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Reviewed by an award-winning attorney at DALLI MARINO
Salvatore Marino, Esq. is a founding member of Dalli & Marino, LLP, and has been the managing partner since the firm’s inception in 1996, representing clients in New York City, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester.
Quick Answer
The creation of video cameras for recording and surveilling has changed the world. They allow us to capture life’s most precious moments and enable intelligent security measures in homes, schools, airports, and businesses. Technology like cell phones and webcams have helped nursing home residents keep in touch with family members. Unfortunately, these measures often aren’t enough and have led to countless families questioning if they can install a camera in their loved one’s nursing home room.
Before installing a camera in your loved one’s nursing home room, you should be aware of its permissibility and applicable laws in New York. Is it legal to put a camera in a nursing home room? The following information will discuss important elements to be considered about the use of cameras in nursing homes.
Why Families Want Cameras in Nursing Home Rooms
With a loved one living in a nursing home, many families have various concerns. This is particularly true because they’re unable to visit or speak to their loved ones daily. Whether it’s to watch how their loved one is being cared for or to simply monitor their health, families want to know that their family members are doing okay.
Considering the high rate of abuse and neglect among nursing home residents, families are worried about whether their loved ones are being cared for and attended to at all times. Putting cameras inside a loved one’s nursing home room allows families to observe instances of abuse or mistreatment and can serve as powerful evidence in nursing home abuse cases. However, the installment of cameras raises legal and privacy implications.
Can You Put a Camera in a Nursing Home Room in New York?
New York law does not explicitly allow or forbid video cameras or “granny cams” in nursing home rooms, but several important considerations make their use complicated:
- Privacy of other residents and staff: Many rooms are shared, and caregivers provide personal care such as bathing, dressing, or administering medication. Recording these moments can infringe on the privacy of roommates, other residents, and staff.
- HIPAA and confidentiality: While HIPAA does not specifically ban video cameras, nursing homes are required to protect residents’ private health information. Video footage could inadvertently capture protected details.
- Facility policies: Nursing homes may have rules regarding personal cameras. Installing a camera without approval could violate these policies and lead to disputes.
Because of these factors, installing a camera in a nursing home room in New York is legally uncertain. Families should consult an attorney before attempting to place a camera, as professional guidance is needed to navigate privacy, regulatory, and facility-related issues.
Which States Allow Cameras in Nursing Homes?
Numerous states have laws or regulations that, as of 2025, support the use of cameras or electronic-monitoring devices in nursing home or long-term care facility rooms under certain conditions. These states include:
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Washington
- Ohio
- Connecticut
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Virginia
These laws and regulations often include rules about roommate consent, camera placement, and visibility. This means that even if your loved one resides in any of the above states, you should still consult an attorney before installing a camera to ensure compliance with current regulations and facility policies.
