Albuquerque caretaker arrested after video shows sexual assault of dementia patient
A caretaker at an Albuquerque senior facility was arrested after security video captured her sexually assaulting a 77-year-old man with dementia.
Security cameras from a northwest Albuquerque care home captured caretaker Stephanie Paiz entering a 77-year-old dementia patient’s room, locking the door and committing sexual abuse on Aug. 14. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman filed three counts of criminal sexual penetration and one count of criminal sexual contact against her. A staff member rushed to the scene, opened the door and halted the assault.
Paiz was arrested and will stay in jail while awaiting trial. The president of the company that operates Ativo Senior Living clarified that Paiz was a private caretaker hired by the resident’s family, not an employee of the facility. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about elder abuse and the need for stronger oversight in senior-care settings.
Why it matters
It reveals vulnerabilities in senior-care facilities and the importance of protecting elders from abuse.
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