Lawmakers in four states have recently introduced bills that would allow nursing home residents to place surveillance cameras in their rooms. Industry critics have spearheaded the campaign to get surveillance cameras into residents' rooms in hopes of preventing the abuse we so often hear about. Nursing homes are resisting these "granny cams" out of fear of lawsuits.

Some nursing home are already using surveillance cameras in the common areas of their facilities. However, advocates of camera use insist that the decision to install cameras in private rooms should be left up to the resident, not nursing home management.

Industry critics claim that nursing homes are resisting the use of cameras to protect themselves. They argue that the industry is not so concerned about what families will see on the tapes but what the families will not see. The real issue may be that the tapes will show the neglect residents suffer at the hands of their caregivers - missed baths, missed medication and calls for help going unanswered.