Updated safety and security may be on the way in Illinois in the form of recording devices to monitor patient care in nursing homes.
According to the Associated Press, last week Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan expressed her support for a bill to allow residents to place audio or video recording devices in their rooms. If implanted, the devices would serve as a silent guard against abuse.
The devices would come at the cost of the families, according to the Associated Press. But supporters call it a small price to pay for accountability and, supporters hope, improved treatment.
“Our loved ones in nursing homes are not always safe and well-cared for,” Madigan said, according to the AP.
Madigan’s office received numerous complaints from families of nursing home residents over the quality of care in Illinois nursing homes. Quickly, Sen. Terry Link extended his support. Madigan calls the recording devices the “next line of defense in protecting older people,” according to the AP.
Five other states already allow electronic monitoring in nursing home rooms. Nursing homes often argue against such legislation, citing privacy concerns.
But Madigan said the presence of recording devices is vital due to the growing elderly population in her state. Illinois is home to more than 1,200 nursing homes and 100,000 residents, according to AP.
“This should give us peace of mind in circumstances when we can’t physically go to the nursing homes,” Madigan told the AP.
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The Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm represents clients in cases involving catastrophic injury caused by nursing homes and other care facilities that fail to provide proper care. If you believe your loved one has been harmed due neglect or abuse in a nursing home, take action and contact the Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm online or call us toll-free at (877) 552-2873 to set up a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
