Surveillance or safeguarding ? he is , and turn up the volume to hear how carers are speaking to him .
She decided to have CCTV installed in her father ’ s room 18 months ago following an incident in which he claimed he was “ manhandled ” back to bed one night while going to the toilet . Her father was supportive of the decision .
It ’ s just one of the ways in which CCTV cameras can be used in aged care . Some are triggered by movement , sound or light ; others offer visuals but no audio . Even the recording function is optional .
“ I think [ CCTV ] is brilliant ,” she told Aged Care Insite . “ The staff know it ’ s there and I think it acts as a deterrent . I think all aged care residents should have a camera in their room .”
Study gathers opinions on CCTV use in aged care .
By Caroline Riches
Anew project led by Edith Cowan University is investigating how CCTV could be used to improve the safety and wellbeing of residents in aged care homes .
A survey and interviews will canvas opinion from the public as well as residential aged care staff across Western Australia on whether security cameras are appropriate and necessary .
“ We want to understand people ’ s concerns and opinions of surveillance in private or common areas in residential aged care ,” the project ’ s lead researcher Dr Caroline Vafeas told Aged Care Insite .
At the moment CCTV is not widely adopted in the sector but there are growing community calls for cameras to monitor vulnerable residents – and not simply when an incident comes to light .
“ You want to see whether that person in that single room is having interactions with carers during the day . You want to know how long the food has sat there . You want to know when falls happen and how long it takes someone to go in ,” Vafeas said .
It ’ s also about protecting staff . In the event of allegations of inappropriate treatment , there would be evidence , she adds .
Dr Vafeas says she ’ d love the project to eventually persuade aged care facilities to install security cameras .
“ We ’ d love to look at the care before installation , care after installation and see if there ’ s an improvement ,” Dr Vafeas said .
“ But we can ’ t put cameras in until we have the opinion of those most affected .”
FEAR OF BIG BROTHER Not surprisingly , the loudest voice against the use of CCTV in aged care facilities comes from staff .
A previous ECU pilot study at one Perth aged care facility found that only 36 per cent of staff wanted CCTV used in public spaces , compared to 57 per cent of family members and 38 per cent of residents .
According to the study , just 14 per cent of staff wanted it used in bedrooms , as opposed to 48 per cent of families and 25 per cent of residents .
While CCTV can make staff members feel they ’ re being watched , Vafeas says this isn ’ t the case .
“ It ’ s not surveillance or Big Brother , it ’ s safeguarding ,” she said . “ It ’ s closing the gate before the horse bolts rather than the other way around .”
She believes it ’ s strange that society has accepted CCTV in public areas but feels uncomfortable monitoring our most vulnerable .
“ Healthcare staff need to have a culture where this is the norm and this is acceptable .”
DIVERSE OPTIONS Erica * is able to jump on her phone or laptop to see her 86-year-old dad in his armchair at his Perth aged care home . She can even press a button to ask him how
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Healthcare staff need to have a culture where this is the norm and this is acceptable .
ISSUES OF CONSENT One of the murkiest areas of CCTV monitoring involves residents living with dementia or another cognitive impairment who are unable to give consent themselves . The decision then falls to family members , which can be complicated .
Dementia Australia advises families and carers to discuss camera use with those living with dementia while they ’ re still able to understand the implications in order to create an advanced care plan .
“ Ultimately , decisions regarding the use of CCTV cameras in aged care must consider the balance between protecting residents ’ safety and protecting individuals ’ rights to privacy and choice ,” it says in a statement .
ROYAL COMMISSION HIGHLIGHTED A NEED Vafeas says the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has only highlighted the need for CCTV .
“ If people aren ’ t happy with the quality of care , they feel that they have a voice now ,” she said .
Along with strategies such as improved staffing levels and training , Vafeas says CCTV is an inexpensive tool that will improve the quality and safety of aged care residents in the future .
“ In 10 years ’ time we ’ ll just laugh that we were even talking about this .” ■
* Not her real name .
14 agedcareinsite . com . au