[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5984668,"mediaKeyId","5761402-d33489487b7882a1c8fc2f2826a126fe","parentId",5761402,"title","Family testimony urges explicit right for families to install cameras in assisted‑living and nursing facilities","audioSeconds",694,"startMs",1400000,"endMs",2094000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761402-d33489487b7882a1c8fc2f2826a126fe&start=1400&end=2094","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761402-d33489487b7882a1c8fc2f2826a126fe/thumbnail_1400000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5984668/Massachusetts/Family-testimony-urges-explicit-right-for-families-to-install-cameras-in-assistedliving-and-nursing-facilities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984668-39169590e7372af57361dc494dbdd632/orig.mp4?Expires=1771049765&Signature=M80VUo7uehHp5fspQM0NyrqvZd~GWj6ERsfVxWeHIWYgSt-9zFjWXTTAKPQXhC9AwHiW63L4MkX67-meDiHjxklkoErziiHDHbfT9lihfqGPhsJkvBXy3-e1V7JMTBGtvouiR4VkxqDUicVBcp3DLLe5Kq2TvI5X9NRQ04OKKgOT5avUb9gqMiDiJVhMKY0HVMjCCV6DLe87qqCDpvSrAKaYfpz2TfFTOslgccEswIIh664OW7HR5EV3i5TkpnhD9Bx0d2hdeTcQJ3tfZ1tUlebNPYVhPB3FRnfzlTfNBrueQwKWI3FUhi~Von4btOkrwJMgviE~qj6~4rpyrzTD2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-09-16T00:00:00Z","article","Deborah de Benedictus, speaking about House 759, described using a camera at two facilities where her 97‑year‑old father lived and recounted serious care problems after a fall. “Many residents in nursing homes do not have the capacity to speak out effectively about their care,” de Benedictus said, explaining why she and her family installed cameras. She said one facility where cameras were not permitted failed to produce documentation of the policy; in another facility that allowed cameras, the family used video to document care.

De Benedictus recounted that after a fall around 2 a.m., staff did not call an ambulance immediately; she said her father was not taken to the hospital until roughly 8:30 a.m. and sustained multiple fractures including vertebrae, ribs, a collarbone and a wrist. She said some care staff later described him as “delusional,” which she disputed, and that his care after returning to the facility’s skilled unit required additional paid private assistance for feeding. De Benedictus said these events contributed to her father’s decline and eventual death after more than nine weeks in an ICU.

The witness referenced a news article stating about 20 states have policies allowing cameras in long‑term care settings and told the committee families use cameras most often during late hours when regular nursing staff are limited. Committee members asked whether the draft bill affirmatively permits family cameras and how privacy would be protected; testifiers and legislators said the draft includes notice and guideline provisions and that families should be able to provide written testimony or evidence. De Benedictus agreed to submit written testimony and a copy of the cited article for the committee record.

Committee members acknowledged privacy concerns raised by staff and clinicians but emphasized that witnesses described cameras primarily as tools to monitor aides and overnight care. No committee vote occurred on House 759 at the hearing; the record shows the committee invited written testimony and follow‑up materials to clarify policy language and privacy safeguards.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee on Aging and Independence - 9-16-2025","oneSentenceSummary","A family member described a delayed hospital transfer after a nighttime fall and urged lawmakers to allow families to install cameras in long‑term care settings, saying cameras can provide evidence and improve care; committee members discussed privacy safeguards and notice provisions in the draft bill.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5984672,"Supporters push bill to require an RN on every hospital and nursing‑home board",430,494000,924000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761402-d33489487b7882a1c8fc2f2826a126fe&start=494&end=924","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761402-d33489487b7882a1c8fc2f2826a126fe/thumbnail_494000.jpg","/articles/5984672/Massachusetts/Supporters-push-bill-to-require-an-RN-on-every-hospital-and-nursinghome-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984672-418fdccce66421460dd2a4689f3a677a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771049765&Signature=OCBu8WBfInx-8IWoGtODdky~0WCJ00-xNnV7YWdqGlsY77QmoDPnit9th4riT1VWIb8bOgo35PKMqCYILl~k49JZd4AJuy1D8ybRr-0EyuvF8H-~Yc85v2KIJppWty6IvJLxEYTJk6lKMMy7OBME3Jmfm-8xlSl4uA8VYzg-5UYqK5GSsXRLDHvAVgNoPt9YYiiO6BMxilJCraCpRxHYp9uyejagqWKVET0YOMJRCNo3BJKdjyurD4~I9kEiunClr8Xn8MVmKX1AUkDX0DCRQCjCl6yOF4JROTE953hO2-iGNqSQGA-jENsvq9RzrE~hLAiREipz4GcoXXCbP0rz~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Patricia Crispy of the American Nurses Association told the Committee on Aging and Independence that House Bill 766 would require every acute hospital and nursing home in the Commonwealth to have “at least one registered nurse member with full voting rights and privileges on the board of directors or trustees.” Crispy said nurses bring expertise in quality, patient safety and operations and argued that boards would make more effective decisions with nursing representation.

Crispy described the Association as representing “5,000,000 nurses nationally and over 130,000 registered nurses here in the Commonwealth,” and said the organization previously filed a version of this proposal in 2023. She said adding nurses to governance “enhances diversity of ideas and a broader range of perspectives for the largest health care workforce.”

Representative Renato, identified on the record as the sponsor of H 766, told the committee the bill is intended to ensure governing bodies reflect the realities of patient care and noted that federal rules require registered nurses to be on site 24/7 in nursing homes. “Including nurses on boards ensures that the decisions reflect the abilities, the realities of patient care,” Renato said, arguing that board insight could better align strategy with clinical needs.

Committee members asked for clarification about whether assisted‑living residences (ALRs) would be covered by the bill; Crispy said she would “get the details and let you know” and that the Association had provided written testimony. The transcript records no committee vote on H 766 during the hearing; Crispy and the sponsor urged the committee to act favorably and to follow up with clarifying definitions and data on current board composition.

Less critical details: committee members asked how many hospitals and nursing homes currently have a registered nurse on their board; Crispy said exact numbers were not at hand and that public board rosters often do not specify members’ professional backgrounds. The Association committed to providing more precise data to the committee.","Witnesses including the American Nurses Association and the bill sponsor urged the committee to require at least one registered nurse with full voting rights on every acute hospital and nursing‑home board in the Commonwealth.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5984677,"Advocates urge Legislature to build on Chapter 197 reforms for long‑term care",244,63000,307000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5761402-d33489487b7882a1c8fc2f2826a126fe&start=63&end=307","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5761402-d33489487b7882a1c8fc2f2826a126fe/thumbnail_63000.jpg","/articles/5984677/Massachusetts/Advocates-urge-Legislature-to-build-on-Chapter-197-reforms-for-longterm-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5984677-720966a8224305bb20c922e48befa7d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771049765&Signature=k8jCtab-y4LuN86RgVdCZYdh6cwuRr7fstM0PxpxpVAHwnwi9eBBhQTbOVh8vv9AoTt0uwAWFxI-HzKrIldhqLDP0I4UMScJSDA1KmWKxHOh2wK9fSF7VA1YQU4g7qG3oAcjUIGWJ7gTXZNnGbTCVq4CyIp3q5lxnVCw3ucW7IHP~VlETRvpwmBPJaQ7jui3VDAbVsE0sFV3nZ~YS~K9Y34renoEn9BiHwUTbjpACRfR8nqVgmq8~SG50EVHcKNAduhlZmStrbdeGDwT2BmYyQ-x9sCc~RyRddRtI~nAkJ2-8Obi6Lve4-Gapv-pgn6gdi1ckvahX1q0TxqAjRQ7MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richard Moore of Dignity Alliance told the Committee on Aging and Independence on Oct. 5 that the group supports a package of bills intended to expand the long‑term care reforms enacted in Chapter 197 (Acts of 2024). “The true measure of our commonwealth is how we care for those who once cared for us,” Moore said, urging the committee to take “favorable action” on the bills Dignity Alliance supports. He said the coalition has six sponsored bills on the list and “at least three others” they favor.

Moore said the bills together would strengthen the workforce, protect residents’ rights and “ensure clinical excellence in our facilities,” and that the state should not “sit back and admire our work” but instead implement and build on Chapter 197. He warned that federal policy shifts could “threaten to erode our progress,” and invoked the COVID‑19 pandemic as a reason to accelerate reforms: “Fueled by the memory of those we failed to protect during COVID, we need to rise to this challenge and forge a system of long term care that serves as a beacon of dignity and as a model for the nation.”

Moore criticized some industry arguments that reforms would be too costly, noting that “the industry is two thirds are for profit” and citing a national study his testimony referenced that suggested an average profit margin near 9 percent. He suggested the committee consider an audit to verify that legislative appropriations intended for staffing actually reach frontline caregivers: the committee should ask “for somebody to do, maybe the auditor…to have her look at whether the money that the legislature appropriates is actually going to the staffing that you intended it to go to.”

Committee members asked questions and expressed appreciation for the coalition’s statewide reach; the committee record shows written testimony was provided for the bills named in Dignity Alliance’s materials. No formal committee vote on any bill occurred during the hearing; witnesses asked for favorable reports on the measures so the committee can continue legislative work on implementation and oversight.

Dignity Alliance representatives and other speakers indicated willingness to work with committee staff to “fine tune, if need be, any of these measures” and to move provisions toward passage.

Less critical details: testifiers noted the coalition’s virtual organization allowed participation from across the Commonwealth, from the Berkshires to Martha’s Vineyard. The Dignity Alliance testimony did not identify precise implementation timelines or cost estimates for the package; written testimony supplied to the committee contains bill‑by‑bill details referenced by Moore.","Dignity Alliance and other advocates told the Committee on Aging and Independence the state should move from implementing Chapter 197 to a broader set of reforms to strengthen workforce, resident protections and clinical quality across nursing homes and long‑term care settings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Family testimony urges explicit right for families to install cameras in assisted‑living and nursing facilities

Supporters push bill to require an RN on every hospital and nursing‑home board

Advocates urge Legislature to build on Chapter 197 reforms for long‑term care