Rhode Island a year in review of Elder Care:  Pawtuxet Village closed after overdosing, death, and neglect issues.

An on duty nurse employed while wearing an ankle bracelet as court ordered.

Hebert Nursing Home in Smithfield multiple allegations of sexual assaults on female resident and 5 “whistle blower” nurses lose their jobs.

Summerville Assisted Living an ongoing investigation of a murdered resident by another resident, living as a convicted felon at the facility and “caught on surveillance cameras”.

In lieu of victims coming forward and these disturbing cases, the Alliance for Safe Communities, www.asc-ri.org will be introducing “ The Sentinel Act” Bill H5251 Electronic Monitoring of Nursing Home Premises. This law will afford video surveillance be provided in common areas in all nursing home areas. Families will be offered the opportunity to have a camera installed in the patients’ room, “opt in or opt out.”  This is not expensive technology with an average routine cost of about $20.00 a month.  The new Obama care plan and other federal funds may provide for the necessary cost.  Privacy can be maintained by having “in house review”, of the video of which will be stored for a limited time.

Some states such as Texas have mandated cameras in all nursing homes due to serious cases of documented abuse and neglect.  Families nationwide have begun to “plant” video surveillance cameras in loved ones rooms.

Be warned the footage of abuse presents terrible images:

http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=youtube+nursing+home+abuse

Video surveillance cameras in nursing homes offer an opportunity for the health care industry to provide for better health care and protection of our elders.  It also protects them from liability without impeding their ability to care for the patients.  The face of the elder population being served in facilities is changing.  More mentally ill, criminals, and sex offenders are often introduced into facilities.  There is no mandatory notification by law to other residents or their families.  Our vulnerable elderly citizens are exposed each day to multiple care givers with varying degree of skills, many of whom are strangers, to the patient.  

The time has come for change in the nursing home industry.  Families are moving forward with 21^st century technology and so must the providers who care for our most vulnerable population.

We therefore ask for your support by signing this petition in support of protecting our elderly.