Three quarters of people would be more likely to choose a care home for a family member if independently monitored surveillance cameras were in place, according to new research.
The Panelbase* survey, commissioned by Care Protect, questioned 1,010 people in September 2017 and found that 75% of those questioned were in favour of this form of monitoring to safeguard residents.
Philip Scott, Founder of Care Protect, said: “At a time when many care providers are suffering significant financial constraints and the media are regularly highlighting issues of abuse and poor care standards, this research demonstrates the public support for innovative solutions.
“This is demonstrably working in practice. Care homes using events-only camera surveillance technology have reported a significant increase in occupancy and improvement in care standards.
“The care industry can no longer bury its head in the sand about what is happening as, even in the best homes, individual cases of poor care delivery can occur.
“Understandably, the use of cameras in a care setting is an emotive subject and I am sure any debate will trigger concerns about intrusion into people’s privacy. However, such fears should not stifle an informed debate about technologies that can materially improve safeguarding for vulnerable people.
“By explaining how the technology can work in the interests of both service users and employees, I believe any apprehensions can be overcome. Individual privacies and liberties can be protected and respected by using intelligent cameras, which provide monitoring on an ‘events’ only basis.
“In addition, any camera system could and should operate independently of providers, with third party trained health and social experts reviewing any events.
“It should be recognised that even in the best homes, individual cases of serious abuse can occur and that surveillance systems not only protect service users, but also staff if they are wrongly accused of abuse.
“Technological advances and monitoring systems have the potential to boost confidence in the sector and drive up standards as well as protecting staff and service users and this needs to be recognised by providers, commissioners and industry regulators in the same way as three quarters of the public do.”
