Placing a Camera in Nursing Homes in Columbia, SC

December 24, 2021

Nursing homes can be questionable environments. When you send your loved one to a nursing home, the fear of them not getting better care stays in your head. In such timings, installing a camera in nursing homes in Columbia, SC may seem like a safe and reassuring option.

Even if it is for their betterment, sending your elderly parents away is still not an easy step to take. When you let a stranger take care of your loved ones, it can get challenging to be at ease as several cases of abuse or neglect are rising. Hence, allowing cameras in nursing home facilities ensures increased accountability and safety from abuse and neglect for our precious ones.

How Can a Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer in Columbia, SC Help?

As we move forward, several states realize the importance of installing cameras in nursing homes. Some lawyers argue that such laws against nurse home neglect could go a long way in building records and verifying claims of abuse or neglect, rather than depending on staff who may fear consequences as a result of reporting.

Nevertheless, installing cameras in nursing homes in Columbia, SC may also be beneficial for nursing home staff in order to refute false claims. Although cameras may not solve all existing problems for the residents, lawyers argue it could be the right step towards the direction of increasing transparency, accountability, and safety in such facilities.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, most of the nursing homes closed their doors to visitors in order to maintain public health and social distancing protocols. As residents of nursing homes remain a highly at-risk group in the midst of this pandemic, many people suspect that the ongoing pandemic has also increased abuses and neglect in caretaking places behind closed doors since in-person visits have been restricted or made limited.

Permission to Install Cameras; Thoughts from Nursing Home Negligence Lawyers:

When it comes to whether one is permitted to install a camera in the nursing home room, it substantially depends on the state you are living in and the facility. There are nursing homes that have clear verbiage in their admission forms prohibiting cameras or imposing strict regulations and requirements on their use.

On the contrary, concerns regarding elderly abuse and negligence in nursing homes have impelled 10 states to pass laws allowing private cameras into these facilities. These states that permit family members to install cameras in the rooms of their loved ones include:

  • Utah
  • Illinois
  • Maryland
  • New Mexico
  • Texas
  • Louisiana
  • Oklahoma
  • Kansas
  • Washington
  • Vermont

Nevertheless, please note that the details regarding each law vary from state to state. While some states require some particular conditions to be met before implementations, others are vague and have no specificity.

If we talk specifically about Columbia, SC, the state has no fixed laws regarding installing the camera in the room of your loved ones in any homecare facility. However, the Department of Social Services has issued some guidelines that permit in-room cameras as long as the patient and their families feel safe about the option.

If you are also pondering about installing a camera in the room of your loved one’s nursing home, then we advise you to consult a lawyer and discuss your concerns. A good and experienced lawyer will walk you through the state laws with respect to this issue and the legal and practical ramifications.

Should I Install a Camera in the Nursing Home?

If you have any legitimate concerns about suspect abuse or the wellbeing of your loved one, know that you are not alone. Also, it is entirely normal to be skeptical about the facility since you are trusting them with a massive responsibility.

Before deciding take a look at the pros and cons of putting a camera in a nursing homeroom.

Pros:

The benefits of installing a camera include:

Catch Abusers:

You can catch abusers right then and there and provide proof for a lawsuit.

Reassurance:

Cameras provide reassurance that your loved ones are well taken care of in the facility.

Additional Security:

Cameras also catch the full view of the room and can provide an additional layer of security for your loved ones while giving you peace of mind about their safety.

Cons:

When you install a camera in your loved one’s rooms, know that it may raise some concerns that include:

Privacy Invasion:

The resident loses their sense of privacy due to being monitored throughout the day. Also, depending on how their camera is set up, they can be exposed when using the restroom, bathing, dressing up, or other situations.

Anxiousness:

If your loved ones do not like the idea of being monitored at all times, they might start feeling caged and anxious if you do so.

The Roommate and Staff:

Most nursing home people share a room with at least one other person or sometimes with even more. Installing a camera in their bedroom would definitely be an invasion of the roommate’s privacy. Also, cameras can make the staff feel scrutinized and uncomfortable when looking after their loved ones.

To get advice from the best nursing home abuse attorneys, contact Connell Law Firm today.