Driven by a mistrust of nursing homes, more families are taking advantage of advances in surveillance technology and using video cameras to help protect loved ones they suspect are being abused or mistreated by caregivers.

Even some facility managers and law enforcement officials are now using hidden cameras in nursing home to catch workers who mistreat elderly or vulnerable residents.  No figures are available, but specialist in the long-term care industry say the use of so-called “granny cams” is spreading, though the technology is also raising a host of legal and privacy issues.

Just this spring, an Ohio man placed a hidden camera in a desk fan to catch two nursing home workers abusing and hitting his 78-year -old mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.  In New Jersey, workers were caught abusing an 87-year-old woman, prompting a wrongful-death lawsuit in June.  In New York, authorities arrested 22 workers last year after hidden cameras revealed maltreatment of residents in two facilities.

Georgia Anetzberger, president-elect of the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, said the spread of cameras in nursing homes is a part of a broader proliferation of video surveillance in society to catch anything from traffic violations to shoplifting.

“Cameras are used to catch people more than ever before, not just because the technology is there but because it’s more widely accepted,” she said.

For years, however, the long-term-care industry has fought legislative efforts across the United States to legalize the use of cameras, citing insurance costs and resident and employee privacy issues.  Critics said cameras would make it more difficult to hire staff and they also could misrepresent an incident.

The push to install video cameras in long-term-care facilities started to gain momentum a decade ago.  Legislation was introduced in more than 15 states, but only three-Texas, New Mexico and Maryland-adopted laws addressing the use of cameras in nursing homes, according to 2007 article in the Baylor Law Review.

In Texas, which approved the use of cameras in 2001, nursing-home residents and their families appreciate having the right to use the  technology, said Patty Ducayet, the states’s long-term-care ombudsman.  She said use has been limited, but she believes cameras provide a benefit.

“I really do think it is a deterrent,” Ducayet said. “I think it does have the potential to influence the way someone behaves and cares for you in the privacy of your room.”

In New Mexico, residents must be notified of their right to have a camera when they move into a facility.

“As it turns out, it hasn’t been a big issue from the providers’ standpoint,” said Linda Sechovec, executive director with the New Mexico Health Care Association, an industry trade group that represents nursing homes. “It hasn’t been something that is widespread.  I think in general, families don’t want to intrude (on their loved ones) with cameras unless there’s a real serious concern.”

Violett King, one of the leading advocates for using cameras, believes they are “the only solution” for family members who can’t be present 24 hours a day.  King founded the non-profit advocacy group Nursing Home monitors in 19996 after her father suffered abuse while in a facility.

To try to demonstrate the effectiveness of such cameras, King’s group recruited residents in more than a dozen facilities in the early 2000s.  The group offered to pay for the cameras, but the effort fizzled.  King, based in Illinois, said the homes often resisted or intimidated residents and their families who wanted to participate.

But King things the climate for cameras has improved.  ”I think people are more aware of what’s going on in nursing homes,” she said.

Not all resident advocates believe cameras are the best way to protect the elderly.

Harbir Kaur, an abuse-prevention expert with ElderCare Rights Alliance in Minnesota, said there are better tools: training, education and empowering consumers through strong resident and family councils.

Kaur thinks residents have the right to use a camera, but she is worried that widespread use of the technology would turn nursing facilities into highly monitored zones with less privacy and dignity. However, hidden cameras in nursing home has brought many concerned families greater peace-of-mind. With hidden cameras in nursing home, families can be certain that the facility is safe for loved ones and that employees are providing the nurturing care expected.

Much of the above article was written by Brad Schrade of the Seattle Times.

Majority of us are employed and we just can’t keep away from leaving our children either at a daycare center or at home with a nanny or a babysitter even as we are out doing our job.  Although this may provide some parents assurance to some extent that their children are in safe hands, it is still a lot better if you would look after your child yourself however with the demanding jobs we have these days, this isn’t  be feasible all the time.  Nevertheless, keeping your child safe is made possible now with the increasing use of  a Hidden DVR nanny cam.  With many elements that you can select from, you are certain to be pleased by how it can assist you to observe over your child or if you like better having your child left in a daycare center even as you do your job, many of these as well have nanny cams at present.

The simplest and the easiest way to monitor your children even as you work would either be by leaving them home with a nanny.  Although this would be somewhat adequate to keep them protected, more responsible parents are conscious that terrible things can still occur even in such instances, mostly with how the nanny would treat the children.  That makes the distinction between leaving the children for somebody else to look after and taking care of them yourself.

With no nanny camera around, you in fact won’t be able to make out what your child is up to unless you observe it for yourself.  This is simply feasible with a nanny camera.  A nanny camera not just lets you notice what is going on even as you are away however if you wish having it observable for all to notice, it provides them some sort of presence that somebody is monitoring their moves. This will help and bring about to perform his/her job well and the children to get assurance that their parents are monitoring.

You can have nanny cams that are hidden or observable and that a parent can view “Live”. The Wi-Fi Clock Radio covert camera will also record audio.  However, remember that both alternatives would work in a different way.  If you would like things to go on as obviously as feasible that denotes people entailed would in fact work as if you weren’t present in that case you must prefer the nanny hidden cameras.  Given that these are not noticeable, your kids and the caretaker would simply perform as if the parents aren’t in the home. An Air Purifier hidden camera with Built-In DVR  was designed with this in mind.

If you would like to have some sort of presence or to make people engaged sense the fear that you are monitoring, you can prefer the ones that are especially noticeable.  However, take care that is positioned in such a way that it covers and is able to see the whole thing occurring.  Whichever method you decide, it’s important to remember the safety of your child is top priority. A hidden DVR nanny cam will ensure that your child is being cared for as intended.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

Having Hidden Camera Equipment installed is an update that you will be able to reap the benefits of for many years to come.  These wired indoor/outdoor cameras are built to be protected from the elements so that no matter how much rain, snow or wind you experience in your climate, they will continue to be operational.  Depending on the Hidden Camera Equipment, you could even decide to install them yourself to save money.  Just make sure you research the art of placing Hidden Camera Equipment throughout your surroundings so that you find them in the vital areas where a perpetrator might try to enter your property.  That way, you know your property and family will be protected, but you will save money by installing the protection yourself.

Hidden Camera Equipment is the most sure fire way to catch a criminal in the act of burglarizing your home.  If you don’t have Hidden Camera Equipment, you are basically giving them an invitation, which they will take to come into your home and do whatever they want with your things.  You will be able to sleep more soundly when you know that your cameras are recording activity outside your home for you and your family which is one of the biggest reasons to have outdoor Hidden Camera Equipment.

Some people think Hidden Camera Equipment are a waste of time and money.  However, all you need to do is look at the reports of families that were saved because a Hidden Camera Equipment in the past and you will be a believer.  There are a lot of things that aren’t secure in life, but your home and family shouldn’t be one of those things.  Instead, you should do what you can to be sure that everything you truly love is protected all of the time.  That way, you and your family can breathe a little easier.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

Gerald Urban

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

Gerald Urban

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

Gerald Urban

Let’s say you hired a new baby sitter that a co-worker referred to you. You checked out her references and everything looks good, but now your children complain about her but she says everything is fine and not to worry. Are items missing from you home? Are there unexplained bruises and scratches on your children? Is the new babysitter having her friends in the house while you are away?

A hidden nanny cam will put your mind at ease or provide you the evidence to confirm your suspicions.
OK, the sitter says her “boyfriend” visited for a minute to bring over her notebook computer she left in his car and according to her “he was never in the house”.
After the babysitter leaves, you play back the hidden nanny cam and discover the boyfriend visited inside the house for 2 hours!
What really is going on when you’re not there? You can easily install an in home surveillance system that will link back to your computer. Better yet, install a LIVE ip Nanny Cam you can log onto from a remote internet connection.
That’s right! You can see what’s going on NOW!
There are various other applications for this technology. Such as, restaurants, schools, offices and daycare centers. Exterior cameras for your home, business and parking areas are also a good idea.

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!

Gerald Urban

A DVR surveillance system usually comes with a number of cameras, as well as the DVR with enough channels for the number of cameras, video cables, and a monitor. This type of system is great if you want to be able to watch multiple locations at one time since you can set it to view all the channels at once on a single screen.

One use for a DVR surveillance system is to try to stop employee theft or shoplifting. In the case of employee theft, you will need to decide whether to make the locations of the cameras known or not, since if the employees know about the cameras they might be able to avoid being seen by them and you wouldn’t catch the people responsible. However, the knowledge that they are under surveillance might be enough of a deterrent by itself and stop the thefts from occurring, though that would mean the culprit would go uncaught.

A DVR surveillance system is also helpful if you want to keep an eye on the caretaker of your children. You could place one camera in each of the rooms where your children typically spend their time so that you can make sure that the caretaker is doing what he or she should be doing. This is nice to be able to do in the light of all the cases of child abuse that turn up. You can make sure that you have made the right decision about who should be taking care of your children. You can also make sure that they are following all of the house rules that you have put in place, and speak to them about any irregularities.

Crime is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!
Gerald Urban

The main advantage of the IP nanny cam is the fact that the images are uploaded to an IP address, so you can log on to see the video. You can even set it so that when the motion sensors are activated you are alerted; that way you can watch what is happening in real time so you can alert someone if any action needs to be taken. This can be nice for people who are worried about their kids, or worried about something happening to their home.

You can get an IP nanny cam that is wired, or a wireless IP camera that has an antenna. You can even set up a network that includes a number of these cameras, making it easier to watch over a larger portion of your home. The cameras come with set up instructions as well as instructions on how to use the camera and watch the video that is recorded.

The IP nanny cam can also connect directly to your DVR or your computer to make it easy to set up the system and easy to watch the video when you are home. They don’t require much in the way of extra equipment if you already have a computer with a network connection, so they can be less expensive than some of the other options that are available.

With these cameras you can have a lot of peace of mind since you know that anything that sets off the motion detectors will be recorded so that you will have a record of it. This means you can use it for security purposes. You can also use your camera in order to keep an eye on the people that are in your house when you are not there, including either invited guests (such as a babysitter) or uninvited guests (including burglars).

Crime Is Real, Don’t Be a Victim!
Gerald Urban