Proving that a nursing home has been negligent in its care of a loved one isn’t as easy as you may think.

Whether the issue is negligence in administering medications, unhygienic living conditions, failure to monitor your loved one, or simply leaving your loved one unattended for too long on a consistent basis, these matters often come down to a battle of documentation.

Still, there are important signs you should watch for that can be indicators of neglect.

Sudden weight loss or dehydration, bed sores, accommodations that are obviously not routinely cleaned, inappropriate clothing, and being left unbathed are all signs that the nursing home isn’t meeting its obligations as a caregiver.

Often, staff will attempt to explain away signs of neglect by blaming your loved one for the problems you see.

Again, because these matters are often about documentation and recordkeeping, you should get in the habit of photographing problems you see and keeping a log of conditions you’re uncomfortable with.

Talk to the nursing home’s management about what you’re seeing and what needs to change.

How Do I Legally Install A Granny Cam In My Relative’s Nursing Home?

There are a series of steps you must follow if you want to install a “granny cam” in a nursing home and have access to electronic monitoring of your loved one.

First, you must fill out the Request for Authorized Electronic Monitoring, Form 0066, available at the website of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability. Your nursing home may also have copies.

Second, you’ll need to begin notifying the appropriate parties. The nursing home must be informed, and cannot deny your request for electronic monitoring.

If your loved one shares a room, their roommate(s) must consent to electronic monitoring.

You’ll also have to post a conspicuous notice on the door or room entrance that tells visitors that the room is being monitored by an electronic monitoring device.

All of these actions are at your cost, as is the installation and maintenance of the monitoring device.

The nursing home must supply you with a safe and secure place to mount your device and the electricity to operate it, but otherwise has no obligations to you in this endeavor.

Not all nursing homes are happy to comply with electronic monitoring.