A South Florida state senator has introduced a proposal for the 2025 legislative session that would allow residents of long-term care facilities to install recording devices, such as “granny cams,” in their rooms. Currently, there is no counterpart bill in the House.
Senator Illeana Garcia, a Republican, filed Senate Bill 64, which would permit nursing home residents to install cameras at their own expense, with the condition that they obtain permission from any roommate sharing the room. If a roommate refuses, the bill mandates that the facility relocate one of the residents to a different room.
While “granny cams” are intended to offer peace of mind regarding the care of loved ones, they raise concerns about privacy. Kristen Knapp, Senior Director of Strategy and Communications for the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA), expressed reservations about the legislation. Knapp acknowledged that technology is evolving but emphasized the need to balance digital advances with the privacy and independence of residents. Cameras can capture highly personal moments, such as bathing, toileting, and feeding, which could compromise a resident’s dignity.
The bill also includes provisions allowing consenting roommates to set restrictions on camera usage, such as positioning the camera away from certain areas or prohibiting the use of certain devices altogether. Despite these precautions, Knapp raised concerns that families could inadvertently violate federal privacy laws (HIPAA) by improperly viewing footage of another resident.
The proposed legislation comes in the wake of a significant increase in reports of serious violations at Florida nursing homes. According to a report by the Tampa Bay Times, the number of serious violations nearly doubled from 2019 to 2022, with 83 citations issued in 2022 alone for incidents putting residents in immediate danger.
While the nursing home industry has expressed concerns about the bill, it has gained support from the Florida Justice Association, which advocates for greater accountability in nursing home care. Nathan Carter, attorney and chair of the association’s nursing home committee, praised the proposal for improving care for Florida’s seniors.
Several states, including Louisiana, have implemented similar legislation allowing cameras in nursing homes. Louisiana passed its granny cam law in 2018, with the support of the state’s nursing home group, Leading Age Gulf States, which later merged with Florida’s Leading Age Southeast. Louisiana has not collected data on the use of these devices, but Steve Bahmer, CEO of Leading Age Southeast, noted that very few facilities in Louisiana have residents using recording devices, and no issues have been reported.
Leading Age Southeast has yet to take a position on SB 64, as its policy committee will not meet until January.
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