Video Camera Shows Nursing Home Resident Being Abused
A 73-year-old woman was reportedly abused by staff members at the Fair Oaks Residential Elderly Care facility. This incident was caught on a video camera that the woman’s grandson installed in her room. According to the report, these cameras are known as “granny cams” and they are used for the protection of seniors.
Advocates for seniors stated that while it is a good idea to install these cameras, permission should be granted from the home’s administrator first prior to installation. However, the report states California law prohibits such cameras as well as voice recordings taken without consent of those being recorded.
One of the key points in this report is that the cameras may not always be able to pick up everything that goes on in the facility. While these cameras may be a good idea to monitor the safety of the elderly residents, there is no way of knowing whether or not acts of abuse or neglect occur outside of the camera’s view. It is easy to hide such acts from cameras, especially if employees or even other residents are made aware of the camera’s placement. They could easily avoid being seen by the camera in many ways. However, it would also act as a deterrent for many people as well, thus bringing some semblance of safety to many residents at a nursing home facility.
