Effective January 1, 2016, residents of nursing homes and their families can now install video, audio and still cameras in their nursing home rooms. Illinois became the fourth state to allow installation of cameras in nursing home rooms when Governor Bruce Rauner signed Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s proposal into law as House Bill 2462 (IL HB2462) . House Bill 2462 was sponsored by Representative Greg Harris of Chicago and Senator Terry Link of Waukegan. The bill passed with overwhelming support.

Installation of cameras in nursing home rooms are aimed at deterring potential abuse and neglect incidents. The cameras may also be used to help resolve disputes surrounding suspected abuse or neglect. Residents of nursing homes are extremely vulnerable. It is important the residents and their families have safety measures in place to protect themselves and their loved ones.

More than 21,000 complaints and approximately 5,000 complaints of nursing home abuse and neglect are reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) every year!

The critical provisions of this new law will:

  • Allow for audio and video electronic monitoring devices in resident rooms;
  • Require resident and roommate consent;
  • Make nursing home residents or their representatives responsible for the purchase, installation and maintenance expenses of the devices;
  • Prohibit facility retaliation against residents for the use of the devices;
  • Provide for recordings to be admissible into evidence in administrative, civil and criminal proceedings; and
  • Provide misdemeanor and felony penalties for any person or entity that intentionally hampers, obstructs, tampers with, or destroys a recording or an electronic monitoring device

http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2015_08/20150821c.html

Illinois House Bill 2462 (IL HB2462) can be found in its entirety here: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=2462&GAID=13&GA=99&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=87688&SessionID=88

You can contact us here 24/7/365 (and we really mean that as we will answer our phone) if you have any questions and to learn how we may be able to help you or your loved one who has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect – in particular, you will find that we listen, take your phone calls and e-mails (and even text messages!).

We would be honored to help you with your matters – large or small.

Call us today for any Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect law matter at 312-888-6058

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post comment