Oklahoma County DA David Prater speaks in support of cameras in care homes

BY MICHAEL MCNUTT Comments 7
Published: May 1, 2009

State nursing homes should allow families of nursing home residents to put video cameras in their rooms, Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said Thursday.

Multimedia

"If they’re above-board and fully staffed and take care of the residents, what do they have to hide?” Prater asked during a hearing on nursing homes at the state Capitol. "I would think they would offer that option to the residents.”

Contacted later, Becky Moore, executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers, said cameras are in place in common areas in some nursing homes. She said residents are hesitant to have cameras placed in their rooms.

"There is no law against putting cameras in nursing homes,” she said. "Most of our personal care is at bedside, and residents don’t want people taking pictures of their personal care.”

A camera "in more cases than not is used to sue a nursing facility,” Moore said. "That is an issue, I’m sure, for many providers.”

Also at the hearing, Wes Bledsoe, founder of the Oklahoma nursing home watchdog group A Perfect Cause, said a state program that gives financial incentives to nursing homes is "a dismal system.” The system is based on a five-star rating and allows participating nursing homes to receive a bonus for each star they earn.

Some five-star nursing homes got up to a $198,000 bonus the first year, while others that rated one star got nothing, according to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which administers the program. About $13 million has been paid in the past year.

Toolsview all

Sponsored Results

Need Affordable Health Care?
Get Affordable Health Insurance Quotes Online - Plans from $30 / Month
USInsuranceOnline.com

Refinance Now at 4.25% Fixed
No hidden fees-4.4% APR! No obligation. Get 4 free quotes. No SSN req.
MortgageRefinance.LendGo.com

Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online

Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.

Log in below or sign up (it's free).

Maybe if all the profits did not go into the fat cat owners pockets and they paid a decent wage to the frontline people they would attract quality staff. But I guess in our generation of greed that simple solution wont be considered.

Terry, Norman - May 1, 2009 at 12:56 pm

Report as inappropriate or

While we are looking at nursing homes, we also need to focus the spotlight, and cameras, on hospice providers in Oklahoma. Anybody can open a hospice, employee marketers to go out and hound doctors offices and nursing homes to let them take care of their dying patients, and then toss them aside when they get all the money they can out of them. How dare these people not die on time!!! There is also an unsavory relationship between nursing homes, doctors and hospices in what hospice agency gets to care for the dying. If there was ever a need for investigation, this situation warrants it.

g, oklahoma city - May 1, 2009 at 11:37 am

Report as inappropriate or

I didn't chose to put relatives into Epworth it was their choice and they had signed on the line then told the family. Now I'm thinking they made a huge mistake. The staff is falling apart and they are missing doctor's appointments, making med mistakes, and loosing documents.

burt, edmond - May 1, 2009 at 10:52 am

Report as inappropriate or

I think the theory of this is essentially acceptable- however, what has to be remembered is that these nursing homes are just that- people's homes, and I personally, no matter how well meaning it is, would not necessarily want to be on camera 24/7. Regular visits by family members/friends will bring inadequacies to light very speedily- as would, as mentioned below, a decent inspection process. Whereforcare.com is the carehomes and senior care ratings and reviews website where those who have experience of various care and nursing facilities such as residents, relatives and visiting professionals can help to inform others who are looking for senior care on how to make the best choice. If you can write a review of a senior care facility to help others choose the right care, please feel free to do so!

Lisa, manchester - May 1, 2009 at 10:43 am

Report as inappropriate or

This is just a lot of politicial grandstanding. People dump their family members in nursing homes because they dont want to take care of them and then expect five star hotel treatment. The quality of nursing home care is not going to improve until they start paying these people a better salary to tend to these people and their families. Our society has got to make a decision on how well they want their families treated who are dumped in these facilities with less class than dumping a dog at a pound. If you are rich, you can afford to be pretty well taken care of in our country. If you are not and your family doesn't want to take care of you, you are subject to what this country offers in the way of nursing home care.

g, oklahoma city - May 1, 2009 at 9:57 am

Report as inappropriate or

Folks, Epworth Villa has gone to the dogs. Its about to go bankrupt. Check on your loved ones there very often!!!!

burt, edmond - May 1, 2009 at 8:29 am

Report as inappropriate or

Especially for patients with dementia or alzheimer's, this needs to have happened yesterday.

Kevin, Oklahoma City - May 1, 2009 at 1:04 am

Report as inappropriate or