Supporters of cameras in nursing homes rally

By Wesley Brown

Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK -- Supporters of a bill to put cameras in nursing homes said Monday during an emotion-filled rally at the state Capitol that there is enough momentum in the Legislature to pass such legislation on the third try.

House Bill 1392, the so-called Willie Mae Ryan Nursing Home Resident Protection Act, is on today's agenda for the House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

The bill is named after a deceased Fordyce woman who was beaten to death at a Dallas County nursing home in August 2003.

The rally at the state Capitol rotunda sought support for HB 1392 and paid homage to Ryan, a blind 81-year old with Alzheimer's who was held down by two nursing home employees and beaten with brass knuckles.

"It's too late for my mother and that's a shame," said a tearful and visibly shaken Gloria Leveritt, Ryan's daughter. "I would not want anyone to go through what I have gone through or what my family has gone through.

"The cameras are to stop these people from hurting your families," Leveritt said of HB 1392, which would allow video surveillance in the rooms of nursing home residents.

Before Leveritt's plea, HB 1392 sponsor Rep. Stephen Bright, R-Maumelle, told the crowd of nearly 50 red-clad AARP volunteers and nursing home advocates that he believes the bill will get out of committee and be approved by the full Legislature.

Bright said the death of Ryan has given supporters of "granny cam" legislation a sense of urgency to prevent other nursing home deaths.

"There have been so many things that have changed over the last four years since we ... first introduced this bill in the 2001 session," Bright said. "The issue has changed, the attention has changed, but the main thing that has not changed is the importance of this legislation."

In 2001, the House rejected similar legislation for a second time that would have allowed nursing home residents or their families to install surveillance cameras in their rooms.

Currently, nursing homes can allow cameras but they also can prohibit residents or their families from installing them.

Bright and nursing home advocates say the bill is a way to ensure that residents are properly cared for, and that it could even prove nursing home workers' innocence in frivolous lawsuits.

The resident or a family member would pay for the camera and costs associated with installing it and then would control the recordings, said Bright, whose co-sponsors include Reps. Jeff Wood, D-Sherwood, Shirley Borhauer, R-Bella Vista, and Sandra Prater, D-Jacksonville.

If HB 1392 becomes law, Arkansas will become the third state to enact such legislation, along with New Mexico and Texas.

"We are getting e-mails and calls from people who want this passed," Bright said.

Nancy Allison, president of the Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents, said the use of cameras in nursing homes will prevent future abuse.

"The aide that contributed to the beating of Ms. Ryan ... stated that she would have never been part of that incident had there been a camera in the room," Allison said.

Despite the strong show of support at the state Capitol, Bright said he still expects a tough fight and possible backlash from the state's powerful nursing home lobby. He said he has tried to work with the nursing home owners and has removed language from the bill concerning the resident's right to privacy that was requested by the nursing home industry.

Randy Wyatt, executive vice president of the Arkansas Health Care Association, said that his group would vigorously oppose HB 1392.

"We would not support the bill as it is currently written," Wyatt said of the state's largest advocacy group for owners of more than 95 percent of the licensed long-term care facilities in Arkansas. "There are several areas of concerns that we have."

Pat Jones, spokeswoman for the Arkansas AARP, said supporters of HB 1392 will be out in full force at today's committee meeting.

"We feel very good about it," Jones said.