ONE PICTURE CAN SAVE A LIFE!
By: Anonymous
Courtesy of Inyan Magazine
Although this writing is not in response to an Inyan article, it is so crucial that I hope you’ll publish it. I have been wanting to suggest an idea to the public for almost two years now, but I couldn’t think of the best way to do this. I have an elderly mother, baruch Hashem, who lives in our community, in her own house, where she has lived since she arrived in America after the Holocaust. She is surrounded by a most loving, devoted and caring family of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and ken ayin hara great-great-grandchildren
We are always looking for ways to improve her care. We have set shifts every day of people who visit, and a family member is in charge to ensure that everyone doesn’t come one day, and the next day no one shows up! This is in addition to the 24/7 private help that she has living with her and attending to all her physical needs. We all agree that she is most comfortable living in her own beautiful home, totally handicap accessible, at a point in her life where familiarity with her own possessions and surroundings enhances her quality of life.
One day, we attended a support group for caregivers of elderly parents or spouses. We gained a lot from the session, but the most amazing thing was to see a few of the women take smartphones or iPads out of their bags to watch their parent and observe how they were doing while the children were out! I was beside myself with wonder and feelings of guilt as I watched this in disbelief!
If today’s technology can offer us an opportunity to really know 24/7 what’s going on with our mom, then we must install cameras ASAP. We did, and since then we have let go of aides who had seemed so devoted until we saw the truth on camera. They weren’t attentive enough or they talked on the phone or texted nonstop when they were supposed to be caring for Mom. They might have been doing things that are wrong or harmful or just not careful enough or sanitary enough!
This can happen even if a parent is living with you in your own home. It’s difficult to watch someone 24/7 without help. An added benefit is that you can look back and see what transpired in the hours, days or weeks before.
The members of the support group advised us NOT to hide the cameras. In every room that Mom uses, we have a camera that is exposed and very noticeable. We see exactly who comes and who goes, whether Mom had a good night or a bad night, if she’s coughing or in pain. If we see that the aide is great, we go out of our way to make her happy!
All types of surveillance cameras are available, so it’s easy to find one to fit every need and budget.
I would suggest that every private playgroup, where mothers leave their children when they go to work, should have cameras installed so that mothers can observe their young children anytime they want to. If a home health aide or babysitter has nothing to hide, they will not object to the cameras!
Our family has been publicizing the advantages of using cameras to keep a watchful eye on elderly parents who are no longer capable of taking care of themselves. We believe that today, given the available technology, it is the ultimate chiyuv, obligation, of kibbud av va’eim.
The cameras have reinforced our understanding of the meaning of “Ayin ro’ah v’ozen shomaas.” In the zechus that we strive to be mekayem our mitzvah to honor our parents to the best of our ability, may Hashem assist us in our sacred work!