Last month, police said a long-term care resident in north Phoenix was raped by a staff member. That assault was captured on a hidden, motion-activated camera. So, how commonplace are cameras in residents’ rooms?
Karen Barno is the CEO of the Arizona Assisted Living Federation of America. Her organization represents about half of the assisted living centers in the state.
"Some of our communities, a lot of our communities do allow cameras," she explained.
Including Brookdale Desert Ridge, which is where the victim lived when police say she was assaulted. But there are guidelines, she said.
"Like if you're going to have cameras, that's great: Let's just post it on the door. So people coming into your room, not caregivers, but other residents, other family members that are coming for a visit know that there are cameras," Barno said.
Because not everybody wants to be recorded, she said, including some residents. Barno said staff are told if there are cameras in the community.
“Brookdale Senior Living allows residents and/or their legal representatives the use of electronic monitoring devices in accordance with Brookdale policy and in compliance with state law," according to a Brookdale spokesperson.
