According to an article from the New York Times, some families want to install cameras inside nursing homes. For many, this would alleviate worries of abuse, neglect, or mistreatment perpetrated by nursing home staff against their loved ones.
Many families of people living in long-term care facilities have faced an uphill battle in communication with their loved ones. Nursing homes, which are generally understaffed anyway, have recently been tasked with fending off the coronavirus. The New York Times reported that some families need to call the nursing home five or more times before a staff member even picks up the phone. This leaves families uncertain about the quality of care their elderly parent, sibling or loved one receives.
Cameras in Nursing Homes
About 12 states already passed legislation approving camera installation in nursing homes. States like Ohio, Connecticut, and Missouri are in the process of reviewing this type of legislation.
Proponents of in-room cameras argue that they can help prove or disprove allegations of abuse and neglect. At a more basic level, they would give families peace of mind knowing that they can check in on their loved ones anytime to see how they are doing and what the facility is like. Many states that have already approved nursing home cameras allow residents to turn the camera off whenever they want privacy.
Opponents of the cameras argue that they violate the privacy of a resident’s roommate, who may not want the camera on at all. The president of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities said they cannot guarantee that a hacker will not compromise a video stream inside the nursing home.
Contact a New York Nursing Home Abuse Attorney
If you are concerned that your loved one may have been abused or neglected at a nursing home facility, don’t hesitate to contact the nursing home abuse attorneys at Hach & Rose, LLP. Our team of compassionate, diligent attorneys has worked on many nursing home abuse cases throughout the years and has secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. We want to do the same for you.
The team at Hach & Rose, LLP understands our clients’ concerns about the coronavirus pandemic and how it might affect your case. We are still hard at work taking new cases while we work remotely, so you will not experience any delay in service. Please call us at (212) 779-0057 or online to discuss your legal options.