Is The `Granny State Law` Necessary?

Ozy.com

Ozy.com

Alex Herman, Reporter

We’ve all heard of nanny cams, right?  Those hidden video cameras inside of teddy bears or plants to spy on babysitters and make sure they don’t abuse the infants they are supposed to be taking care of?  Well have you heard of the ‘Granny State’ law? As of mid 2018, there have been five states including Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah and Virginia who have passed the`Granny State` law, which is a bill that would allow relatives of assisted living communities and nursing home residents to set up electronic surveillance in their elderly one’s private rooms.

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States like New Jersey and Wisconsin’s governments are even LOANING out cameras to nursing homes. But is it really worth invading their own residents’ privacy?  These states are acting on this law due to “rising fears of elderly abuse” because more than a million elders living in nursing homes were physically or sexually assaulted by the working staff. But if their staff are the ones harassing residents, then why shouldn’t there be cameras in the areas that they go to? In reality all they would be doing is capturing activities like bathing, changing, going to the bathroom, etc. among the residents. It’ not fair to the residents because then it would make them feel very uncomfortable and it would start to give them anxiety. Some elders have “dementia” or “seizures” so they need to be looked out for but what about the elders who don’t have dementia or seizures? They shouldn’t have eyes on them all the time.

It was stated that “They (elders) also care about their identity, sense of self, autonomy… or perhaps a romantic relationship they don’t want their children to know about.”  In certain aspects like this…you just have to respect that. It’s their personal business that shouldn’t make them feel uncomfortable or even shared among staff or family members. Living in these homes, elders need to feel respected and comfortable… not invaded.