ClickCease
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week    |   Hablamos Espanol

Can an Amazon Alexa Prevent Nursing Home Robbery?

Amazon Alexa devices are becoming more and more common in homes across America. These handy smart devices allow homeowners to ask questions or control their home appliances using voice commands. Recently, an Amazon Alexa successfully prevented a nursing home robbery in a Florida nursing home.

The Florida thief snuck into a man’s nursing home room and looked for cash and credit cards to steal. Through Amazon Alexa, the man’s daughter watched the criminal from Alaska. She was able to alert staff, who caught the thief in the act and prevented the incident. It leaves many people wondering: can an Amazon Alexa prevent other nursing home robberies?

Elder Financial Abuse Is Not Uncommon in Senior Living

Financial abuse is a type of adult abuse that has grown alarmi­ngly in recent years. The financial abuse of seniors occurs across age groups, including those who live alone, in assisted living facilities, and in nursing homes. Sometimes, these funds end up in the hands of family members or caregivers who aren’t supposed to be receiving them from the victim.

Police note they’ve seen a rise in cases of stolen property being taken from elderly people living in assisted living facilities. Police say some of the victims don’t even realize what happened until months later when they’re caught up in a billing dispute with the facility.

You May Be Dissuaded From Making An Official Complaint

If you suspect someone stole something from you while living in a nursing home, you may feel compelled to make an official complaint. Some facilities may discourage you from doing so.

The facility may claim it isn’t responsible for the loss of your loved one’s possessions. Or, it may tell you it doesn’t know what happened to your items. An experienced elder law attorney will help you determine whether you have grounds for filing a lawsuit against the nursing home.

Virtual Assistant Technology in Nursing Homes May Not Be Legal

Virtual assistants are passive listening and recorders. This raises significant compliance issues, not just around the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy law, but also laws governing the recording of in-person conversations and disability discrimination and accommodations.

Some nursing homes have rules against using Alexa and other AI devices. Be sure that if you use one that it’s allowed. However, many nursing homes have yet to come up with formal policies about using this type of technology within the healthcare environment. Over time as more situations arise, there will likely be more cases involving the legalities of AI smart tech within nursing homes.

Contact a New York Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

Those concerned about their loved one’s well being should be sure to keep an eye out for situations where they believe your loved one may have been a victim of elder abuse. While it’s impossible to predict exactly when this type of behavior will take place, make sure you report any such incidents to the appropriate authorities as soon as possible if you’re concerned that your loved one is being taken advantage of or neglected.

Please contact a nursing home abuse lawyer at Dalli & Marino, LLP today if you suspect that your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse or any other form of elder neglect. We’re here to help you obtain justice for you and your loved one and ensure those who are responsible are held accountable for their actions. For more information about elder abuse cases involving assisted living and/or nursing home care, contact us online or call (888) 465-8790. We also speak Spanish.


3010 Eastchester Rd, Bronx, NY 10469
516-407-8243

66-50 Myrtle Ave, Queens, NY 11385
718-568-5467