Perhaps they should reserve them for when there is suspicion and THEN use them?

 It's like security cameras in gas stations.  Those fellas robbing the place know they're being taped (Hence the universal jeans or dark jeans and dark hoodie. Can't tell one from another.)

The caregiver, if abusing or willfully neglecting  a person under their care, is also committing a crime.

However, I don't know if Grandma or Grandpa would like getting their hiney caught on tape during a change of undergarments. A reasonable expectation of privacy to be sure.

I guess it comes down to 'the lesser of two evils'. Tough call all the same. 

What would constitute a suspicion?  And the other Catch 22 -- why would anyone with a suspicion continue to subject their loved one to possible abuse for the sake of catching abuse on camera?

Wouldn't you just stop it asap?

ninja - we wish we had one.  Why don't we stop it?  Firstly, we're just not sure, and it's hardly fair to act without proof.  Maybe we are just being neurotic.  That does happen to parents on occasion :)  Secondly, we don't have a lot of choice.  Granted our situation is different than most due to Daria's needs, but in general, a good caregiver can be quite hard to come by, so you can't just cycle a new one in on the basis of unfounded suspiscion.  And thirdly, it's not just about abuse of the child, but could be about the house and contents. 

Do you think it would make any difference if the caregiver was aware that there would be a camera before accepting the position? 

If the nanny is a good one, and finds out after the fact s(he)'s under watch, would that not erode the relationship?  Would it matter?

And RevMatt -- it's deplorable that you have to be in a position to say "we don't have a lot of choice".  That speaks volumes to the poor state of available supports.  You're right -- it's the reality. 

Just have the cam in place and don't let on ..... people are more natural when they are unaware .....

You use the word "relationship" big mistake , this is an employee and it should be maintained at a professional business agreement.

Good to have a cam for relatives too . because you never know what Uncle Chester the Molester might be up to.

I agree when RevMatt says good staff is hard to come by.  Many staff working in nursing homes and agencies are either slightly trained personal care assistants, or nursing staff from countries that Canada doesnt' recognise the training, hence they can't work as RN's.  Some could be RN's who have lost their licence for whatever reason.

 by- laws for nursing homes, dont' have  a very high patient/staff rati,o especially at night so some of the "neglect" can also be due to lack of time.  The bedridden incontinenet patient can end up all night in a soiled diaper because there is not enough staff.

And how does the family know?

Affording good care , especially if you are looking at long term 16- 24 hours / day is tremendously expensive.  And then you worry they are maybe doing the physical care but with out kindness or love.  Or skimping on the physical care and doing the bare minimum. 

I think, if I thought there were any issues I would buy/borrow a nanny cam for at least a month or so to check. 

For my mom, we have a trusted care giver who sees her 5 days/ week for a few hours and really monitors her physical condition.  My brother and sister then see her the other two days.  If her condition at all changes, we see it right away.  So we feel pretty confident she does't at lesat get physically abused.  Is someone verbally insulting or mean at night?  She has altzeimers so we would never know, she can't say.

It is hard to hire personnal staff.  They are stepping in for you , and you are trusting them to give loving care, skilled care, patience, kindness, and all the things you would do yourself if you were able to be there.  Patient care can require alot of specialized training and turnover is a bad thing for all.

I hate to think that these might be necessary.  I would prefer to think that an interview, some time spent together with the caregiver and the child or invalid during the introduction to see how they relate, an observation of the child (do they like the caregiver, are they happy to see her, or are they frightened), checking of references, etc.  might be a better approach.

Also if at all possible I would recommend dropping back to the house occasionally at unexpected times - or maybe working from home from time to time and keeping an eye or ear for how the caregiver and the child relate to each other.  And if the child, or patient, is verbal listening to what they have to say about the situation.    I would also spend some time with the caregiver at the beginning and/or end of each day:  what did they play to do today?  how did the walk in the park go?  how much time did they spend watching TV?  what did they have for lunch? 

Only if you have unanswered questions, or a sense that things are not as they should be, would I recommend installing a spy camera.  And then I would think it would only be effective if it were a secret.  If the caregiver knew she was being watched she would be on her best behaviour when she thought she was on-camera and would find other ways or times to intimidate the child  (when in the bathroom or out for a walk).

I read about where you can watch your child from your laptop when they are in Daycare.

Staff are hard to come by.  If you are just being paranoid and go through a few you will get a reputation and then you may get no staff.

I think it's sad that we live in a society where nanny cams are necessary in many circumstances. Yet, I can totally see where RevMatt is coming from and I can see how they'd be very beneficial in certain situations.

RevMatt- I think it's so sad that caregivers are hard to come by, much less good caregivers. I don't get why people would work with children unless their heart and soul is in it.

I work as a nanny and would hate the idea of being watched secretly on camera. I hope that my employer (who is also a friend) trusts me enough with her kids. However, if I was told upfront that I was being recorded, I'd have no problem with it. I can guarantee that she wouldn't see anything going on that she wouldn't approve of. I'm wondering if maybe my situation is a little different too since the kids are older (4 and 9). They give their mom the play-by-play of exactly what we did that day, where we went, who got a time-out, etc.

Like RevMatt this is something we plan to install at some point in our home.  Particularly as we delegate more and more care to nurses as matthew grows.  Presently we do have a higher tech baby monitor with a built in camera.  We purchased it primarily for seizure monitoring when Matthew is sleeping and we are in another room, but we can also monitor other things as well.

We vet our caregivers quite extensively (when we can) but with nursing agencies you don't get a lot of choice. You also need to remember that much of our nursing is at night when we are asleep. There has been a fairly high profile case in Waterloo where a nurse abused a young, medically complex, profoundly disabled child.  The family grew suspicious when the child developed bruising and a physician suggested they leave out a camera one night (this was a night nurse).  Sure enough, fairly serious abuse was captured on film.  The nurse was charged criminally.  We know the family involved and it has been very difficult for them.

Once they are installed the plan is simply to inform all staff that the house is equipped with cameras and they may or may not be turned on. That way there is full disclosure upon hiring.

I agree it would be good to have a world where these aren't needed.  But, my kids are more important than anything else, particularly a child who cannot speak up or defend himself.