Minnesota law to allow surveillance cameras in senior homes

Minnesotans can now use electronic monitoring devices in most senior care facilities, provided they notify the facility and obtain consent from residents being monitored, according to an article on the Star Tribune website.

Nursing homes and assisted-living facilities across the state are required to inform residents of their right to use the cameras.

With remote monitoring systems, which can be purchased online for less than $200, people can now receive automatic alerts to their smartphones when someone enters a loved one’s room, or when there is unusual activity or sound, the article said.

Modeled after legislation in Illinois, Minnesota’s law requires that families obtain the resident’s consent to the use of a camera and notify the facility of their plans. If a resident occupies a shared room, the roommate must also provide consent.

Read the article.