Proving that an elderly person has been abused or neglected can be difficult. This is because the abuse happens when only the abused and the abused are in the room. Wisconsin thinks it has an idea that might help.
Most abuse of the elderly does not happen when there are any witnesses around. Caregivers tend to treat the elderly well when other people are present. This is especially true when those people are family members of an elderly person.
The government of Wisconsin has a way to help law enforcement and family members prove that elder abuse or neglect is occurring, as WBAY reports in "Wisconsin allowing hidden cameras to capture elder abuse and neglect."
The state will distribute small digital cameras to local law enforcement agencies. If family members report that they suspect elder abuse, law enforcement will give them a camera they can hide in the elder person's home.
The cameras can be kept up to 30 days and will record everything that happens on a memory card. When the camera and the memory card are turned back in, the recordings can be watched to see if there has been any abuse. The program could become a model for other states in the future.
Reference: WBAY (Feb. 6, 2018) "Wisconsin allowing hidden cameras to capture elder abuse and neglect."