Saturday, July 24, 2004

Granny cam protects residents, nursing home staff from abuse

Jane Moorman News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jmoorman@news-bulletin.com

Residents of long-term care facilities have one more line of defense against theft or abuse, with the use of monitoring equipment in their rooms.

Regulations went into effect on July 15 require nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to allow residents to use video cameras or audio recorders in their rooms.

Sen. Michael Sanchez, D-Valencia County, introduced the bill in the 2004 Legislative Session. It was approved unanimously by both the Senate and House.

"This law protects both the loved one and the nursing home," said Sanchez. "Sometimes a nursing home may have an employee they don't realize is bad. Having the ability to video their elders' space will assure families that their loved one is being taken care of. It will give them peace of mind."

Gov. Bill Richardson demonstrated his zero tolerance of elder abuse by signing the bill into a law on March 3.

The law allows residents of long-term care facilities or their family to monitor the care the residents receive in their rooms with audio and video equipment. The regulations establish the details of how that law can be used.

"Monitoring devices will definitely serve as a deterrent against theft or abuse in long-term care facilities," said Michelle Lujan Grisham, secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department. "The devices will provide one more set of eyes or ears to help family members and facility administrators be sure that residents are receiving the care and respect they deserve."

Residents can control how often the recording equipment is used, limit the direction it faces, and control the focus or the volume. They must receive the consent of their roommates, or the roommates' decision makers, Grisham said in a press release.

The regulation requires that facilities notify residents about their right to install the equipment and make reasonable efforts to assist in the installation, such as providing access to power sources and a secure space to mount the device. The facilities also are required to match residents with roommates who support having monitoring equipment in their rooms.

The statute requires that residents or their decision makers notify the facility when the monitoring device is installed. An information sheet and authorization form have been prepared that will be made available to nursing home residents or their surrogates. These and a copy of the regulations can be found online at www.nmaging.state.nm.us.

The regulation requires residents or their families to pay the costs of the equipment and installation, but the Aging and Long-Term Services Department is identifying funds to help families who cannot afford the cost of the equipment. For more information on borrowing a camera, contact nmaoa@state.nm.us or call 255-0971 in Albuquerque.

E-mail this story Printer-friendly version