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vandoo Asked August 2017

Is it legal to install a hidden camera inside your mother's home where her adult son lives?

My siblings and I suspect our brother, who has lived with our mother who has dementia for more than 15 yrs since our father died, has been mentally/physically abusing her. We already know he has financially abuses her assets for his own greedy needs because she made him POA over everything. Before she got so bad with dementia, she had all our names put on her home when she died, but when she got really bad off and he started taking over her bills, etc., we found out that he got a quick claim deed to her home and sold to him for $1.00 even though he owns a nice home that stays empty since he moved in with her over 15 yrs ago. We have already turned him in for elder abuse, but they say since Mom is not complaining and they talked to her, she says everthing is fine with her and happy he is living there, but we have heard that he threatens her not to say anthing. We just need some solid proof to show he is abusing her inside her home. Is it legal to install a hidden camera?

ohmeowzer Aug 2017
No your not a vile person ..you are a concerned person ..and that's good ...just keep caring and being a advocate

Rainey69 Aug 2017
*Sighs* Here we go again with "We've heard"...... from who? If I suspected Mom was being abused by one of my siblings, I would be inspecting her body, talking with her (in private) out on a lunch date and asking her, and being involved in her care. If you have PROOF that he has already mishandled her finances and such, call an attorney and have him investigated. If they find it to be true, he can lose his POA status and hopefully, justice will be done. But, I am sorry, when I hear "we've heard" and "we suspect" that tells me you are not sure and not there enough to see what is going on. If my brothers secretly installed a security camera to watch me and Mom without my knowledge, I would not think that is legal and I would be outraged! It is an invasion of privacy. If you "suspect" then go and see for yourself if you can find the signs. They will be there are the elderly bruise easy and if you KNOW about the abuse then have him investigated. Sorry to sound brash, I just see so many accusations on this site when they have zero proof. I am accused of all kinds of BS from my sibs because they are afraid the money they were hoping to get from her will not be what they anticipated but I have sacrificed and paid dearly for being her appointed DPOA and NONE of their accusations are true. I have saved every receipt and all paperwork just in case they decide to run an investigation on me. Again, sorry for being snippy but I live on the other side of this being the one accused.

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JoAnn29 Aug 2017
Mom has Dementia, then how could those people take her word thst she was OK. Has your Mom been formally diagnoised? If so, how could she sign over her house?

ohmeowzer Aug 2017
I would check with the laws of the state ..and then call the elder protective services ...I personally have cameras inside and outside of my house my mom lives with me .,I think your mother's protection is priority..I'm a RN and I watch my mother's care very extremely carefully ...and I suspect anything going on yes I'll do what it takes to protect her ,.,I don't think your a bad person for worrying about your mom ,,if something is suspected it needs to be delt with , and if you need to prove abuse mentally or physically being done to the elderly helpless woman ,,then let it be so ...but check with the laws first and I would be doing all I can to protect her ..maybe she can come live with you ,,but her safety and well being is top priority because she cannot defend herself ,, yes I'd do it ,,you bet I would ...my mom lives with me and the caregivers know I've got them on camera and I'm watching , I caught a caregiver going through my personal belongings..I got a copy of the video and showed it to her company ,,I also caught a caregiver leaving early than what was signed on the paper ..so my mother's hours were not being used properly ...yes I'd do it ,.,just check with the laws...you have a human life a helpless person who cannot take care of themselve...you need to be a advocate and I'd do it ... always be a advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves ..and do what you have to do ..just make sure you can do it legally ..if you can then yes....I'm not sure if it would be considered voyerism ....if you cannot do it then call elder protective services again and make sure they do welfare checks on her ,, I'm a RN and I turn people in who I suspect is abusive ,..I support you in your mom's worry ..see if you can get her to live with you 

Eyerishlass Aug 2017
Yes. People install cameras to safeguard their children against abusive babysitters and for security purposes. However, I don't think it's legal to put one in the bathroom but that just may be for public spaces like restaurants and stores.

There's a Hardcover Book Hidden Camera on Amazon. It looks just like a book but it's a camera. Less than $100.

cetude Aug 2017
You are a very vicious ugly person to even think of installing a hidden camera in a private home without your brother's permission on his property--and most likely violates wiretapping Federal laws. You seem to think care is free or cheap. Why don't you take care of her and see how it's like as it is a 24 hour a day, seven day a week job. In my opinion you sound like a very vicious abusive person. You should be thankful your mom is not in a horrible nursing home--they would have seized everything anyway.   A person's home is not a public place. http://injury.findlaw.com/torts-and-personal-injuries/what-is-the--reasonable-expectation-of-privacy--.html

All I can say is if I had a brother like you I would have sent her off to you and let you take care of her instead and wash my hands of it and live my own life.  Instantly. Because you obviously think you can do better. Then I say go for it. Yes I would have signed over everything to you.  Then go my merry way. 

cetude Aug 2017
the question is installing cameras in another person's home without their permission. It's legal to install cameras in YOUR home since it is your house. Stores can have security cameras because it is a PUBLIC place.  I have cameras in most places in my OWN home including back and front yard. But I would never in a million years put a spy camera in another person's home without their expressed permission--they may be violating Federal laws such as wiretapping laws. The brother could turn around and prosecute the person who installed the spy camera in their house without their permission.

ohmeowzer Aug 2017
I understand Rainy and it's unfair you were treated like pooh from family members who are clueless as to what we are going through ..I'm sorry you were put through heck for no reason .. but I read your post and saw it through your eyes ...but we must always stand on the side of caution and make sure all is ok..I think her finances should be reviewed by elder protective services and a investigation must be pursued ..I do think the camera may be voyerism and against the law ,,,but I think this matter must be followed up,on ,..I work in a hospital and see a lot of elderly being abused , neglected and no food and the family is useless ...it happens more than you could ever imagine...so I call elder protective services a lot ..we must always put safety first ,,.,

OldBob1936 Aug 2017
I am not positive if it is legal or not....Here is what I'd do: Install the hidden camera and if it turns out to be illegal it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.
Grace + Peace,
Bob

Countrymouse Aug 2017
If he is an elder abuser...

I don't know, of course. But this man has been living with his demented mother and caring for her for fifteen years. The OP has discovered, who knows when, that s/he and other non-caregiving siblings are no longer in line to receive their share of the family home once their mother passes away.

So one is bound to wonder. What are they mainly concerned about? Their mother? And it's taken them fifteen years to get round to acting on their concerns?

One more thing. Since the OP seems to consider it feasible - whether or not legal/ethical - to place a hidden camera in the mother's home, then s/he and/or others must have reasonably free, unsupervised access to both the property and their mother. They have already called APS in, and APS were satisfied with the mother's living situation. So I wonder what they're trying to dig up, exactly. Footage of the poor bloke tearing his hair out at three in the morning? His reaction when mother throws her oatmeal at him? Mother in odd socks, or with tea spilt down her dress?

I will be happy to be corrected, but to me it sounds as though the issue is the siblings' suspicion that this caregiver is only in it for a quick buck (cue: hollow laughter) and is out to cheat them. Have you had any conversations with him about mother's assets and intentions?

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