Looking for video cameras to see how my dad is doing when I can't reach him by phone. Has anyone done this?

My Dad has mild dementia which is progressing since my Mom passed in 3 yrs ago. We use three ring cameras..one is battery due to no plug in the area and other two are plug-in. You will need wifi and the app on your phone. The one with battery does drain quickly if there’s a lot of motion. (We also have our County meals on wheels who deliver lunch and dinner along with church volunteers in the evening Mon-Fri who visit to help him with his medications. I visit during the day when I can or fue Dr apts and am there on weekends to help with shopping, meals, laundry etc) The cameras are motion activated and each camera has audio so we can talk through it if he can’t get to the phone. I get alerts on my phone and iPad when there’s motion and can back track on the video to check on him too. He has privacy in the bathroom. If he’s in there for a long time we can call him on the phone that was installed in there to make sure he’s ok.

The cameras saved my Dad’s life last year as we could tell he was in distress..just not acting right…not eating or drinking all day and not walking well, although on the phone he said he was ‘just fine’….turned out he was in kidney failure and spent one week in the hospital.

We live 30 min away and have hide a keys outside at his place for emergency personnel if he needs immediate assistance and can’t get to the door.

These cameras are the only way we can keep him living ‘independently’ in his apartment home where he’s lived over 65 years. We took his car so no more driving ( he got lost coming to my home of 20 years) and We’re lucky he doesn’t wander. I did put life 360 on his cell phone but he doesn’t usually remember to take it with him when he takes a short walk so I also put a tile in his wallet, cane and keychain.

I know there will come a time he’ll have to be moved but honestly I dread it as I feel he will decline even more rapidly in an unfamiliar place. These cameras not only are keeping him in the place he loves but also give me a little freedom and peace of mind since his mind isn’t as reliable as it used to be.

I used a ring via battery - I just placed it in the living room. I could see the living room, his chair, tv, and the entrance to the bedroom. Not the bathroom but I could check on it through the app. There are now better ones like the ones you place in the light socket that has two way audio: Shop 360 Security Camera Bulb - Amazon.com Official Site

We used Blink cameras to watch my mother with dementia when she lived at home 2 hours away by car. We put the cameras in the kitchen and family room and they helped us a lot as we had a long process to get her into a memory care home.

I had 3 cameras in mom’s AL 1 bedroom apartment. 1 on the bed, 1 at the table and 1 (not in the bathroom) but towards the bathroom door. They were the best because I got to see her routine since she had no memory of it. I also got to see when she was having and confusing time (UTI alert). I could let the caregiver know what they were coming into and they appreciated it since mom couldn’t tell them accurately. For phone: I got her a stand charger and zip tied her phone to the charger-she has a apple iphone and in the settings you can have it answer automatically after a few seconds-you set the time. I also set a duck call ring tone and had it announce the callers. Mom never missed a call after that. I got her Mint Mobile (15 bucks a month) and cleaned her contact list as well as setting it to only ring when the person was in her contact list (cuts out the spam calls and wrong numbers). I did get her a Alexa show and use it to drop in and talk to her. She was able to use it to drop into me at one time, but she doesn’t know how now. The blink camera helped me in that if the blink was alerting me, I would peek in and see mom sitting at the alexa saying my name. I would call immediately. I told mom the blink cameras were speakers and she was fine with it. She would have paranoia moments so I put a little sign that reminded her they were speakers and she would leave them alone. As far as privacy! That is a valid concern but we are talking about safety for a person who is unable to articulate, remember and be consistently safe. The camera was only used by me. Example: my mom (when she was on the floor) , the camera proved to be invaluable! I got to see how she got to the floor and that she didn’t hit her head so no trip to the ER per the AL rules. Now mom is in MC and I am not happy that cameras are not allowed in the room. They only check mom every 2 hours and have stated that privacy is the reason. These residents are like children and they get adult privacy! It is more like “No evidence” of what really happens. It is a good place but they suffer from staffing issues. I am fortunate that I have 7 day care 4 hours a day for mom so she can have a routine that works for her. She sleeps a lot and without the caregivers, she would be forced to sit in a common area so the staff can watch her. I offered the facility access to the camera so they could see that mom’s safety not privacy was the reason for the cameras and was denied. Bottom line: cameras give peace of mind and auto answer on phone and alexa are all great to support a parent who wants independence.

The WYZE cameras sold on their website or Amazon are great, very inexpensive and very effective. After awhile my mother didnt even notice them and they gave me peace of mind countless times. I could monitor her even from another state from my cell phone. Don’t hesitate.

Yes. I got LaView video cameras from Amazon. I put one in her bedroom, kitchen, livingroom and one to shoot down the hall. I checked on my mom several times a day. I could also talk to her through them from an app on my phone. It worked well. She fell out of bed one night and could not get up. I saw it on the camera and got to her within 10 minutes from my house. I told her through the speaker that I was on my way and to not try to get up. Thankfully she was ok.

When my BIL lived in his apartment alone we put 2 RING cameras in his place. One in the kitchen/living room and one in his bedroom. He has dementia and we needed to keep an eye on him. It got to where we were doing everything for him like telling him when to eat, take his pills, and turn on air/heat.

He had these cameras in his apartment for about a year. With RING cameras you can talk over them because he would leave his phone off hook. And when he was fixing his food we could see what he was eating or drinking. He only used the microwave.

Prayer

Oh absolutely. I was a care manager of my friends' parents for 7 years, the last 4 I lived with them. They are a must. I found out the hard way after the Mrs.' jewelry had been stolen by 'trusted' caregivers. Err. Still irks me I didn't do it sooner. Anyway, I had one in the bedroom, kitchen, and living rooms - that's where they were 99% of the time. I left them in plain sight of everyone and made it clear that I did review them and would take action as necessary (and I did). I especially watched these when I hired someone new. How surprising it is that many didn't take me seriously - one even turned the camera around so it wasn't recording anything. I saw theft, abusive and neglect. Get them. They are invaluable.

Was a life saver for me..my Mother was alone at night and I could check to see what was going on. One night she was on the floor! She did not know to press Life Alert. I got EMS right away. Also allowed me to see how she and the aides were doing...they all knew I had cameras....one in bedroom and one in living room. I could talk to her through them as well...have her hold up things for me to see etc. I had Arlo..they work quite well. She has passed but I still have the apartment and can check on things when I am away. Provides peace of mind..not expensive.

I have used Ring cameras in my home and in my mother's nursing home (under a court order.) There are numerous brands of cameras and services. I think Ring works well. You could set up a few.

Another option, if you have old cell phones -- just install the Alfred app. The phone will then be usable as a camera similar to Ring.

Another option to consider, if you think it would be of use - set up an Echo Show (from Amazon). It would let you "drop in" on your dad and you could communicate via audio/video.