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Can I Put a Camera in My Parent's Nursing Home Room?

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4.9 rating of 147 reviews
michelle stump avatar

michelle stump

19 days ago

Working with Ed and Amber has been a true pleasure. They handled my claim efficiently and professionally, ensuring the process moved smoothly from start to finish. Their responsiveness, expertise, and effectiveness in working with the insurance carrier contributed greatly to a successful resolution. I sincerely appreciate their efforts, dedication, and guidance throughout the matter, and I am grateful for the outstanding service they provided.

Johanna Bukowski avatar

Johanna Bukowski

2 months ago

Ed and Maggie have both been a pleasure to work with! They keep you up to date on your case, clearly explain the process and next steps along the way, respond quickly to any questions and always offer different options to discuss details (email, phone, text, Zoom, etc.). What I appreciate more than anything, is their genuine compassion and concern for you as a person. They both demonstrate true empathy for what is most likely one of the most unexpected and traumatic events in a person’s life and do everything they can to ensure justice is served. I highly recommend Collins Law!

Jeff Matticks avatar

Jeff Matticks

3 months ago

I became aware of Collins Law Group after I was involved in a motorcycle, several years ago. Since that time I have reached out to Ed Manzke, at Collins Law Group, for assistance in a couple of other areas. In each instance, I have found Ed and his team to be very helpful with great communication, keeping me informed every step along the way. Everyone who I have interacted with, at Collins Law Group, demonstrated that they are interested in building relationships so that you know who you can turn to for any of your legal needs.

Ella Folson avatar

Ella Folson

3 months ago

Chris and John were attentive and thorough to my needs throughout my entire case. I appreciate the all the time and effort they took. I will be recommending their services going forward to family and friends! Thank you so much for all your help!

J. Savv avatar

J. Savv

3 months ago

Ed Manzke was very patient and kind with helping me and my sister with our mom’s case. He often took the time out his day to explain everything to ensure we understood what was going on. The law firm itself is organized making our whole process run smoothly. I appreciate Ed and his team.

Unique Morris avatar

Unique Morris

3 months ago

Ed Manzke was very informative, clear and honest when it came to my mother and father’s case. He took his time with all of my questions and concerns, making sure that no questions went unanswered and that there was no room for confusion with our case. I’m forever grateful for Ed and everyone at the law firm.

Nick Erlenbaugh avatar

Nick Erlenbaugh

3 months ago

Collins Law was recommended to me after I was involved in an accident with a semi-truck. Amber Blevins was exceptional to work with. She is a total pro at what she does and made the process as easy as she could for me. Ed ensured I received the best outcome possible and exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who might be shopping around for an attorney!

Dwayne Kurfirst avatar

Dwayne Kurfirst

4 months ago

I want to take a moment to recognize John at Collins Law for the incredible work he did in helping my mom secure her settlement. It wasn’t a quick or easy process—it took time, patience, and persistence—but John stayed committed every step of the way. What stood out most was his professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for getting the best possible outcome. He kept us informed, navigated the complexities with confidence, and ultimately delivered results that truly made a difference for our family. If you’re looking for someone who will put in the work, stand by you through a long process, and follow through, I highly recommend John and the team at Collins Law.

Helen Montague avatar

Helen Montague

5 months ago

We are fortunate to have had the chance to work with John Risvold as he represented my brother in his case. Professional, personable and authentic in his manner, John kept us informed throughout the long process, and was always available to respond to my many questions. Having never been involved with a law suit, I really appreciated John's patience (especially since I am 1,000 miles away) and his genuine care for my brother's well being. We are forever grateful, John. Thank you.

Matthew Malone avatar

Matthew Malone

6 months ago

I had an excellent experience being represented by Collins Law Firm. Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins were amazing to work with and truly helped me in my time of need. Both were extremely personable and knowledgeable throughout every step of the way. I would absolutely recommend them for anyone’s legal needs.

Ronnie Sanchez avatar

Ronnie Sanchez

6 months ago

I had an excellent experience with The Collins Law firm. Amber was extremely helpful, kind, and friendly throughout the entire process. She took the time to explain everything clearly whenever I didn’t understand something, which meant a lot to me. I truly felt supported and informed. I will absolutely seek Collin’s help again if I ever need legal assistance in the future. Thank you again :)

Maddie Scheele avatar

Maddie Scheele

6 months ago

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins. They are truly the best of the best. The efficiency and professionalism throughout the entire process of my case has been unmatched. What I really want to point out, though, is the empathy and compassion both Amber and Ed hold. That was the true difference maker. I knew they both prioritized my well-being and made that their number one priority. They represented me to their highest capabilities through every step of my case, and I cannot thank them and Collins Law Firm enough.

Leticia Pink avatar

Leticia Pink

7 months ago

Ms. Maggie Galka is an experienced environmental (radon) attorney who prioritizes her clients' health and safety in her legal practice. She maintains thorough records and offers strategic advice while working with government agencies. Ms. Galka demonstrates key values such as integrity, expertise, respect, empathy, and compassion essential for positive outcomes. Her professionalism, follow-up and communication skills are excellent. Ms. Galka's guidance extends beyond legal issues, and the Collins Law Firm advocates strongly and effectively for clients. We sincerely thank Collins Law Firm, and in particular Ms. Galka, for helping our family reach a successful outcome and for their meaningful impact on our community. I strongly recommend Ms. Galka and Collins Law Firm as an outstanding legal firm.

Megan avatar

Megan

7 months ago

I can’t say enough good things about John Risvold at The Collins Law Firm. From start to finish, John was professional, responsive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He took the time to explain everything clearly, kept me informed throughout the process, and always made me feel like my case truly mattered. His dedication, attention to detail, and genuine care made a stressful situation much easier to handle. John’s expertise and clear communication built a lot of trust, and I’m very grateful for his hard work. I would highly recommend John Risvold to anyone looking for a reliable and skilled attorney.

David Bretti avatar

David Bretti

7 months ago

(Translated by Google) They are very responsible in what they do, they were able to resolve my case quickly and efficiently, I especially recommend Mr. Chris for always being in contact and being honest throughout the process 👏🏻 (Original) Son muy responsables en lo que hacen, pudieron resolver mi caso de forma rápida y eficaz, recomendando, especialmente el Se Chris por siempre estar en contacto y ser sincero en todo el proceso 👏🏻

Jas R. avatar

Jas R.

7 months ago

Amber was very thorough, informative, and made this process very easy for me, which I greatly appreciated considering all the events that led up to this point. Justice isn’t always served, but working with Collin’s Law Firm really me feel that my injuries were tangibly worth something, and that to some degree, justice was served. Would highly recommend this law firm to anyone seeking out a personal injury firm/attorney.

Amy Ressen avatar

Amy Ressen

9 months ago

I wana say a huge thank you to the Collin’s Law firm and Chris Gauthier for helping me with my Complicated case. They helped me put my life back together after a horrible incident that I didn’t think I could over come. Chris was always good about communicating and he made sure I got what I deserved! I highly recommend this law firm they were so kind and reassuring that things would work out. Thank you again for all the hard work and being there to help me through the process when I didn’t know where to turn to for help! Thanks again Chris and The Collin’s Law firm!

Lauren Dryanski avatar

Lauren Dryanski

9 months ago

I had an exceptional experience with Collins Law Firm . A special thank you to Chris, my lawyer, and Patti, the legal assistant. They helped me navigate my car accident proceedings from start to finish, and I always felt like I was in great hands. Chris was incredibly knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and explained everything in a way I could understand. He always made sure I felt informed and supported, especially when it came to legal details I wouldn’t normally know. Patti was also wonderful—very helpful, communicative, and always made sure I had everything I needed throughout the process. I never once doubted this team. They made everything easy and stress-free. I would absolutely recommend Collins Law Firm to anyone in need of legal support!

Will Brooks avatar

Will Brooks

10 months ago

John brings impressive expertise and heartfelt dedication to every matter he handles. His thoughtful approach and clear communication make it easy to trust his advice, and it’s evident he is committed to fighting for what’s right with both professionalism and empathy. John’s balance of insightful expertise and warm, personal attention truly sets him apart.

Icela Hernandez avatar

Icela Hernandez

0 years ago

If ever needed. I will gladly go to the Collins law firm again. They were always quick to respond any questions. Happy to say case is closed and all went well .

Can I Put a Camera in My Parent's Nursing Home Room?

Should You Put a Video Camera in Your Loved One’s Room in the Nursing Home?

As nursing home abuse attorneys, we see too many neglect and abuse cases that are only uncovered after a family member is suffering, either from serious bedsores, broken bones, or other illnesses or injuries. Installing a camera in your loved one’s room in the nursing home may help prevent these tragedies from happening. Being able to monitor interactions with staff and other residents will give you peace of mind and let you know if your family member is being treated with care and respect even when you are not there. If you have any concerns or questions about the treatment of your loved one in a nursing home, call our compassionate nursing home attorneys at (630) 527-1595 for help and answers.

There are over 2.5 million Americans currently living in nursing homes or other sorts of long-term care facilities, with the number only growing. And these are among some of the most vulnerable of all citizens. Many live with physically or mentally incapacitating conditions that make it impossible to report any abuse to authorities or loved ones, and even residents without disabilities often feel powerless to report or scared of retribution from their so-called caregivers.

Elder abuse in nursing homes and long-term care facilities is a rampant issue – and with the health conditions experienced by so many of the senior citizens that live in these facilities, it is often difficult to find justice. The Nursing Home Abuse Justice organization reported over 15,000 instances of abuse in 2020 alone – almost two-thirds involved physical abuse, psychological abuse, or gross neglect, while over 1,000 reported cases also involved sexual abuse. This is far from all-encompassing: Nursing Home Abuse Justice relies on self-reporting, so the actual number of incidences of elder abuse in nursing homes and long-term care facilities is almost certainly larger. A sample study of 452 people with senior relatives living in nursing homes published in the Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect reported that 24.3% of the seniors had experienced at least one instance of abuse.

To combat abuse, over the last decade, there has been a legal push to allow residents and their families to install voluntary cameras in nursing home rooms. These cameras add a layer of protection for nursing home residents, providing verifiable proof, in at least some instances, of abuse or neglect.

Thanks to legislation proposed by former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, then passed by the legislature in 2015, Illinois became one of nine states to legally allow cameras to be placed in the rooms of nursing homes. The Illinois law comes with a few restrictions:

  1. Any monitoring device must be placed in a conspicuously visible spot in the room.
  2. Explicit signage outside a resident’s room must state that there is electrical monitoring in progress.
  3. The resident must obtain written Illinois Department of Health consent from any roommates to install any video recording equipment and must follow any restrictions a roommate places on times that there is recording in progress. If a roommate is unable to consent, then an adult guardian of the roommate may provide the necessary consent forms.
  4. All costs associated with the installation and maintenance of the camera, excluding the cost of electricity, come at the resident’s expense.

While the Illinois law, and similar laws in other states, is a huge step in the right direction for protecting seniors from nursing home abuse, the above restrictions create their own limitations.

First, there is the necessity of roommate consent. This is obviously a hugely important and non-negotiable step, both legally and ethically. Filming someone without their knowledge, particularly in private, intimate spaces such as a bedroom is a huge violation of a person’s privacy, and by Illinois law, it is already illegal to film someone in places such as hotel bedrooms or changing rooms without their consent.

However, abuse in nursing homes is not committed just by the staff; over 20% of the 15,000 2020 complaints listed above were reported against a fellow resident. There isn’t an easy answer to this problem, but communication between affected residents and nursing home staff about any instances of abuse can help alleviate a painful, often dangerous, situation.

The financial burden resting solely on patients, however, is another issue that has the potential to keep the most vulnerable in harm’s way. Many residents of these facilities are on a strict budget already stretched thin by the costs of the facilities themselves – even cameras on the cheaper end, accompanied by the additional costs to maintain them, are out of reach for those residents who have the fewest options available to them to fight against any abuse they experience.

The Illinois law allowing cameras in nursing homes is a huge step in the right direction for combatting abuse and gross neglect in nursing homes. While it does not provide a universal solution, it does give families a valuable tool for preventing abuse and getting justice for victims.

Families want a safe and supportive nursing home environment for their parents or grandparents. However, that is not always easy to uncover. So, protecting your loved ones from abuse and neglect may mean installing a video camera in their room and monitoring how the staff and fellow residents treat them. If, despite your best efforts, your loved one has been the victim of abuse in a nursing home or residential care facility, contact one of the Collins Law Group’s experienced nursing home abuse lawyers at (630) 527-1595 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation, and let us help you find the answers and justice you deserve

If something you have seen, on camera or in person, makes you worry about a parent’s care, our nursing home abuse team will tell you honestly whether it is worth pursuing. The consultation is free.

Worried about a parent’s nursing home care? Talk to us free.

Get a free, no-obligation case review. We're available 24/7 and you pay nothing unless we win.

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Collins Law Group IL Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Attorneys
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