For some adult children of elderly parents there may come a time when it becomes necessary to do more than just “check in” on their senior loved ones. It may be safer and necessary to use a video monitoring system.
Types Of Video Monitoring Systems For Seniors
There are multiple options of video cameras and monitoring systems that can be set up in someone’s home and depending on what you choose will depend on what your needs are.
I will say that it’s important to consider what the future “might” look like so that you can choose a monitoring system that not only meets your needs today but in the future as well.
For example: if your elderly parent is in the beginning stages of Dementia, then please understand that it is very likely that his/her symptoms will get much worse so you will want to use a video monitoring program that can detect falls, send you text alerts as well as show you a live video feed.
Two Types Of Security Cameras To Use For Monitoring Elderly Loved Ones
There are basically two main types of video monitoring systems that we recommend:
- Wireless cameras with night vision and motion sensors – like the COOAU Pet Camera and the Blurams Home Pro
- Video and sound only like the Echo Show or KOMP (Currently only available in 8 countries within mainland Europe )
Features Of Wireless Cameras
Although the name of the COOAU camera indicates it’s for monitoring pets, it can truly be used for so much more! It’s great for monitoring children and senior adults as well.
These wireless cameras use your home’s WiFi system to operate so installation is usually easy and hassle free.
I like the COOAU Pet Camera because it has night vision capabilities and it is both a camera and a motion sensor which gives it an extra layer of monitoring that may hopefully detect and alert you if your parent were to suffer a fall.
NOTE: But if your parent does have a history of falling or a very strong potential of falling then I would recommend to add a fall detection device like the Walabot Fall Alert System.
The Blurams Home Pro is also a great option, it has many of the same features that the COOAU Pet Camera has so choosing either one of these would be able to help you to monitor your elderly parent.
Like most all the wireless cameras you can monitor the video from these cameras from your phone, receive alerts and both can be used with your Alexa device.
Amazon’s Echo Show
Amazon’s Echo Show is an Alexa device with a screen. It does everything that Alexa does and more.
It can be used for video monitoring by using it’s Drop In Skill.
The Drop In skill allows you to instantly connect to another person’s Alexa device – acting like an intercom. The person you are connecting to must have given you permission to do so at first, and then you can “drop in” on them. They do not have to answer in order for you to drop in.
It’s a great two-way video monitor that can help to keep you and your elderly parents in touch visually and help them to be safer at home.
How Do I Monitor My Elderly Parents?
Video monitoring systems are just one of the ways that adult children can monitor their elderly parents. Other tools that can be used are…
- movement sensors
- medical alert devices
- Alexa devices
- Baby monitors
Movement Sensors are basically devices that detect movement on or off of something. So, things like a mat placed on the bed which would alert the caregiver that their elderly loved one is getting up off the bed. Or a mat on the floor which would alert the caregiver that someone has stepped onto the mat.
Medical Alert Devices such as LifeFone, Life Alert, Medical Guardian or the Invisawear Smart Jewelry. These devices work IF the elderly person is able to remember to use them and if they are conscious to use them.
Alexa devices are great for monitoring, especially as I mentioned earlier the Echo Show device. What I like most about using Alexa is that it’s a multi-purpose tool so that it’s NOT JUST for monitoring, it can be used for so many other features as well. Here are my favorite 26 skills that are most useful for seniors.
Baby monitors with audio and video can be also be used to help you monitor your aging parents.
Baby monitors used to limit caregivers to staying within certain ranges to keep the connection, but today most come with apps where family and caregivers can monitor a parent on their smartphones, IOS computers, Android computers, or tablets.
This way, they can either be in the same house, or they can monitor a patient remotely from another house, school, shopping. The apps will send alerts to their devices if there is a problem.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day – you may need only one product or a few to monitor your elderly parent(s) – just depends on what your needs and their needs are.
But whatever you choose – I do highly recommend that you do something! I have too many stories of patients I treated as an Occupational Therapist who were injured at home and were not able to get help for many hours or days.
