Of course, Susanne is relieved to know her mother is in a facility that specializes in the needs of the elderly .  She knows that her mom already has friends who live there, and she’s confident in the intent and diligence of the staff.  There’s still that nagging desire, though, to see for herself how her mother is faring, but Susanne lives three hours away.  She can call her mother, but often her mother doesn’t answer.  Susanne doesn’t know if her mother is depressed, angry, out of ear-shot of the phone, or out partying with friends.  She wonders.

But there is a way to give Susanne more peace of mind.  It was stories like these that convinced us at www.TenderTidingsSeniors.com to not forget that our elderly loved ones in assisted living or nursing homes could benefit from our Tender Tidings system.  While not a “granny cam,” a Tender Tidings Seniors cam can be installed in living areas in assisted living rooms or nursing home rooms.  Then, family members can click on to their computers at home or work and check on their loved ones each day or night.  Family members can see for themselves how their mother or father is doing.  It definitely provides better peace of mind.  

Is it legal to put a camera in an assisted living or nursing home room though?  I don’t know about each state but I do know in Texas and New Mexico it is legal. Texas and New Mexico law gives families the right to install electronic devices including Internet cameras in order to monitor their loved ones through remote video stream.  Whether it’s in a nursing home or an assisted living facility, the law in Texas and New Mexico says it’s permissible.  The family members only have to inform the facility in advance of the installation.  If the facility is not notified or if the equipment is not open and obvious in the room, however, the Tender Tidings camera may be considered covert surveillance and illegal.  Go ahead - Check with your state.

The next question is, “What do I need in the room to make the Tender Tidings system work?”  A computer, a router with a high-speed internet connection, and an ISP that will let you change port settings on your router (the only ISP we have run into so far that does not is RoadRunner Time Warner (booo!)). 

There, it’s decided.  TenderTidingsSeniors.com is perfect even for our loved ones in assisted living or nursing homes.  But will the assisted living and nursing home facilities have a problem with it?  Several administrators have openly objected based on privacy concerns for their residents.  Although the decision as to whether the cameras are installed should be made by each resident or a legal representative acting on behalf of the resident, many home administrators are afraid of cameras recording such private moments as a resident undergoing medical procedures, being bathed or being assisted to the toilet.  To those administrators I respond that the Tender Tidings camera can be easily placed in such a position that it will not invade these personal times.  Further, the Tender Tidings system does not record any video stream.  (Just in case their real worry is civil liability.)  Also, as the AARP has stated, "It should be a resident's choice, because it's their home."

At the end of the day, systems like Tender Tidings hold the greatest potential for restoring public confidence in assisted living and nursing homes by giving family members access to “real time” video and reassuring them that mom and or dad are doing well.  

Plus – I’ve heard some homes even have happy hour.  Count me in!

www.tendertidingsseniors.com