Family could monitor nursing home residents with security cameras under proposed Iowa bill
DES MOINES — Iowa lawmakers have advanced a bill that would allow family members of nursing home residents to monitor their loved ones’ rooms using security cameras. The proposed legislation, House File 537, aims to provide families with greater assurance of their loved ones’ safety in nursing homes. The bill, which has been in development for several years, is finally gaining support from lawmakers and stakeholders, although concerns about privacy and confidentiality have been a major hurdle.
Key provisions of the bill include obtaining consent from the nursing home residents before monitoring begins. However, if a resident is deemed unable to understand the nature of monitoring, a health care provider may give consent on their behalf. Roommates in shared rooms would also need to consent if one resident wishes to be monitored. If a roommate declines consent, the nursing home would have to make alternative arrangements and offer a different room.
The proposed legislation comes at a time when Iowa’s nursing homes are facing increased scrutiny following reports of deaths, abuse, and neglect in long-term care facilities over the past year. Iowa currently ranks 49th out of 50 states in terms of its ratio of nursing home inspectors to facilities, based on a U.S. Senate report from the Senate Special Committee on Aging. This low ranking highlights the urgent need for stronger oversight and accountability in the state’s nursing homes.
Representative Joel Fry, a Republican from Osceola and one of the bill’s sponsors, believes that the ongoing issues in nursing homes have expedited the need for this legislation. He emphasizes that lawmakers would have pursued this bill regardless of recent incidents. Certainly, some of the issues that have happened across the state make this a much more heightened issue. I think we’d be at this spot anyway, regardless of whether we had any of those issues popping up. We’ve been working on this a while, Fry stated.
However, concerns have been raised by some lawmakers, including Representative Timi Brown-Powers, a Democrat from Waterloo. She expressed reservations about the accessibility of video footage, the duration of video storage, and the privacy of roommates. While she acknowledges the need for action, Brown-Powers intends to ensure the best possible care, dignity, and safety for residents.
Lobbyists representing Iowa’s nursing homes and health care providers have expressed their neutrality on the bill. They are willing to collaborate with lawmakers to address the concerns and refine the details of the legislation.
The proposed bill aims to strike a balance between improving safety in nursing homes and protecting the privacy and rights of residents. As the legislation advances, its provisions will likely undergo further discussion and potential amendments in response to stakeholder feedback.
