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Electronic Monitoring in Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities

Effective January 30, 2025 the State of Rhode Island enacted a law related to the electronic monitoring of a resident’s room or private living unit in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The law can be found at RIGL § 23-17.29, et. al.

The law allows for the use of electronic monitoring devices in residents’ rooms (provided that the resident or resident representative acting on behalf of the resident, as well as the resident’s roommate or roommate’s representative acting on behalf of the roommate, consent to such electronic monitoring in writing). While nothing previously prohibited the use of electronic monitoring devices in rooms, this law puts more structure around the use of such devices. For example, the law calls for the use of standard forms to indicate consent for the use of electronic monitoring devices.

RIDOH is in the process of developing these forms, and additional guidance for facilities on the implementation of this law. These forms will be provided to facilities in the coming weeks. Guidance from RIDOH will follow.