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I'm a new caregiver on a private assignment. The "lead" caregiver has purchased cameras to install in our client's home. The client has mild dementia and I think the idea of cameras are completely unnecessary and a violation of her privacy. The daughter is also against the cameras, but feels "shut out" by the lead caregiver and feels she has no say. I told the daughter she needs to have a sit down with the caregiver and express her and her mother's concerns, but she says the caregiver brushes her off. Yes, I'm wondering what I've gotten myself into. I always try to be respectful of my clients and their family and obey the laws regarding the rights of my clients so I'm having a hard time with this situation. Also, the church is somehow involved in all of this. It all seems very unsavory to me. Who can I talk to or am I blowing things out of shape?

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Uhhh
Who hired you? If the client has dementia then I hope the daughter has POA but you might not be privy to this information

By private caregiver am I assuming correctly that they are not withholding taxes from your pay? Is so, you're doing yourself a disservice -you will need social security benefits some day and what if you were hurt in the line of duty ? Workers comp insurance exists for a reason

If this is the case, whether a church is involved or not it doesn't sound like the right position especially in relatively good economic times
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Dear Chloe,

I know you care a lot and want what's best for your client. I would escalate this with a social worker if necessary. Or the seniors department in your community. It is a huge invasion of privacy.

I took care of my dad on my own at home. I did install a Nest camera in the living room just to monitor him from work, but this was after three years and his health was declining. I told him about it and all my siblings. It was all too late, he passed a few weeks later.

I can see it from both sides. If there is a concern about safety, or potential abuse, then cameras can serve their purpose. But the mom and daughter have a right to refuse. I wouldn't even hesitate to mention the police if the lead caregiver over steps her boundaries.
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Whoa! Talk about overstepping boundaries!

I wonder, legally, who owns the content. The homeowner, i would think.

I would be extremely suspicious of the motives of this "lead caregiver". Where did the daughter find Her? I wonder if a background check has been done.
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If it was my loved one, I wouldn't mind having a camera there when a caregiver was working. I'd simply unplug it when they left.
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Obviously the wishes of your client and her family should take precedence over those of a hired employee, and you should continue to encourage the daughter to stand up for her mother. They may feel there is no better option because they have had difficulty finding good care (and if there is some kind of church obligation that complicates things). If you can point her toward alternatives it may be the spur she needs to set some boundaries.
It may not be the cameras per se that are objectionable, but their placement and terms of use should be agreed upon by all parties.
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Really hoping same lead caregiver is not in charge of Mom's money.
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Thank you all for your responses. It sounds to me as though the cameras are for the lead caregivers benefit as she has told me this will allow her to monitor the goings on in the home when she is not here. Hmmmm....that's not right. She hired a professional (me) to keep an eye on the client and her home so why the need for cameras. I am here 5 days a week and trust me -those cameras will never be used for my benefit. After sleeping on this last night I have come to the conclusion (because my gut knows the right thing to do) that I must contact the proper sources so that this woman and her family do not continue to find themselves prey to those around them. And yes, the church & lead caregiver are somewhat in charge of her money --something that I have only learned in the last few days. I don't like the thought of this at all! Also, I do pay Social Security & Medicare taxes and continue to work for an agency. Thanks again for the wonderful responses!
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My question would be if the daughter is able to have access to the images in ALL of the cameras... or is only the the lead caregiver able to access it through her computer or Smart Phone? And who knows how many cameras are around the house, some can be so small that one wouldn't even know the camera was there.

Whomever hire the lead Caregiver has a right to ask for those cameras to be removed. For some reason the grown daughter seems afraid of this caregiver.

If the Caregivers came through a professional Caregiving Agency, it would make it easier as the Agency could step in and talk to the Caregiver.
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Church and lead caregiver are in church of the money? I smell an APS case for financial abuse of a vulnerable adult.
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i agree with BarbBrooklyn, I would call APS with my concerns. If they are doing nothing wrong then they won't mind a bit.
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Chloe, since you're the new caregiver, why not spend some more time getting to know lead caregiver and the family? There may be some history there you are unaware of, something perhaps like the lead caregiver is concerned that not enough care is being asked for by the daughter or mom, and they want evidence to show that there is need for more help...?   And so they aren't liable if mom has a fall or something...?

I read your question a few times. I get your concerned but what I didn't see is why you're concerned. I put cameras in my dad's home when he was going to have different nurses and caregivers in and out. It helped me to keep track of everything. It's common enough to have cameras when multiple people are coming and going out of a house, don't you think so?

I wish you the best in your new assignment. Hopefully nothing bad is happening there. If there is something nagging at you after you are more familiar with the situation, then you can always go to local social workers and voice your concerns. :-)
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AliBoBali -thank you for your response. I happen to know (or thought I did) this lead caregiver well as we previously worked together thru my agency before she decided to leave the agency & work private assignments. I honestly don't believe this client requires monitoring as she is not in any way your typical fall risk as her balance is just as good as mine at the time. The other caregiver has expressed an interest in keeping an eye on things when she is not here --which is when I am here 4 days a week. I understand cameras for safety reasons -such as baby monitors, but these are more sophisticated, internet wired, custom ordered cameras. Totally unnecessary and over the top. There are very few people coming and going from the home -visitors from the church 1x weekly during the first 3 weeks of my stay here. That's it....There is no reason for anyone to have camera level suspicion of any activity going on as the client leads a very quiet life. Reads the newspaper, mail, watches tv programs and has a nap during the day. Yes, the daughter seems apprehensive of the caregiver & I see signs that the other caregiver might only be in this for $$$ & control. Many of those details I have left out to protect the privacy of this client. I have placed a phone call to a Social Worker friend, but she is out of the office until Monday. Thank you again for your reply.
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Someone can NOT come into MY home and install a camera without my consent.
If the homeowner or the daughter do not agree to this then it can not / should not be done.

Now I agree that a security camera is a good idea. But it has to be my idea. And I have to be the one to have it installed.

There is no way I would want any caregiver, or anyone else for that matter, to have access to view what is going on in my home.

If this is a caregiver from an agency I would have the caregiver replaced, she or he sounds like they are getting a little to "comfy" and boundaries are being overstepped. If this is a privately hired caregiver it may be time to look for another "lead" caregiver.

And by the way there is no way I would allow the type of monitoring that you describe in my house. A baby monitor is one thing but to have the type of system that you describe so the caregiver can view what is going on at any time from anyplace is excessive.
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Chloe, does this lead caregiver have any status within the family?

If she is a contractor, then she cannot possibly make adaptations to her client's home without her client's or her client's representative's consent. So I'm wondering where she gets the idea that it's her decision to make.
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The OP wrote " And yes, the church & lead caregiver are somewhat in charge of her money --something that I have only learned in the last few days."

Perhaps the church and "lead caregiver" have POA? Guardianship?

I can't imagine how a caregiver can "brush off" concerns about installing a camera in the client's house. There is something fishy afoot, I fear.
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The basics of home security cameras legally, is the camera is a part of a security system, therefore It is legal to use in a home as much as a business in case of filing charges against someone for breaking the law. Home security cameras can legally be used in case of a robbery or theft in a home, assault in a home by someone breaking in or sadly by a family member to another family member, even can be used against visitors if something bad were to happen, can be used even in case of verbal abuse and threats to a family member or anyone in their home. An example of why that is important, is just recording someone behaving badly via a cell phone, it's not legal because in many states you cannot just record people on your cell phone or a hand held camera without their consent, but a security system is for security so it's legal to record people without their consent. With crime rising, many people have home security cameras in their home and you don't even know it. It sounds to me like the security system is for protection, to protect the elderly person and possibly the caregivers from fraudulent accusations. Also only a home owner can legally install a security system in their home, that or a POA/DPOA for an elderly homeowner.
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I had a camera for my mother's room when things were nearing the end so I would know if she needed me. I could view her on my iPad through an internet app. I bought the camera through Amazon. No professionals were required to set it up.

The caregiver absolutely has NO RIGHT to install cameras when the elder and daughter have said they do not want them. I would fire the lead caregiver if she showed such an additude regarding my families rights to determine what goes on in our home. She is over-stepping boundaries and seems to feel entitled to do what she wants regardless of what the home owner wants. This can become a dangerous situation. I believe in cameras - but there is something wrong happening here.
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Why is anyone opposed to having cameras in the home? If everyone is doing their job, no harm done. You are dealing with a person with dementia. People with dementia often accuse caregivers of unfounded accusations. Why would you not want proof everyone is in the up and up. I have cameras in my home and everyone knows it, but that doesn't stop caregivers from being on the phone while my husband aimlessly wonders around unsupervised. Yes, I have fired caregivers based upon what the cameras pick up.
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My problem is that it seems to be the caregiver and the church who are installing cameras in someone else's private residence. Checking up on where the checkbook is kept, is my first thought.
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A problem arises WHENEVER a caregiver does things without the permission of the elder or the family.
The cameras were at the expense of the elder. The family should ask to see the receipt and confirm that the church doesn't also have new cameras, at the elder's expense.
Tip of the iceberg?

Old school here:  Trained to always get the patient's permission, even to touch the patient.  Not to do so was legally "assault and battery".  Think about it.  

Chloe2U2,
You are, as a hired caregiver, in a tough spot.  But I want to say the world could use more caring and concerned people like you, careful people.  Good for you!
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I agree Barb. Unless the caregiver and church have POA or guardianship, then the family decides who puts in cameras. Maybe the person with dementia no longer has decision making power but the daughter should unless there has been some accusation of elder abuse and the church and/or caregiver have guardianship. If daughter has POA or guardianship, she needs to put her foot down.
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How dare this "lead caregiver" install a camera in the client's home without first informing her that she was installing it.
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NOT EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH A CHURCH IS GOOD - many use this to cover up abuse both financial & emotional - remember JONESTOWN OR THE BAKERS - how many former church leaders are doing time right now? - what 'church' is it that has this control?

Go with your gut instincts & be careful because 'if you lie with dogs don't be surprised if you get fleas' is an old expression meaning be aware you don't get a bad reputation by associating with these people

Was that camera written into your contract before you signed on or is it a change in your working conditions? - because then you have the right to refuse to be on camera so put a bag over it
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I know of a same situation with a client I use to care for,and wanna do this again.His so called granddaughter installed a baby monitor into this mans home,and she had the other part at her place which is next door.Yes it is invading privacy.When he has company,the monitor should be disconnected,but the granddaughter accually came over and plugged it back in.The neighbor got up and walked out,because he said he was not going to visit thisman,and have his conversation either being recorded.It should be illegal,and I am investigating this
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