Abuse of the elderly in nursing homes
By hoseasmate
@hoseasmate (720)
United States
December 1, 2012 8:56am CST
I just saw a story aired on TV about a little lady who was in her nineties and living in the nursing home. The family thought someone was stealing from her so they put a hidden camera in the room. The camera didn't catch a thief, but caught two employees mistreating the woman. How do you feel about hidden cameras? I'm thinking that our society is very, very ill when we must allow 'big brother' to view all aspects of our life. We are seen on a camera as we drive to the market. When we withdraw money from our bank to pay for market purchases we are on video surveillance. While we shop we do so under the watchful eye of the video camera. When we take gramma her new bathrobe at the nursing home we are recorded coming into the nursing facility and because her roommate may or may not have a hidden camera we may be viewed by them as we visit gramma. Really? If I were the roommate of the "grannycam" I would believe that my rights were violated. There are laws that prohibit secret tape recordings being used against someone in court. Shouldn't these secret recordings also be excluded? Airing this type story will only cause more guilt and grief for those who have no alternative but to put gramma in a nursing facility. This is NOT everyday occurence in nursing homes...it is a very isolated incident. Yet the media says that over 100,000 incidents of abuse happen in nursing homes in the State of Oklahoma. I disagree. We probably don't even have that many residents in nursing homes in this state and if we did that would mean that each of them suffered abuse. That is irresponsible to air that type of exaggerated statistics. Have you known of anyone convicted of caretaker abuse or have you known someone who suffered from caretaker abuse? Do you think a hidden camera is appropriate?
3 people like this
7 responses
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
1 Dec 12
hi hoseasmate not only in nursing homes bu t in retirement centers we have people stealing from us, I lost 22 dollars from my billfold stuck in my shoulder'bag hanging on my walker. there are a few cameras here but none in the dinning room or activities room. W hile we were having our Thanksgiving feast a day early, we were asked to put our walkers in a place way behind us.So while I enjoyed good foor and music some cowardly person just helped herself to my wallet as I had my back turned. So yes as long as cowards who hurt old people in nursing homes or steal from us retirees there will be a need for hidden cameras. In a perfect world where we were all saints no there would be no need. But I am in favor of catching crooks in the act so they can be punished.Why would one worry about the cameras if you were a decent person? It does not make us
any less free if the people who do wrong are seen and caught.You think elderly people should not have something to watch over them and keep them from being abused or robbed blind?Whats wrong is people in retirement homes who g et away with stealing from healthy clear minded elderly people. And i n nursing homes bedridden elderly ill people should not be mistreated or stolen from either. Just because most are senile is no reason to prey on them as they are defenseless. 
3 people like this
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I for one do not want my privacy invaded. I don't want to be the elderly at the mercy of having my privates exposed for whoever is recording the camera in the room. I am a modest person and would be horrified to think that everything going on in my room is open for public viewing. I don't think I would care for the abuse, either, but given the choice, I would take the risk and not elect to have the camera. Perhaps just a notice posted that cameras were recording would be enough to deter all but the hardened criminal. I don't think theft can be prevented anywhere. A thief looks for the opportunity to steal and when one does not use wisdom in safe guarding the possessions, they are subject to loss. Even when one does lock up and safeguard valuables, somehow a thief can find a way to help themselves. It is the society that no longer has a fear and a reverence for G-d that is the problem. Your neighbor at the table could very well have been the thief. One never knows.
@ctryhnny (3460)
• United States
1 Dec 12
My Grandmother was in a nursing home for years and got nothing but the best of treatment. My aunt visited her often to make sure of that. Surveilance? In a case like this I think they were very smart to put one in the room. At least they found out she waas being mistreated. Sounds like the thief knew about the camera and didn't bother going into her room but I'll bet she went into others rooms to steal.
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I have had a great deal of association with nursing homes in both Oklahoma and Texas and I think theft is more prevalent than mistreatment. I think I have seen the rare case of mistreatment but the facility was self reporting. The caretakers of the facility care and they will not generally tolerate mistreatment. They will tell about the mistreatment or they will police themselves. However, theft seems to be something that cannot be prevented. It is not the workers alone that have the opportunity and take the opportunity to steal. It is family, visitors, and other residents who steal. It is a closed community that lives with open doors. There is generally no locking cabinet to safeguard one's things. It is an unusual community in today's society that can live with open doors like those who reside in a nursing home. Even in the small communities, they are experiencing crime because of criminals from neighboring towns know they are prime targets because they have never had to lock their cars and their homes.
@mensab (4200)
• Philippines
1 Dec 12
the functions of camera have been abused these days. before, we used the camera to document something for posterity's sake, to keep the memories alive in pictures. now, anything can just be taken into camera because of the ever-present camera that captures every moment indiscriminately. the right to privacy is at times violated.
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I think that had there been a sign posted that those caught abusing the elderly woman would not have been so quick to abuse her. I think that the stealth, the 'gotcha' mentality can sometimes allow abuse that could have been prevented. I think the family that put the camera in there should be held to the same standard as the workers and the facility managers. Had they been more proactive, the abuse may have been prevented. More frequent visits at all hours of the day and night. The signs that abuse is occuring don't have to be verbalized to be recognized. I think this was someone looking for a lawsuit to make big bucks off a corporation and that it is a travesty of justice. Yes, those caretakers needed to be caught and identified, but I think prevention is the better course of action.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I don't like the idea of cameras, either. They simply treat the symptom, not the disease. We have a culture of violence and apathy, of not caring, and people no longer seem to have empathy. That's because they are not taught those things growing up. Cameras will bring problems to light but not prevent or stop them. We need to keep a tighter rein on nursing home employees and start raising children that are not selfish and self centered then we won't need cameras.
We recently had mistreatment of a patient come to light and apparently the nurse had had problems with other patients, too. She finally got her license suspended but if not for the camera the wife placed in the home they would never have known what the bruises on her husband came from or how he got that broken tooth (from a spoon being forced into his mouth). I think the nurse should have been sent to prison. There is nothing worse than abusing a child, and oldie or an animal and people who do are not even human.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
1 Dec 12
hi dragon4u retirement centers are even worse3as the laws here are much more lax., Someone stole 22 dollars directly from my billfold that was in my
shoulder bag hanging on my walkers. while we are all sound-minded here
and not need the nurses and medical care in a nursing home, we also
deserved not to be the victims of thieves.No upset was created from my loss as if the admins did not care that someone was a thief here. I am elderly but
lucid, clear minded not senile and do not have A;Alzheimer disease either. I did
not lose the money myself or just misplace it in my room. I had not touched it
since I got it from the administrator.She claims she did not m scount it and as I did not think to count it jmyself I cannot argue the point. So grin and bear the loss.This to me is letting the thief get awat.
1 person likes this
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I would not leave my purse in the booth while I filled my plate from the buffet line in the restaurant and I would not leave it placed out of my line of sight. It would not matter whether I was in my office, in a long term care facility, or at church. I'm just not going to give a creative thief the opportunity to take money from me. It is a sad statement of our society that we mistreat others. I think it is the lowest form of life that would steal from the elderly, whether they are lucid or demented. It is an even lower form of life that will mistreat the helpless. I liked the camera that caught the act of kindness of the police officer in New York and it went viral. I think if we had more publicity of these type actions that the bad stuff would receive less press. Nursing home residents and employees are all representative of society at large. What is in the community of the nursing facility is a cross picture of what is in the community surrounding the facility. Every endeavor is made to hire those who will not harm, but just like insurance cannot prevent damage to a home, all the background checks in the world cannot prevent an act of abuse. Cameras are not the answer unless there are signs posted that warn that all acts within those walls are being recorded and monitored. And when we show something that horrid, let's also show the staff who came in kisses and hugging on the lady and who truly showed their hearts of care.
@natliegleb (5173)
• India
2 Dec 12
it is highly intolerable.they must be penalized and put behind bars,they need to be treated with care since they are also human beings and its a dire need for sure
1 person likes this
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
2 Dec 12
One of those who did this act has been to court and been punished. The other is on the run. I'm sure that she will eventually be caught and punished as well. I wish that the media would run stories about the heroes in the nursing home along with this type story so that people aren't so alarmed that this is standard operating procedure in the facilities.
@Angelpink (4031)
• Philippines
2 Dec 12
Those medical caretakers simply have no respect to the elders forgetting that they too would be getting old and would someday she will be in her shoe.
If there is someone who would really file a formal complaint , i guess those caretakers could be put behind bars. I don't know if this people have hearts , maltreating the helpless old ones is a sign of violence . I guess this caretaker needs also to be cared for , something wrong with them and which should be addressed.
Lesson is we should choose the best nursing homes so our old left days would be a joyful one.We have goal for our olds , that is to love them , to make life bit longer for them , then to see those smiles on their faces.
1 person likes this
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
2 Dec 12
They did prosecute one of those involved, but the other is on the run. I work in the industry because I want it to be better for when my kids put me in one! I know that for the one bad person that that are thousands more who are dedicated to those they serve. However, none of them ever are recognized but on a rare occasion.
@macdingolinger (10385)
• United States
1 Dec 12
I saw that story too. i think they only put the camera in there after they suspected abuse. And if I understood it correctly, the room mate's family agreed.. I think I would have a problem with it since that's the area that they dress and groom in. but in this case I am glad that they did it because it was one of those extreme cases. It's too bad the good nurses and caregivers do not make the news huh?
@hoseasmate (720)
• United States
2 Dec 12
Yes, it is a disservice to the industry that those who go above and beyond are not recognized. I know of several homes that I have gone to....because I work in the industry...that employees buy for the residents from their own limited funds. In fact, the home I am currently in I see the staff buying soda and running (using their own gas) to the local hamburger spot to purchase foods for these residents. And you know what? They will never make the news!
