Elderly remote activity monitoring

Waste

I live abroad and I am very concerned about my 88 year old father who lives alone and won't accept help. I'm looking for a gadget to check that he is still moving about the house, but he won't wear any wrist or neck activity monitor. I've looked for motion sensors on the web, but surprisingly I can't find anything. The best thing I've spotted so far is the 3rings kettle plug, which would tell me if he hadn't used the kettle all day. I've also seen a sensor system that goes under his mattress, but I doubt he'll accept this either.

Also, he does not have an internet connection and is unlikely to allow one to be installed(!)

So does anyone have any suggestions? Many thanks.

nelly17

CCTV over broadband?

Waste

thanks for the reply, but CCTV isn't an option as there is no internet into the house (and also I think CCTV is unduly intrusive). (I've also adjusted my initial query to make clear that broadband is not possible)

looksee

Could you just phone him each day?

Even though he is 88, and I do understand your concern, if he is still of sound mind then he can refuse help and really you might just have to accept this. Is there a neighbourhood watch who might be willing to see are his curtains opened and closed?

There is a very fine balance between caring and being intrusive and evidently he is on the very independent side of this. My own mother refused to wear a monitor / alarm until she fell and had a few hours lying in her hall - she was warm and on a carpet, and didn't come to any harm, but she realised the importance of being able to call. Though subsequently she fell again and the alarm ended up under her so she could not find it, so there is no perfect system.

MarkR

Anything that's going to tell you there's something wrong, would have to connect to the internet surely?

I know you said no cctv, but maybe if it was in a non-private area of the home, like the kitchen?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/VStarcam-IP-Camera-WiFi-Wireless-Mini-CCTV-Camera-P2P-Baby-Monitor-P-T-Micro-TF-Card/32385677608.html?shortkey=32U3Uva6&addresstype=600

It can double as a motion tracker, so aim it into the kitchen, and you'll see movement recorded whenever they're about.

Failing that, maybe going down the monitored alarm route

http://www.phonewatch.ie/get-quote/?gclid=CJ77sffuqtACFSa-7QodYuIFYw&gclsrc=aw.ds

bpmurray

Get him a smartphone - tell him it's for skype/facetime. Install fall detector and any other apps that might be good as monitoring tools.

looksee

bpmurray wrote: »

Get him a smartphone - tell him it's for skype/facetime. Install fall detector and any other apps that might be good as monitoring tools.

That would only be useful if he was prepared to carry it around, and willing to keep charging it.

Waste

Hi. Thanks for your suggestions so far - I only posted this morning, so its great to have some responses.

Comments: CCTV is no good as there is no internet connection. And teaching an (old, poorly sighted and generally stubborn) 88 year-old to use a smart phone is not really a runner. Phoning him every day will just wind him up, as he'll not see the point and, in the past, there has been the suggestion that the only reason I was phoning was to check that he was not dead yet. Which I suppose was partially true in a way ...


What I have come across, which was sent to me by a UK charity is a list of possible gadgets, some of which use SMS/mobile signal rather internet and wireless. And so I'll look at these - these are on the Living Made Easy website and its page entitled "Activity monitoring systems". If anyone has any experience with these, then please do post.

MarkR

It's actually a pretty good start to begin with, that fall detector app.

RainyDay

Lots of options here - consult an occupational therapist for professional advice;

http://www.assistireland.ie/eng/Products_Directory/Personal_Alarms_and_Home_Safety_Devices/Falls_Detection_and_Movement_Monitors/

Waste

My father has just gone into a care home for respite care, having been persuaded to by his GP. So I'm not going to pursue tracking gadgets any more at this stage. But one I was seriously considering was a smart plug that fits on a kettle or TV and which sends a signal to my PC or phone that the kettle or TV (or whatever) has been switched on. For my needs, this would tell me enough information, ie telling me that he was up each and all was OK. This unit uses the mobile phone network, so does not need an internet connection. It is much cheaper than the other ones I looked at (many of which were very sophisticated, including one that costs £300/month(!!)). The cost was £79 sterling plus £12/month for the SMS/text link - they also do cheaper "all in" bundles, for one or two years' duration. As I'm a "novice" poster, Boards won't let me post the internet link to their site, but the product is called "3rings", so you can google it. What also impressed me was that, when I asked by email if it would work using an international number, they not only emailed me back immediately but also rang that number (which was my mobile) and spoke to me. Another email clarified something else. They tell me that, despite it being a UK product, it will work anywhere in the world, with the main constraint being that it has a UK 3-pin plug (not a problem here in Ireland). They also said that it will work, and that the charges are the same, wherever the unit is in the world.

I hope this is information useful and I'd be interested in anyone's experience with this product.

smjm

Waste wrote: »

My father has just gone into a care home for respite care, having been persuaded to by his GP. So I'm not going to pursue tracking gadgets any more at this stage. But one I was seriously considering was a smart plug that fits on a kettle or TV and which sends a signal to my PC or phone that the kettle or TV (or whatever) has been switched on. For my needs, this would tell me enough information, ie telling me that he was up each and all was OK. This unit uses the mobile phone network, so does not need an internet connection. It is much cheaper than the other ones I looked at (many of which were very sophisticated, including one that costs £300/month(!!)). The cost was £79 sterling plus £12/month for the SMS/text link - they also do cheaper "all in" bundles, for one or two years' duration. As I'm a "novice" poster, Boards won't let me post the internet link to their site, but the product is called "3rings", so you can google it. What also impressed me was that, when I asked by email if it would work using an international number, they not only emailed me back immediately but also rang that number (which was my mobile) and spoke to me. Another email clarified something else. They tell me that, despite it being a UK product, it will work anywhere in the world, with the main constraint being that it has a UK 3-pin plug (not a problem here in Ireland). They also said that it will work, and that the charges are the same, wherever the unit is in the world.

I hope this is information useful and I'd be interested in anyone's experience with this product.

Seems like a good idea, although the third-party/subscription model might not suit everyone. Here's the link for anyone interested: https://www.3rings.co.uk/

It's one of those products that you can instantly both like and think of lots of ways of improving!

melmoth77

Hi all,

Just came across this thread looking for info on monitoring systems for the elderly - hope it is OK if I jump in? Hope your dad gets on well in respite care OP.
My 80 year old mother who lives alone is in the early stages of dementia and has good days and bad days - she is very stubborn and in denial about the situation though, which I know isn't unusual. We were very alarmed the other other night when she tried to leave the house to go to a 11am medical appointment at 3am and am now looking into door alarms (that send a message if door opened) and even tracking devices. (We all live near and stay over from time to time, but can't do this 24/7 of course and would drive her mad if we did I know!).
Just wondering if anyone has used such devices with relatives to extend living at home! In particular I'm looking at the GPS smartsole. (http://www.southtipperarydementia.ie/gps-tracking-products.html) Seems drastic I know but would be very worried about her wandering out in this cold weather and waiting for a bus for 4 hours.

smjm

melmoth77 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just came across this thread looking for info on monitoring systems for the elderly - hope it is OK if I jump in? Hope your dad gets on well in respite care OP.
My 80 year old mother who lives alone is in the early stages of dementia and has good days and bad days - she is very stubborn and in denial about the situation though, which I know isn't unusual. We were very alarmed the other other night when she tried to leave the house to go to a 11am medical appointment at 3am and am now looking into door alarms (that send a message if door opened) and even tracking devices. (We all live near and stay over from time to time, but can't do this 24/7 of course and would drive her mad if we did I know!).
Just wondering if anyone has used such devices with relatives to extend living at home! In particular I'm looking at the GPS smartsole. (http://www.southtipperarydementia.ie/gps-tracking-products.html) Seems drastic I know but would be very worried about her wandering out in this cold weather and waiting for a bus for 4 hours.

I was (fortunately) living with my Dad when he started making attempts to leave the house in the early hours, so I never used any monitoring devices personally -- I just didn't sleep for the best part of 8 years!!

The smartsole seems like it could be useful, but it does look quite expensive, and you'd have to fit them into every pair of footwear your mother has. Even then, I guess you've no guarantee that she won't remove them, or even walk out of the door barefoot.

There are other types of GPS tracking devices out there. Assist Ireland is a good site for them and other products: http://www.assistireland.ie/eng/
(Also, you might want to get some advice from an Occupational Therapist (OT). Your doctor (or your mother's doctor) should be able to arrange this.)

These Bed Occupancy Sensor and Property Exit Sensor products might be of interest: https://www.tunstallemergencyresponse.ie/product-category/occupancy-and-exit-sensors/
I've no idea of the prices, but there's usually a number of similar products from different vendors if you shop around, or it's always possible that you might get them free from the OT. No harm in asking!

The Alzheimer Society will also be able to offer you plenty of advice: http://www.alzheimer.ie/Home.aspx
Despite the name, they cover all forms of dementia, not just Alzheimer's. (Has you mother's type been diagnosed yet? http://www.alzheimer.ie/about-dementia/what-is-dementia/types.aspx)

Hope that helps a little bit. Best of luck!

melmoth77

Thanks so much, that is really helpful, I didn't even think about an OT!
We have just about persuaded her to go to her GP recently and she is seeing an elderly medicine specialist regularly. They haven't given outright diagnosis yet, but an MRI showed shrinkage of frontal lobes. I'm afraid her condition is more complicated as she is a chronic alcoholic which makes things much worse if she's on a bad one. Some days she's still clear as a bell though.
We have a visit with the specialist soon so will definitely discuss with him, thanks again.

smjm

You're more than welcome!