MISSOURI, USA — There are more than 1,000 long-term care facilities across Missouri, according to the state's Department of Health and Senior Services.
Each of the facilities is expected to take the utmost care of the numerous residents they treat daily. An under-the-radar law passed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic could allow those residents' loved ones to monitor their care.
The question
Can Missouri residents install cameras inside loved one's rooms at long-term care facilities?
Our sources
- Missouri’s “Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Long-Term Care Facilities Act”
- Keith Sappington, Executive Director of Missouri Assisted Living Association
- Lisa Cox, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
The answer
Yes, people can install a camera inside loved one's rooms at long-term care facilities under Missouri law.
What we found
Missouri lawmakers passed bill HB 1387 in August of 2020, giving long-term care facility residents the right to put a camera in their room. The same right extends to guardians or legal representatives.
There are some stipulations residents and guardians must follow, including:
- The resident/guardian must tell the facility about the camera before installing
- The resident/guardian must fill out the required forms – the facility will provide them
- The camera must be in an open and fixed position
- Any roommates must give consent
- The resident/guardian must pay for all costs associated with the camera, other than electricity
Long-term care facilities must make reasonable accommodations for the camera, like providing a place to mount it and access to power sources. Under Missouri state law, it is illegal for a facility not to admit a resident or remove a resident because of a camera.
We can VERIFY: Yes, people can install a camera in a loved one’s room inside a long-term care facility.
VERIFY
Have a question you want us to VERIFY? Email hbassler@ksdk.com or verify@ksdk.com with your claim.
Craving more VERIFY? See every St. Louis-area claim we've looked into here.