My mum was at police station last night having left her flat and got lost. Finally managed to trace me at 4 am. Home safe now. Maybe it's the tiredness but my googlefu is failing me.
I need an alarm to go in her front door that will text me if she leaves. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Ring doorbell.
you get a notification and video of the event.
consider also: apple airtag sewn into her coat.
Like this? Only problem is I will get a notification every time someone walks past her flat..
consider also: apple airtag sewn into her coat
One thing to be aware of is that dementia sufferers often don't "think" in that manner, they don't put a coat on to leave the house. Worst case is you get a false positive thinking she's safe when actually the coat is at home and she's wandering the streets.
Same with phone trackers and Google Share Location etc, it relies on them having the phone.
My grandma used to wander off in whatever she was wearing, the only solution was a lock high up on the door that only my grandpa could reach.
I'd go with the Ring doorbell or some sort of motion activated security camera.
Could it be fitted inside facing outwards somehow?
I'm looking at the same and probably going the doorbell route (blink not ring) but it's easier as it would view an area that's not busy.
Saying that there's an indoors camera that I could just point at the door from inside block out everything bar the door, so only interactions with the door will trigger it.
One thing to be aware of is that dementia sufferers often don't "think" in that manner, they don't put a coat on to leave the house. Worst case is you get a false positive thinking she's safe when actually the coat is at home and she's wandering the streets.
Same with phone trackers and Google Share Location etc, it relies on them having the phone.
Yep this is it. The ring doorbell would work but every time someone walks past the corridor outside it will go off. I just want a notification if the doors opened. I know roughly when carers go in etc.
I just want a notification if the doors opened
Wifi door sensor.
You can get them off Amazon, it's a contact sensor that mounts on the door and frame and connects to the router (I assume she has internet?)
Every time the contact is broken, it pings an alert.
They're definitely intended more as a security measure on garage / shed doors etc and I think you'll still end up with a flood of notifications every time a carer goes in or out or a delivery is made.
I'd get a door sensor so you know when it's been opened and an internal camera pointing at it so you can remotely check if it was her leaving or just answering the door (and if the former what she was wearing). You could link them to so it would only record if the sensor activated but probably better if the camera continually records or triggers with motion sensing as there might be a delay otherwise and she could be out the door before the camera starts recording.
This sort of thing?
HOMESECURITYPLANET.COM You can get pressure mats but they tend to sound a local alarm. If you do find a mat-type then get a white one; dementia patients will avoid a black mat because it looks like a hole
I've installed a video doorbell and 2 cameras at my mums. She isn't leaving the house but she has let some strangers into her house.
I'm using eufy doorbell and cameras. The camera needs WiFi connection and a plug socket. You could place the camera on the wall inside the flat facing the door and it will send an alert whenever it detects movement.
I'm not sure of door alarms but well worth signing her up for the Herbert Protocol if you haven't done so already. Certain trackers are available with the scheme.
DEMENTIAUK.ORG Adult Social Care may also be able to help (although as with all state provided services it can take an age to actually see someone).
An ID bracelet is also handy, my dad has one.
The ID Band Company | Medical ID Bracelets, Necklaces & Accessories
We fitted a ring type doorbell/camera facing inwards. It gives a notification on the phone when someone passes and you can jump on and get pictures if concerned. it could be fitted so that it only senses the door area and you'd know whenever the door opens?
worth signing her up for the Herbert Protocol if you haven't done so already
Did that this morning at 4am.
Bracelet is a good idea too but she will take it off, need a non removable one.
Have ordered a door sensor that can ping me a message, camera might be good too.
I have a very similar problem, only mine is exceptionally complicated because of my sibling, long term 'sick' living at home. For 'reasons' we cannot use any kind of gadget at all, no WiFi, no mobile communication, nothing.
Perfect 😐
Mum has walked around the street in just her bra on top now and been out several times.
She has an id bracelet. Sibling wants a deadlock fitted because she sleeps during the day but obviously you can't lock someone into their own house for several reasons.
****ed up situation 😔
OP as a side note, have you applied for attendance allowance from the council?
Some good suggestions above.
Do you have PoA? Has it been enacted? Can she consent to what can be seen as a deprivation of her liberty, if you do not have such decision making authority, even though it is being done to safeguard her?
OP as a side note, have you applied for attendance allowance from the council?
It's through the DWP and you'll need LPA too
Set this one up for someone recently - cheap, no contract, ideal if theres no mains connection nearby (charge once every few months) . Needs wifi (although I use similar for workshop secuity and connect it to a 4g Mifi if theres not broadband available)
Sometimes the intercom element is very useful - if someones heading to the door at the wrong time etc theres a chance to have a conversation and discuss / dissuade
If nighttime/early hours wandering is an issue - having a second camera/sensor say on a landing etc can be useful to give you a bit of fore-warning that someones up and about before they are heading out the door - and again gives you an opportunity to talk them down - which is easier to do before they've got their coat on and resolved to leave.
Something I had to make for myself becuase their didn't seam to be a commercial alternative at the time was a clock that divided the day into Breakfast/Morning/Lunch/Afternoon/Dinner/Evening/Night in coloured blocks (basically a 24 clock movement with the minute hand removed and custom printed face.)
Had a few around the house and helped to some extent at this time of year where it can be 'night time' and still light
You can get digital clocks that can be set to show 'day' and 'night' I think though
I assume you have already got LA social work team involved to explore any support needed?
They can arrange a door sensor which will alert Telecare/Lifeline type services that the door has been opened. You can set this for specific times to avoid it going off if carers/family/etc visit during the day .. ie between 10pm and 8am. It will send alert to the first responders such as named family, or in some LAs there will be employed staff to respond.
You can get various trackers to wear which will help locate the person quickly .. wear around neck or wrist .. placed in favourite shoes or items of clothing.
Worth looking at other items in home too - smoke detectors just in case etc .. probably isolate the cooker (assuming this already done though!)
As for fitting cameras - at your own peril!!
legally - you will need consent or a BIM, which of course is usually overlooked. But they can, and often do, cause families a lot more worry and concern - especially if motion detected to notify you.
legally - you will need consent
Having dementia doesn't mean you're unable to consent - if someone is living at home with a decent degree of independence they're probably also able to express their own concerns and desires and understand whats being done to help them and why. The condition can often give people very specific blind-spots - for my mum it was concept of time (which if someone is leaving the house at inappropriate times of day my be a factor) but can be very much on board with the strategies that are needed to help them keep some independence.
Of course - consent is both decision and time specific. However, a person who is at the stage where leaving the home is an issue of concern often suggests a rather advanced stage where informed decision making is compromised.
Slight tangent - are those ioGeek cameras decent then? Looks like what we could do with for parcel deliveries, but it's a pretty exposed location
Regarding dementia clocks, search eBay for that term. Large display that shows date, day, time, morning/afternoon/evening. My mum finds it very useful.
She got into the habit of phoning the speaking clock at night, sometimes several times a night, at 50p per call. I found that her BT cordless phones support premium number blocking, which stopped that game. Got her a big push button speaking clock for bedside use. Again eBay for a few quid.
Anyway, appreciate the ideas in the thread for other issues. She's not gone wandering yet, I don't think she physically could get to the top of her driveway tbh.
I have a door sensor and an internal camera.
Not for a dementia sufferer, but to see when the kids get home/go out. Camera has motion sensing, but the door sensor gives me a bit of belt and braces.
Slight tangent - are those ioGeek cameras decent then? Looks like what we could do with for parcel deliveries, but it's a pretty exposed location
works well as a camera - chose that one in particular as there wasn’t easy to tidily run power to it - but it’s just a camera not a doorbell so not sure how it helps in terms of parcel.
seems to work well though very few false notifications compared to my workshop cameras which although set to recognise humans will still be triggered by shadows of passing vehicles and so on
, I don't think she physically could get to the top of her driveway tbh.
Without wanted to jinx it, I thought that!!
Thanks for the tips on here. As usual this place is a gold mine of helpfulness.
