Date: October 4, 2011By: Atlanta Nursing Home Lawyers

Substandard care in nursing homes around the country has driven some families to turn to surveillance cameras to monitor the care of their loved ones. In addition to use by families to catch suspected abusers, surveillance cameras are also now being used by some law enforcement officials and facility managers. According to the Seattle Times, camera use has already been used by an Ohio man to catch nursing home workers abusing his mother, in a wrongful death lawsuit in New Jersey when workers had abused an 87-year-old woman, and in New York when 22 workers were arrested after cameras found that they had maltreated residents in two facilities.

Studies have shown that between one and two million Americans over the age of 65 have been victims of abuse or neglect. Research also indicates that only 1 in 14 incidents are brought to the attention of authorities. Despite this lack of reporting though, only three states have actually passed laws detailing the acceptability of surveillance use in nursing homes: Texas, New Mexico, and Maryland. There were multiple efforts to push for more camera use, but it was found that many nursing homes intimidated families and patients who showed interest in participating in the movement.

This is especially salient in the southeast, as a recent report showed that southern states lag far behind the rest of country in providing reasonably priced, high-quality long-term care support services for the elderly. The State Long-Term Services and Supports Scorecard (LTSS) shows that a high concentration of southeastern states falls into the bottom quartile (bottom 25%). States occupying the bottom quartile are Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, New York, and Nevada. 

Elder care abuse is not uncommon because it is often difficult for a nursing home resident to communicate whether they are being abused and many families do not know the signs of abuse. Our loved ones deserve the highest quality care possible, but sadly, this may not be the level of service that they actually receive. If you believe that your loved one has been mistreated in a nursing home or long-term care facility, contact a Georgia nursing home abuse attorney to see if you are eligible to receive compensation for their pain and suffering and to ensure that they receive the quality care in the future. 

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Keywords: nursing home abuse, nursing home neglect