The responsible party for Resident 1 at South Pasadena Care Center kept the tablet's camera running continuously, capturing footage of the entire room including two roommates who explicitly objected to being recorded. Federal inspectors found the surveillance violated the privacy rights of all three residents during a September 2025 complaint investigation.
Resident 2 argued directly with the responsible party about the camera installation. She told inspectors she felt uncomfortable using the restroom because of Resident 1's tablet camera. The Director of Nursing confirmed that Resident 2 had stated she did not want to be recorded and was okay with cameras outside her room but not inside.
The camera's impact extended beyond privacy violations.
Resident 3, who has Parkinson's disease, anxiety disorder, and dementia with severely impaired cognitive skills, told inspectors the responsible party "was not good" and "talked a lot." She said she couldn't sleep because the light was turned on 24 hours and there was too much talking between the responsible party and Resident 1. The constant lighting gave her headaches from exhaustion.
"She just kept quiet" about the situation, Resident 3 told inspectors, saying she "does not want to have anything to do with them" and "does not want to deal with them."
Staff members described feeling surveilled during their work. CNA 1 told inspectors she would always see all three residents on the monitor when the tablet was turned on, which the responsible party controlled remotely. "The whole room was on the camera," she said. "CNA 1 would see herself in the camera."
The constant surveillance made staff uncomfortable. "CNA 1 stated it makes them feel weird, the feeling of being watched all the time," according to the inspection report. She noted that residents also "felt weird and invaded their privacy."
LVN 2 stated flatly that "it was not okay to have a camera inside the residents' room, because of privacy issues for residents/roommates."
The facility's own policies prohibited the surveillance setup. A January 2025 policy on resident use of iPads and tablets specifically states that Wi-Fi access is for communication and recreation, with "no unauthorized photos/videos." The facility's April 2023 policy on resident dignity and personal privacy requires care that "respects and enhances each Resident's dignity, individuality, and right to personal privacy."
That policy mandates that staff "examine and treat residents in a manner that maintains their privacy" using closed doors or drawn curtains during personal care procedures. It specifically requires maintaining "Resident's privacy during toileting, bathing, and other activities of personal hygiene."
The responsible party's remote control of the tablet from his house meant the camera could capture residents during these intimate moments without their knowledge or consent.
Resident 3 required substantial or maximal assistance with toileting hygiene, lower body dressing, putting on and taking off footwear, and transfers according to her care assessment. The camera recorded her receiving this intimate care despite her cognitive impairment and inability to meaningfully consent to the surveillance.
The violation affected the sleep and daily functioning of residents who had no choice but to share the surveilled space. Resident 3's complaints about the constant lighting and noise from the responsible party's remote communications with Resident 1 illustrated how the camera installation disrupted basic human needs like rest and quiet.
Federal inspectors determined the facility failed to ensure residents' right to personal privacy, citing the unauthorized camera surveillance that captured residents during toileting, bathing, and other personal activities. The violation was classified as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm to some residents.
The case highlighted how family members' well-intentioned monitoring can violate the rights of vulnerable residents who share living spaces and cannot escape unwanted surveillance.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for South Pasadena Care Center from 2025-09-02 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.