’s right to privacy and autonomy before setting up a granny cam.

Some facilities allow the cameras if they are in plain sight, while others require signage stating that video surveillance is taking place. With video surveillance, families must weigh the value of their privacy over their desire to monitor the care that their loved one is receiving.

There are countless stories of families being horrified at what the footage on their hidden cameras revealed. Those who saw signs of abuse such as bruises or bedsores sometimes set up cameras to find out what was going on and they were shocked to see what kinds of abuse and neglect that their loved one was being subjected to.

You are welcome to contact Bailey & Greer to schedule a consultation in Memphis, Jackson or Nashville to discuss your nursing home negligence and abuse case. Please call 901-680-9777 today to speak with a dedicated West Tennessee nursing home abuse lawyer.