….are they a good idea! YES.
Family members who are concerned over the care received by their loved ones cannot be at the nursing home watching what happens and doesn’t happen 24 hours a day 7 days a week. However, a camera (often called a “Granny Cam“) can be there watching what goes on.
Look what a hidden camera picked up at the Medford Multicare Center for Living in Suffolk, New York. An investigation using hidden surveillance cameras inside the nursing home has led to criminal neglect and other charges against four employees, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday. The employees of Medford Multicare Center for Living in Suffolk were accused of failing to move and turn over a patient for hours on end, Cuomo said. The employees also denied the patient water and left him sitting in his own waste, the attorney general said.
Pretty good evidence I would say! The only caution I offer to my readers is that make sure your camera doesn’t invade the privacy of a roommate…make sure the hidden camera is aimed only at your family member.
Does Virginia law permit the use of Granny Cams? Yes but there are restrictions to the use of cameras. The Virginia Department of Health has established guidelines for the use of cameras in nursing homes which should be followed before installing a hidden camera.