How to Detect & Prevent Nursing Home Abuse With a Hidden Spy Camera

Millions and millions of the baby boom generation are becoming parents to our aging parents. As our parents get older, it is possible that they require a lot of care. Thus the proliferation of assisted care and long term care facilities. And it will grow quickly as the population ages.

Even though our parents may live longer than ever it is not necessarily better. These facilities house 2.6 million residents. Abuse happens in 44% of nursing homes according to one study. Elder abuse is an under recognized problem with life threatening consequences.

Every day, headlines throughout the U.S. show seniors who have been abused, neglected, and exploited, by people they trust the most. Abusers may be spouses, family members, personal acquaintances, professionals in positions of trust or opportunistic strangers who prey on the vulnerable.

That is only one part of the problem. The other is the millions of seniors live at home by themselves who have home health care and domestic assistance. Many of these folks have dementia and are targets of unscrupulous caregivers and domestics.

Back to the issue at hand: how to detect/prevent nursing home abuse with a hidden spy camera. If you suspect exploitation, verbal, emotional or physical abuse, neglect or even abandonment make sure you make your suspicions known immediately and demand that the issue be investigated.

No one really knows for sure how big the problem actually is because relatively few cases are identified since elders often are reluctant to report the mistreatment. Based on available information, women and "older" elders are more likely to be victimized. Dementia is a significant risk factor. Mental health and substance abuse issues - of both abusers and victims - are risk factors too as well as isolation.

One way to keep an eye on things when you can't be there is to install a hidden camera with built in DVR in their room. There are many hidden cameras with camera and DVR all in one neat looking package. Aim it in the direction you want, set the recording speed and record.

They are disguised as common devices like wall clocks, boom boxes, alarm clocks, tower fans, et. al. The camera is motion activated so a minimum of down time. When you are ready to playback remove the SD card and insert it into your computer or alternatively use the RCA cable to your TV for easy no brainer playback.

It may not be a perfect solution to all situations but it can offer a viable way to keep an eye on aging parents and others to keep them safe.