New Laws Protect Older Residents

A law that went into effect in January, 2016 allows surveillance cameras to be installed in the rooms of long-term care facilities’ residents, making Illinois only the fifth state in the country to offer seniors and disabled adults this added protection against neglect and abuse.

Under the law, residents (and their roommates) must give consent before a camera is installed.  A sign must be placed outside the door indicating that the room is being monitored.  Also, residents are responsible for costs associated with installation and monitoring. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said the law will “give families peace of mind by allowing them to monitor their loved one’s care when they cannot be present.”

Similar to Amber Alert

Another law that went into effect January 1, 2016 will make older residents safer via a “Silver Search” notification, similar to the Amber Alert system used to let the public know when a child has been abducted.  Silver Search uses the same process of notifying the public through broadcast media, road signs and social media when a senior goes missing, usually due to confusion resulting from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Silver Search “doesn’t have anything to do with abduction or them running away from the home,” said John M. Smith, executive director of the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging in Southern Illinois. “It has to do with them not knowing what they are doing.”

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and as many as 16 million could have the disease by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, one of the chief advocates of Silver Search law.  An estimated 210,000 people in Illinois have Alzheimer’s or dementia, said Jennifer Belkov, vice president of public policy for the Greater Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Contact a Mount Vernon Personal Injury Lawyer at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C.

If you or a loved one has been the target of nursing home neglect or abuse, an experienced and trusted Mount Vernon personal injury lawyer at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. is here for you, ready to stand up for your rights and help you determine your best recovery options.

Contact us by calling (800) 553-3125 or by emailing us using the contact form on this page. We can provide you with a free, thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward.