Facebook and Care Homes.

So long as the residents have given properly informed consent, I suppose it's ok, but I do know what you mean, Calendargirl.

I don't like having my photo taken, and there have been times when someone else at an activity I've attended has taken group photos which have appeared online, and I'm not happy about that. People in care homes are in their 'own space', and shouldn't be filmed going about their lives unless they have agreed in advance and know where the photos will be posted.

Mixed feelings. There are some dire ones around and I know it's proven difficult to get a normal website with a selection of photos of the interior up on some of them and that makes me suspicious that they are amongst the dire ones. Sometimes one can tell by the charge - ie where I live now I've been gobsmacked to see some charging around £500 per week (as I know that will mean dire to start with - given it's my understanding that decent ones are more likely to charge £1,000 or more a week) - but yep....one needs a looksee to help assess standards.

So I would tend to think it's a safeguard for the residents for a selection of photos to be shown - so the surroundings can be assessed, one can maybe pick up clues how the residents are treated, etc.

When someone had to choose a nursing home for my father back in 2020 (just prior to that Lockdown as it turned out in the event) I wanted all the info I could get from afar to help suss them out (and that included photos). One could tell quite a lot just by literally viewing and, when I went back to see the ones that remained on my list after sussing out online as far as possible = one got ruled out instantly literally as I walked down the drive and looking inside revealed I couldnt spot a sign of any of the residents and there was just one apologetic-looking member of staff to be seen (I think she knew I'd decided against before I even walked in the front door).

I am glad I am not the only one concerned about this.

A good care home would never post photos of residents on social media without their permission.

There is a very posh newly opened home in our nearest home which looks like a hotel and charges about £1500 a week. Just last week they posted photos of some residents all dressed up and wearing bright pink wigs as they were involved in some sort of rock and roll event. I found it really creepy and would not have been happy if my late Mum had been photographed like that.

But we don't know they haven't given their permission?
I hate having my photo taken so would have said no but others feel differently.
I would be surprised if permission hadn't been asked for possibly I am naive.

I also assume they would have asked for consent as otherwise there would be repercussions. But there is a difference between consent and fully informed consent - particularly when someone is in a care home and dependent on the staff for so much.

In the case I mentioned they may well have asked their permission but would some of the residents understand?

It looked like a couple of careworkers had posted the photos and I did wonder if management were even aware. I noticed there were some residents in the background but clearly visible sitting slumped in their chairs.

No one has said that this is being done without consent?

Our chain of care homes, which currently house my MiL use both fb and Instagram. They started this in COVID to keep relatives up to date with activities etc.

We are just grateful she is getting good care, is always well looked after, seems content, my DH visits three times a week and in 6 years has never had cause to worry or complain.

I occasionally go with him, it is sad, but thank goodness for these places, my MiL is 91, advanced vascular detention, mobility issues and incontinence. She is always immaculately clean, as is her room and en suite, as well as the all the lounges and corridors etc.

Last time I went we sat in the communal lounge and I observed the carers doing small exercises with the residents, one by one, using soft large balls and a portable pedal machine.

We are always offered tea and the residents all seem to be well looked after.

I certainly do hope I never have to reside there but we will see!

Primrose53

In the case I mentioned they may well have asked their permission but would some of the residents understand?

It looked like a couple of careworkers had posted the photos and I did wonder if management were even aware. I noticed there were some residents in the background but clearly visible sitting slumped in their chairs.

Yes, many do slump, I think you need to think about how and why these people have had to go into residential care. Many have multiple physical and mental health issues and are unable to care for themselves in any way. Sometimes I “slump” in chairs, it doesn’t indicate neglect.

I’m sure the management teams are very well aware of photos and them being posted and if the residents are unable to give consent then I’m pretty sure their relatives will have done. My DH has to consent to virtually everything, a GP visit, the local church visiting, flu and Covid vacs. I think many many homes have improved greatly in the last 10 years and those which still don’t reach the required standard required will hopefully be called out.

My oldest friend is now in a nursing home after two care homes. I wouldn’t say any had informed consent from most residents. As there are safeguarding issues with my friend and advice that her whereabouts is not public knowledge each home was told no photos to be published, this request has been adhered to by the homes. Sadly there has been no monitoring of visitors taking photos or restrictions in shared spaces. A couple of images have found their way to a local FB page much to the worry of the family.

Unless you have actually asked the care home managers, I am surprised that you are sure the residents and families have given permission for photos to be posted publicly. Personally I think what you describe it is an appalling abuse of trust, quite apart from the safeguarding issue. The nursing home my mother was in would never have done this, the advert type photos on their website were very obviously posed with a 'model'. If the care home want to show the range of activities they can easily do so in a way that does not make the people identifiable.

I live in a nursing home, Calendergirl why not respected if frail ?

My late Mum spent her last 3 years in a very good care home. When we agreed the contract, it covered being photographed and they told us they did not post on social media so we were happy with that. Mum said she didn’t mind having her photo taken for use in the home and for us. They had miniature donkeys, ducks, guinea pigs etc visiting and they made lovely photos with residents.

I get two care home related Facebook pages ,mainly one reason is I am a customer , Anchor has main page where they display events which have taken place at a residental/Care home up and down the UK, the other is for Anchor tenants and leaseholders which I sometimes comment, you have some tenants who take Anonymous title as to posting or creating a article , with 55 being the minimum age to get accommodation as well.
Mick

I also noticed this and was a bit concerned. Unless the resident can fully understand where the photos will be published it’s an invasion of privacy. Be very interested to know how this is looked at by the care commission or whatever they are called.

Anniebach

I live in a nursing home, Calendergirl why not respected if frail ?

You misunderstand me Annie, no offence intended by my choice of words.

No way did I mean that being frail means you are not respected.

My OP was more about the realisation that as we age, you may have been a town councillor, head teacher, GP, whatever….a well known and yes, respected, member of your local community, but old age comes to us all.

With data protection laws as they are, I feel sure that consent has been given for pictures to be shown. It’s only certain residents who appear.

And I think back to visiting an elderly relative in a care home back in the 80’s, all sitting in lines of chairs in the communal lounge, with one tv on constantly.

Activities seem much improved since then, thank goodness.

I am much opposed to this. My late DM was in a care home. When she was well she would have been horrified if her picture had appeared on social media and so would I. She probably would’ve agreed to it if asked but not known the implications. Posting photos on FB or elsewhere, unless is a very limited group, opens up scope for abuse and could be used for nefarious AI purposes, for example. Aside from this it is an invasion of privacy - and triggering on a number of levels!

Quercus

Unless you have actually asked the care home managers, I am surprised that you are sure the residents and families have given permission for photos to be posted publicly. Personally I think what you describe it is an appalling abuse of trust, quite apart from the safeguarding issue. The nursing home my mother was in would never have done this, the advert type photos on their website were very obviously posed with a 'model'. If the care home want to show the range of activities they can easily do so in a way that does not make the people identifiable.

I did say it was set specifically for lockdown, where many people couldn’t even visit their relatives, using “models” or showing backs or heads would have been pointless, as the point was to show relatives that there lived ones were still enjoying themselves and not locked away in their rooms all day long.

I absolutely agree that if someone is specifically having to protect their location no images of them should be public. My DH and I regularly take photos of my MiL, but only her, or her surroundings, for example decorations round the communal areas at Christmas, Easter etc etc. We never have photos of other residents, nor do we share share on public forums, photos go onto our extended families WhatsApp’s for those relatives unable to visit her.

In our particular care home, management are aware and regularly visit, DH has met directors and Senior Management on numerous occasions as he visits so often.

Of course I don’t know what goes on in other care homes.

Primrose53

My late Mum spent her last 3 years in a very good care home. When we agreed the contract, it covered being photographed and they told us they did not post on social media so we were happy with that. Mum said she didn’t mind having her photo taken for use in the home and for us. They had miniature donkeys, ducks, guinea pigs etc visiting and they made lovely photos with residents.

My MiL’s home also has visits from various animals, donkeys come in the summer, dogs in the winter, it is lovely.

Quercus

Unless you have actually asked the care home managers, I am surprised that you are sure the residents and families have given permission for photos to be posted publicly. Personally I think what you describe it is an appalling abuse of trust, quite apart from the safeguarding issue. The nursing home my mother was in would never have done this, the advert type photos on their website were very obviously posed with a 'model'. If the care home want to show the range of activities they can easily do so in a way that does not make the people identifiable.

This is the problem 'posed' pictures of care home residents, using models all look so unreal. The advert residents do not one bit like the actual residents of any care home I have visited

I was visiting friends and family members in care homes almost constantly from 1980-2015 and residents were rarely f ever like those in the psoed pictures

I'm a bit surprised re no knowledge as to whether residents have given their permission for photos or no.

In this day and age = I would assume they (or their representative if they weren't up to it) would have given permission.

I think it's pretty recent that it's becoming the norm for permission for photos to be requested from each person individually. In my experience in, say, the last 10 years it's about 50/50 whether the person wanting to do the photograph knows modern manners now say "Ask individually first" and the other 50% have still got old-fashioned manners of not apparently knowing yet that they are supposed to ask each person first. For instance at a recent community meal I went to there was photos being taken of all 100 or so people there - and the photographer was asking first at each table (so that anyone who chose to could just dive out of the way of being included).

These days I opt out of photos and expect the person concerned not to need telling that that request has to be made individually or they are being rude to just go ahead and take a group photo without asking individually first. If they haven't got a full set of modern manners = I dive out of the way. In my case - I'm getting out of the way of cameras because I don't look like me anymore and don't like the look of a body 3 sizes too big (still!) and looking rather different to what I used to look generally.

I would say anyone that doesn't wish to have a photo taken of them gets it on written record with the manager/ess of a care home to say "Mrs X doesn't wish to have her photo taken" and that should ensure she doesn't. If, by any chance, they ignore that = they are in trouble...as they've been given her written instructions.

Obviously too someone might have safety concerns about their photo being taken - and I still remember years back that I was helping to steward a march and one woman there made a point of telling me that she was a former battered wife and had escaped across country away from him. Cue for one of my duties then was to protect her from photographers and tv cameras catching sight of her and I promptly "shielded" her from sight when they loomed nearby.

Cossy

Primrose53

My late Mum spent her last 3 years in a very good care home. When we agreed the contract, it covered being photographed and they told us they did not post on social media so we were happy with that. Mum said she didn’t mind having her photo taken for use in the home and for us. They had miniature donkeys, ducks, guinea pigs etc visiting and they made lovely photos with residents.

My MiL’s home also has visits from various animals, donkeys come in the summer, dogs in the winter, it is lovely.

It is really lovely. At Mum’s home they also had duck eggs in incubators delivered. The residents were thrilled when after a few days they started hatching, the eggs cracked and beautiful little ducklings emerged.

They put them in a big play pen and the residents got so much enjoyment. One of the careworkers lived on a smallholding so after a while they went to live at her place with access to a pond etc and she used to take photos to show residents how happy they were in their new home.

I quite understand the issues around consent. On the other side of the coin though our friend of 50 years has recently moved into a care home and her photos are on FB. On the occasions we can’t manage to visit it is lovely to see her joining in the activities and looking so happy and content.

My Dad was in a carehome 8 years ago and when he moved in he was asked, as part of the contract, if he consented to his photo being used - which he did. I loved being able to check on the home's Facebook page to see what the residents were doing - especially as Dad complained whenever I visited but I could see from the photos that he joined in with the activities and generally looked happy.