This article is part of a series on elderly care. The series provides important information about caregiving practices.
In North America and Europe, the number of elderly people living alone is significantly greater than anywhere else in the world.
And with dementia diagnoses on the rise, it’s clear that there must be a reliable way to check in on older family members even when this isn’t physically possible.
Read on to learn about elderly care monitoring, including how elderly monitoring cameras can be used effectively and respectfully, and what features to look out for.
Table of Contents
What are Elderly Monitors?
There’s no single ‘elderly care monitor’, but instead a range of different products that can be used to help facilitate adequate care for the folks that need it. A quick Google will reveal plenty of brands offering these products combined as a single ‘system’.
What are some of the products to look out for to monitor for elderly people living alone?
IP Cameras
Internet-enabled surveillance cameras, namely those with two-way audio or a two-way monitor for elderly care, are a useful way to check in when in-person care isn’t possible.
Though they won’t be linked to elderly monitoring centers like dedicated packages are, they can still be used to alert caregivers to falls and other problems through motion detection, push notifications, and audio detection.
Users can do all this on a budget with IP cameras from affordable brands like AlfredCamera, Wyze, and eufy, all of which have great products in the $25-$50 range.
Read our hands-on reviews on AlfredCam, one of the best budget wifi cameras, and see what role it can play in your daily care plan.
Personal Emergency Response Pendant
A Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) are emergency medical alert devices that come in the shape of a necklace or wristband. The user wears them and presses the button in the middle of it to contact a 24/7 response team.
They can then contact next of kin from a contact list previously assigned, or have a dispatch team come straight to the wearer’s location. Lifelink USA provides PERS for a monthly fee of $34.95.
Room Monitors for Elderly
Rooms monitors for elderly people use voice recognition to function, much like how a Nest or Alexa speaker works. Rather than wearing the device, it’s placed somewhere in the room.
Aeyesafe is an example of one of these systems, based around AI thermal sensors (detecting heat signatures) and Lidar sensors (detecting ranges by reflecting a laser).
Sleep Sensors
Aeyesafe’s system also includes sleep sensors. Amazingly, these are placed under bed posts, and are able to track vitals. They can alert caregivers if the person being monitored has been too long in or out of bed.
More conventional sleep sensors and sleep monitoring devices are found in smart watches and other wearables, like Fitbits.
The Growing Need for Elderly Monitoring Cameras
There’s approximately 14.7 million older adults currently living alone in the US. It’s a rate that only grows as age increases.
There’s no denying that this is alarming. It means that a large portion of the most vulnerable people are potentially unaided and unsupervised. They are also more likely to be poor.
These factors put this group at greater risk of injury and health problems, yet 90% express a ‘keen desire to maintain their independence’. There is a tension, then, between the need to observe and monitor and the need to respect independence and privacy.
Two-way monitors for elderly care are a great way to respect the wishes of both the elderly caregiver and the person being monitored, as they allow for communication between both parties and can allow caregivers to ensure the safety of the recipient, without constantly impeding their lifestyle.
How to Monitor Seniors Living Alone?
The laws around video monitoring in someone else’s home will vary depending on the state or country you live in, so it’s always worth checking out the relevant laws where you live. But as a rule, you must obtain the consent of the observed party and they must be aware that they are being observed.
Managing Caregiving: The Role of A Monitoring System
1. Keep them company
Between rising living costs and increasingly time-consuming work lives, many people serving as primary caregivers for loved ones aren’t able to check in on loved ones as often as they would like.
Surveillance with two-way talk or dual-monitor features , allow for the next best thing, helping to keep loved ones company even when life seems determined to permit it.
2. Check that medication and meals are being taken
It’s easy to forget to take medication as prescribed as people get older, especially for those suffering from memory loss. Likewise, mealtimes can become harder to stick to.
Caregivers can rest assured knowing that they can periodically check in on loved ones to make sure they aren’t forgetting meals or medication via a camera. And provide a gentle reminder through two-way talk.
3. Ensure no trips or falls
A video monitoring system for elderly in the home ensures caregivers that no injuries have been sustained should phone calls be ignored. Multiple cameras can be set up around the home and accessed via a corresponding app.
In the unfortunate event that one does happen, caregivers can be notified immediately through motion detection.
Hence, it’s a good idea to have devices positioned where there are stairs, as well as outside the bathroom.
Choosing the Best Camera for Elderly Care: 5 Best Features
1. Two-way communication
Conversations can be held through security cameras that have two-way audio, which is a common feature of IP cameras. The user can activate the paired device’s microphone, and the party on the other side of the device can talk to them through it. Some cameras, like those made for pet monitoring, also have video monitors on them, so both parties can see and hear one another.
2. Push notifications
It’s neither practical nor respectful to observe livestream footage round-the-clock, which is why push notifications are essential. With push notifications enabled, the caregiver’s paired phone will be notified whenever something requires their attention, like significant motion or even smoke alarms going off.
3. Motion detection
Notifications that will be most important are ones triggered by motion detection. Motion detection sensitivity can be adjusted, and specific areas of the frame can usually be allocated. If a fall were to happen in a doorway, for example, the user’s phone would be immediately notified.
4. Internet compatibility
Without an IP camera, say goodbye two-way audio, push notifications, and motion detection. If the person being cared for doesn’t have a Wi-Fi connection, some cameras support data provided by a SIM card. Check out our favorite cameras to monitor elderly people without wifi.
5. Ease of use
For both parties, ease of use is an important factor in having the device actually be of use. If the monitored party doesn’t want to be viewed for a while, they should be able to easily turn off the device.
Likewise, the app that the camera interfaces with should be simple and streamlined. Easy to use apps include Wyze, Reolink, and the AlfredCamera app, which is compatible with AlfredCam and other mobile devices. For the sake of common decency, look for devices with two-way video monitors or audio, since it can quickly devolve into something akin to spying if there is no communication involved.
Check out our choices for top wireless motion detection cameras perfect for use as two-way video monitors for elderly care.
All-in-one systems marketed as ‘elderly security cameras’ may be useful, particularly if they also include pill dispensers or fall alarms. But these are uncommon, and far more expensive than regular IP security cameras that perform the exact same functions.
Chances are, if in-house caregivers aren’t an option due to financial circumstances, an ‘elderly monitoring system’ that costs thousands won’t be either.
Thankfully, there are great options that cost little to no money, like AlfredCamera.
Best Two-Way Video Monitor for Elderly
AlfredCamera was built with the intention to be a viable security option for everyone, regardless of financial circumstance. At home elderly care is extremely expensive to facilitate properly, and it helps to be able to keep costs down where possible.
For caregivers unsure about committing to the purchase of a hardware camera, try out AlfredCamera on an old phone for free.
Simply download the app onto an Android or iOS device positioned around the house and access them via the app on a separate device.
You’ll be able to enjoy two-way communication with loved ones, 24/7 monitoring, and other useful features, like enhanced night vision and push notifications.
Users are always finding interesting ways to use Alfred, and caregiving has been one such area. The team is proud to have noticed how useful the app has been for caregivers across the globe.
Here’s what users are saying.
‘I use Alfred Camera to care for my Mom. She has fallen 3 times in the last several months and I have peace of mind to keep an eye on Mom’
‘First of all, thank you for this app, I watch my dad thru Alfred at home. I checked on him and thank God I did, he had fallen and wasn’t able to get up. I rushed home and got him his walker, and all was well.’
‘My dad has dementia, and he tries to escape from the house. I use the cameras to help me keep up with him. Thus helping me keep him safe.’
AlfredCamera is available for free on the App Store and Google Play Store.
FAQ
How can I monitor my elderly parents at home?
Monitoring elderly parents at home will involve a mix of older devices, like personal alarm wristbands and necklaces, alongside surveillance cameras with two-way audio. This provides a greater level of security for the person being monitored and allows caregivers to check in when they need to most.
Can I use a baby monitor for elderly?
A baby monitor can indeed be used to monitor elderly folks. ‘Nanny cams’, simply because of how they are marketed, are often far cheaper than ‘elderly monitoring’ cameras, even though they perform the same functions.
An audio-only baby monitor would be insufficient, because being able to view real time footage is essential to keeping them safe.
What is a good camera for inside the house?
AlfredCam makes a great camera for inside the house, allowing users to view footage in real time, enjoy two-way communication, and receive motion-based push notifications.
Installing traditional analog CCTV cameras would be counterintuitive since you wouldn’t be able to stream the footage.
Conclusion
No amount of technology can truly replace the effectiveness of an in-person caregiver. In reality, full-time informal care isn’t always a viable option for families.
Thankfully, technology can work to bridge the gaps, and there are plenty of options for high-end and low-end monitoring systems that can help keep loved ones safe.
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, whether they are elderly, young, rich, or poor. Installing surveillance cameras can be a very effective means of achieving this for the most vulnerable people.
Forgetfulness, delusion, and unusual behavior are common symptoms of dementia that conventional adult monitoring devices, like medical alert buttons and bed alarms for seniors, cannot account for.
Cameras placed around the home are much more reliable safety nets, providing greater peace of mind for caregivers.
For more information on how to appropriately care for seniors living with dementia, check out our article on elderly care for dementia.
Elderly Care Series:
A Guide To Elderly Care For Dementia Patients
20 Essential Elderly Care Supplies for New Caregivers
The True Cost of Elderly Care at Home
Getting to Grips with Levels of Elderly Care
What Are the Types of Elderly Care? The 6 Care Services You Need to Know
9 Effective Elderly Care Tips to Help Your Parents in their Golden Years