According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, the United States has up to 6 million incidents of elder abuse each year. California accounts for over 660,000 of these occurrences, or about 11% of all instances. These figures are alarming whether you have a loved one in a nursing home or are considering a long-term care facility. But what if there was a means to keep track of their treatment?
Keep reading to learn what some experts are saying about the option to prevent these cases with webcams. If you believe your loved one is being abused, contact PLBH at (800) 435-7542 for a consultation with an experienced attorney.
How webcams could be used
Webcams are one viable approach to keep elderly family members and friends secure, especially with the advent of internet-enabled devices. These gadgets, which may be placed in rooms, might be used to check in on loved ones on a frequent basis to ensure that they are not being abused.
The concept is similar to that of a nanny cam, which parents can install in their house to monitor their children’s caregiver’s activities. Nanny cameras have been utilized in the conviction of child abusers, although they mostly record harmless behavior. Would the use of webcams in nursing homes and other residential care institutions provide reassurance?
They could help reduce elder abuse
These sorts of cameras, according to a California elder abuse attorney, may help to prevent elder abuse. If caretakers were aware that they were being watched, they could refrain from physically, sexually, emotionally, or financially abusing their charges.
Alternatively, if they are unaware that they are being watched, these cameras may record evidence of abuse that might be used in a criminal or civil action if they are not aware that they are being watched. But, in order to employ these cameras, what concessions would have to be made?
The concern is that webcams would interfere with privacy
The major source of worry is that many nursing home and long-term care facility patients share a single room – a bedroom — and occasionally a room. These cameras might record someone performing intimate things like changing their clothing, showering, undergoing a medical treatment, or going to the bathroom. Patients with dementia or other age-related disorders may not be able to consent to having a camera record them and their behaviors, which is a major worry.
While it may be tempting to place a webcam in your family member or friend’s nursing home room, there may be better ways to safeguard them from elder abuse. As a seasoned California elder abuse lawyer may explain, visiting frequently — and at unpredictably timed intervals — can help to prevent these sorts of abuses.
You should also look for bruises, illnesses, strange changes in behavior, obvious weight loss, and unusual activity in the elder’s financial accounts as indicators and symptoms of abuse. Being alert can help you safeguard someone you care about without invading their privacy.
PLBH can assist you if your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse. We are caring elder advocates who are familiar with the often-complicated dynamics of these sorts of cases. Contact us at (800) 435-7542 or info@plblaw.com to learn more about our services or to book a consultation.