AI Surveillance of Patients… and Caregivers

As AI tools are rolled out and implemented, one area focuses on dementia care but also claims to offer additional oversight of patients receiving care that may need another layer of safety but not necessarily 24x7 nursing care.  One example is Brookdale Senior Living implementing Safely You Aware to have “a clearer picture of resident risk every hour from 7 pm to 7 am” that observes the resident: Technology in Memory Care | Brookdale Senior Living

This will give the facility and others (family members, Adult Protective Services, law enforcement, Department of Health) an opportunity to second-guess the care that was provided in the moment.  Falls of the residents may be captured, but also the caregiver’s own actions or inactions while on shift.  Caregivers should be aware of the systems being used, what is documented or maintained, and if they have consented to such monitoring.  Even if they have consented, the use of the AI may vary from resident to resident, from one room to the next, depending on what they or their power of attorney have consented to. 

Regardless, this is potentially one more layer of information besides charting, medication administration logs, or report to oncoming staff, regarding patient/resident care.