New legislation could make the installation of surveillance cameras in patient rooms and common areas a requirement for Oklahoma nursing homes. Those in support of Senate Bill 587, also known as the “Protect Our Loved Ones Act,” believe that the proposed bill could be an important step towards preventing elderly abuse throughout the state of …
New legislation could make the installation of surveillance cameras in patient rooms and common areas a requirement for Oklahoma nursing homes. Those in support of Senate Bill 587, also known as the “Protect Our Loved Ones Act,” believe that the proposed bill could be an important step towards preventing elderly abuse throughout the state of Oklahoma. With increasing concerns about abuse and neglect in nursing homes nationwide, video surveillance would give families peace of mind and assurance that their loved ones are receiving the best possible care. If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect in Oklahoma, don’t hesitate to protect your rights. Contact our reputable attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center as soon as possible to discuss your options for legal recourse.
Possible Benefits of Video Cameras in Nursing Homes
In many cases, family members are unable to provide proper care for elderly individuals at home, and so the well-being of loved ones across the country is entrusted to nursing home facilities. Unfortunately, statistics in recent years have painted an alarming picture of the quality of care in nursing homes in Oklahoma and throughout the United States. By requiring video surveillance in common areas and patient rooms, supporters of Senate Bill 587 believe the measure could reduce the incidence of injury and death caused by nursing home abuse and neglect, by holding caregivers accountable for the well-being of their charges.
“This is going to dramatically help us improve the quality of care for our loved ones in these facilities,” said Wes Bledsoe, an advocate for nursing home patients who lost his grandmother to what he says was improper care at her nursing home. “Our family was not told the truth about how she was injured,” Bledsoe recalls. “It is a consequence that she developed an infection that turned gangrenous, and it took her life on her 86th birthday.” According to Bledsoe, if his family had surveillance video footage available to them, he would have been able to find out what happened to his grandmother at the nursing home facility.
Contact Our Experienced Lawyers for Legal Help
Although Oklahoma’s State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office warns that the proposed bill raises some privacy concerns, AARP Oklahoma maintains that video cameras in nursing homes can help improve patient safety and possibly even communication with families. Too often, elderly individuals in Oklahoma and across the country are injured, abused or neglected by the very nursing home staff members entrusted with their care. If you believe your loved one has been the victim of abuse or neglect in an Oklahoma nursing home, consult our knowledgeable lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center for legal help. You may have grounds to file a claim against the nursing home facility, in order to seek fair and timely reimbursement for your loved one’s injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.