In response to increasing concerns about nursing home abuse in the state of Oklahoma, lawmakers are pushing for the mandatory installation of video cameras in assisted living facilities. The measure comes after criminal charges were filed recently against a 23-year-old caregiver in an Oklahoma City nursing home, who physically abused a 96-year-old woman who had …
In response to increasing concerns about nursing home abuse in the state of Oklahoma, lawmakers are pushing for the mandatory installation of video cameras in assisted living facilities. The measure comes after criminal charges were filed recently against a 23-year-old caregiver in an Oklahoma City nursing home, who physically abused a 96-year-old woman who had been in the facility’s care for five years. The elderly woman’s family installed a video camera because they thought someone was stealing from their loved one, but what they captured on film was far worse. If you believe your loved one has been the victim of abuse or neglect in an Oklahoma nursing home, consult our experienced attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center as soon as possible.
Video Cameras Could Prevent Elder Care Abuse
If mandatory video surveillance is approved, security cameras would be installed in Oklahoma’s more than 300 nursing homes, which care for an estimated 20,000 residents. Camera footage could, advocates say, record instances of elder abuse and neglect, and help nursing home facilities identify poor caregivers. The video cameras could also allow law enforcement officers to pursue complaints against nursing home staff members, possibly even filing criminal charges for the alleged abuse of an elderly individual. Overall, proponents of mandatory video surveillance argue that the cameras could protect nursing home residents from abuse, rape, theft and assault, while also allowing supervisors to monitor the quality of daily care.
Surveillance Could Facilitate Criminal Investigations
Opponents of the video monitoring bill cite concerns that mandatory surveillance would be costly for nursing homes to purchase and install. However, as an elder law attorney based in Dallas says, “Video monitoring is becoming increasingly common everywhere from child care centers to pet care facilities, and would not be difficult technology to implement.” Video cameras could even help family members check in on their loved ones and would also help in cases where an elderly victim of assault or physical abuse is unable to provide law enforcement with details of the attack or with identification of the assailant.
Contact Our Attorneys to File a Claim
Nursing home abuse is, unfortunately, a nationwide problem, and, as more and more elderly individuals fall victim to physical, sexual and psychological abuse in nursing home facilities, the debate about mandatory video surveillance has become even more heated. If your loved one has shown symptoms of nursing home abuse or neglect in Oklahoma, your first course of action should be to consult our knowledgeable lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center. Our law firm is located in Oklahoma City, and our attorneys have extensive experience protecting the rights of victims of nursing home abuse throughout the state. With our lawyers on your side, you can file a claim against the allegedly negligent party and protect your loved one from further harm.