ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Can I use a surveillance camera to protect an elderly loved one?
Yes. Cameras may be installed in a senior’s home to protect them. Using surveillance cameras to protect seniors involves balancing safety with personal dignity. Key options to consider include: indoor pan-and-tilt models for common areas, AI-enabled fall-detection cameras, and professionally monitored security setups.
Can I install a camera in their room in a nursing home or other care facility?
Yes, subject to legal limits. Surveillance cameras have emerged as a potential tool for monitoring the care provided to nursing home residents. Under older laws,, the use of these cameras was limited to public or common areas (dining areas, lobbies, hallways, parking lots, and communal spaces) both inside and outside a facility. California regulations passed in 2015, outlined in the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Office Functions Regulation 2-5801, however, now allow families to install cameras in their loved ones’ rooms to ensure their safety and well-being. These cameras can capture evidence of abuse or neglect, providing families with peace of mind and legal recourse if necessary.
In California, the legality of nursing home cameras is still subject to certain restrictions relating to privacy and consent. Before installing surveillance cameras in a nursing home resident’s room, consent must be obtained from all parties involved. This includes not only the resident but also any roommates or caregivers who may be recorded. Failure to obtain proper consent could result in legal repercussions for the individuals responsible for installing the cameras.
You can read more about the use of surveillance cameras elsewhere on our website: https://www.evanslaw.com/san-francisco-nursing-home-abuse-attorney-surveillance-cameras-in-nursing-home-rooms/.
Are there examples* of how a camera was used to capture alleged abuse?
Yes. Cameras have been used to capture physical abuse of elderly persons in nursing homes. We discuss one example here: San Francisco Nursing Home Abuse Attorney: Surveillance Cameras Footage Leads To Murder Arrests – Evans Law Firm, Inc.
A recent news article also shows how cameras can be used to capture alleged abuse in a snior’s own home as well. According to the news report, a caregiver was allegedly captured on video rummaging through personal documents and jewelry at the home of a 95-year-old woman, her family says. The woman’s granddaughter told a local TV station that she reported the incident to the caregiving company employing the caregiver and authorities.
The security camera footage allegedly shows the caregiver ignoring the elderly woman’s pleas for help while she rifled through her belongings. The local Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the alleged elder abuse but has not made any arrests in the case. According to the family, the video footage shows the caregiver snooping through her grandmother’s financial documents and taking pictures of sensitive information. “It was her tax documents with her social security number, all of her bank statements, and all of her investment account statements,” the granddaughter said. “Our biggest fear is identity theft and fraud.” The elderly woman’s granddaughter said the footage also shows the caregiver in her grandmother’s room. She said the video shows the caregiver going through her grandmother’s jewelry, pocketing an item and walking away as the elderly woman asks for assistance.
According to the TV report, the footage then shows the caregiver returning to an office area where she curses after she appears to notice the camera. The alleged elder abuse is the second such incident for the 95-year-old victim, following a prior occurrence where another caregiver from a different company allegedly stole the elderly woman’s debit card. The woman’s granddaughter commented on the agency’s vetting process, saying, “We understand the company can’t control the actions of employees, but we would trust they would do a proper background check and assess the character of their employees and not put what I would consider a criminal in a position to prey on [the] elderly.”
Contact Us
Ingrid M. Evans represents victims of elder financial abuse, and their families and heirs, in Santa Clara County or elsewhere in California. If you need help, call us today at 415-441-8669 or toll free at 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).or by email at <a href=”mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected]</a>. Ingrid will pursue all remedies available against the agent, including attorneys’ fees and expenses for the older person required to bring an action based on the agent’s wrongful conduct.
*Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in either of the examples, and both were reported on by local TV stations.
