Electronic Monitoring of Nursing Home Residents (H 7969, S 2263)

The ACLU of Rhode Island appreciates the intent behind this bill, allowing residents in nursing home facilities to electronically monitor their living space, presumably to help deter incidents of abuse, neglect or other misconduct by employees or others. We agree that individuals who wish to use technology to videotape themselves generally should have the right to do so. However, we feel the need to raise caution around the bill, as we believe there are some practical concerns that need to be addressed prior to its implementation to ensure that the privacy of the resident or their roommates is not violated.