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I am thinking of installing a "Nanny Cam" type of camera in moms home so I can check up on her when I have to work and cant be there. Moms health is rapidly declining do to various health problems. She wants to remain in her home for as long as possible but is resistant to any outside help. I feel bad wanting to do this but I cant be there all the time and have no one else to check up on her.

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I installed a simple one in the family room in full site when I had caregivers in during the day with mom and would periodically check it from my iPad while at work
Oftentimes mom was asleep at the kitchen table and the caregiver was on the couch watching trash tv or looking at her iPhone
While the camera had two way audio I never used it but would send a text and ask if mom had done her exercises etc

a family friend originally told me about these cameras and it helped her see how roughly one caregiver was treating her mother
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I HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE WITH INSTALLING A MONITORING CAMERA. I HAD ONE INSTALLED OUTSIDE MY FRONT DOOR BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE WHO WAS THERE UNTIL I OPENED THE DOOR. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
THE OTHER MONITORING CAMERA IS IN THE BEDROOM OF MY MALE HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND THAT LIVES WITH ME. HE IS ON OXYGEN AND VERY VERY INDEPENDENT IN NATURE. I WOULD HEAR SOUNDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND HAD TO GET UP TO SEE IF HE WAS OK. IT HAS SAVED ME MANY A TRIP DURING THE NIGHT TO SEE IF HE WAS OK. IF HE IS OK I CAN GO BACK TO SLEEP WITH PEACE OF MIND WITHOUT DISTURBING HIM. HE IS AWARE OF THE CAMERA AND UNDERSTANDS HOW IT HELPS ME AND IS OK WITH THAT. WE BOTH CARE ABOUT AND RESPECT EACH OTHER.
I CAN BUT NEVER HAD TO USE IT WHEN I AM AWAY FROM HOME. I AM ORDERING A JITTERBUG PHONE WITH 5 STAR FOR HIM TO GIVE HIM ACESS TO HELP IF NEED BE. IF I HAD MY TABLET WITH ME I COULD ALSO MONITOR WHEN I NEED TO BE GONE.
I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH IT FOR US - IT IS A WAY FOR US TO MANAGE AND STILL BE SOMEWHAT INDEPENDENT.
SO FAR IT IS WORKING. I DO NOT USE IT TO SPY ON HIM BUT I CAN SEE IF I THINK HE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITHOUT WAKING HIM OR HAVING TO RESPOND IN OTHER WAYS.
I HAVE SHOWN HIM THE PICTURES I DO GET ON IT - SO HE DOESN'T THINK I AM SPYING ON HIM BUT MAKING SURE HE IS OK.
WE BOTH AGREE THIS IS A BIG HELP TO BOTH OF US.

ROSEPETAL
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When we put in a camera in dad's house my SIL who lived there got "nervous". She really started acting weird. SHE was the one who thought the camera would be a good idea. It would catch my dad being mean to her and saying in appropriate things to her. Well, lo and behold....the camera caught her getting into dad's wallet and when she realized the camera caught her she went over to it (it was right there in the door frame) and she hit it and made it turn away to face the back of the front door. I think there might be more to the story Freqflyer. When I am down at dad's I realize everything I say and do is being recorded. It's a little weird. But there are many places in the house that the camera cannot see too.
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Mother didn't have dementia (well, very mild) after her hip replacement surgery. She lives in an apartment attached to my brother's home. Post surgery she was falling (or saying she was, we never really knew) and brother and I thought maybe she was making up some things to get more sympathy. The idea of a baby monitor was bandied about, but brother is the world's biggest procrastinator and never did get one.
Mother got "better", wears her fall alert pendant and still falls occasionally--again, maybe she needs more attention. LOVES those EMT's who come to pick her up off the floor!
As far as "monitoring"--I think you'd have to tread carefully. As an elder care provider in my past work, I wouldn't work if I felt the family didn't trust me. I would be so anxious---and I didn't EVER do anything out of line. It's kind of creepy. If the family wanted to monitor mom at night ONLY, I'd understand that. But all day long with a competent caregiver? That's pretty offensive to the caregiver.
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My boss's wife had Alzheimer's and he had a caregiver who was there for 12 hours during the day. Boss decided to put cameras around the house for no reason other then to check on what his wife was doing, as she was in late stages.... he did tell the caregiver. After a week that long time caregiver resigned, even though she wasn't doing anything wrong, the cameras made her nervous.

My boss wished he never took the advice of his buddies about the cameras. He took down the cameras, tried to get the caregiver to come back but she had already accepted a new assignment through her Agency. Then came the most difficult part, his wife would refuse any of the new caregivers, she wanted her old friend back. So he took time off from work to be there with his wife at home.

So, be careful about using those cameras unless you feel there is abuse going on or things are missing.
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Some dementia patient are paranoid and already think they are being watched and if you tell them you are going to watch them that will add up to their paranoid symptoms that people are coming to get them and harm them. In that case it is better not to tell that their is a hidden camera. There is no one else that loves their parents and care for them than outsider and so depending on their condition I would or would not tell them and monitor the carer or your parents safety. I still need to put hidden camera to monitor my mother's carer. I don't think she comes when she is supposed to be to look after my mother and she can trick my mother. I live far away to monitor her.
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I agree with all posters here; and I've not done one -- however, I've often thought about it. My mother would adamently refuse it if I even brought it up because of her existing paranoia, dementia and already believe neighbors are spying on her (a streetlamp shines in her house at night).

If it were me and I could put one discretely in to monitor my mom's wellbeing and keep her safe and give me as primary caregiver peace of mind; I would go ahead and do so.

Thats just my opinion. I agree there may be legal ramifications but I don't know how that can override ones safety and wellbeing when a LO lives alone and refuses help or in-home assistance.
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Some dementia patient are paranoid and already think they are being watched and if you tell them you are going to watch them that will add up to their paranoid symptoms that people are coming to get them and harm them. In that case it is better not to tell that their is a hidden camera. There is no one else that loves their parents and care for them than outsider and so depending on their condition I would or would not tell them and monitor the carer or your parents safety. I still need to put hidden camera to monitor my mother's carer. I don't think she comes when she is supposed to be to look after my mother and she can trick my mother. I live far away to monitor her.
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I agree talk to your mom first about wanting to put cameras in non privet areas. Let her known its for her safety and your peace of mind and it can help her stay in her home longer. You may find out she likes the idea. If she agrees and you have concerns about falls in the bathroom, maybe suggest in that area a camera can be placed a foot off the floor and that way you will only see something if she is o the floor.
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The "granny cam" we installed is the ONLY reason she is still able to live at home alone. We are able to keep an eye on her as she goes about her day, and have been reassured to see that she is not doing anything that would cause us to question our decision to let her live alone.
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My mother had 3 hip and pelvic fractures from falls over a three month period with hospital stays and 6 weeks in a rehab facility. They didn't want to release her unless she had home health care and recommended 24 hour care. She refused that, and also refused assisted living, an alert pendant, and would not keep her cell phone on her. I'm the closest to her distance wise, at 25 miles away, and I was a nervous wreck. My hubby put in 3 cameras with her knowledge--we signed a year contract for internet to be put into her home at our expense. She initially agreed to it, but once it was installed she became angry about the situation, and started knocking the cameras out of position and covering them. I explained that the whole situation was making me come unglued but she really didn't understand that at all. She has given up fighting over the cameras. I'm able to check in on her every couple of hours from the app on my IPhone and while I wish she would have home health, but this is the next best thing.

I wish I didn't have to invade her privacy this way, but I feel like she gave me no choice.
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I am missing why the question to 'hide' it? I live in a different town from my Mom. She has dementia and is not reliable. Refused caregivers a couple years ago after the last one had to quit but refused also to consider AL....so I simply said, IF you stay home alone, we are adding cameras to your home security system because when you do not answer the phone, I need to be able to look and see that you are not dead on the floor or fallen. We first had one, but then when she let a couple ladies in who told her they were from her insurance company to check on her, and they stole all her jewelry, I had a second one put in, that faced the door and recorded a short video every time the door was opened. She already had an alarm system, so add 2 cameras and a life alert emergency necklace added about $20/mo to that bill. Our company is vivint and they work to put everything on the computer, so I can get on line and set the alarm at night or disarm it in the morning, since she never has learned how to use her system. I can see what she is doing any time I want to check in. She has caregivers 6 hr/day, and I've told them about the system and assured them that it's not there to spy on them, but just to check on Mom when she is alone. She totally forgets it is there, but very convenient for me. Also her, because I can look to see what she is doing before I call, so I don't cause stress by ringing the phone when she's in the bathroom, for example. There are many ways to set the system to capture videos too...so I know if she's taking meds and treatments and eating because of how it's set to capture a short movie during movements. Ours requires internet service to run and allow me to view from computer or cell phone. It is lots of reassurance to me.
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One more thing. The camera we have is installed on the door frame between the kitchen and living room. So we only have "eyes" on those two rooms. There is total privacy in his bedroom, bathrooms, and outside of course. I'm glad I have it.
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People say "they deserve their privacy" but I feel differently. Yes, they do to a degree BUT if they are doing things that could possibly harm them how can we know if we don't "have eyes" on them? My dad is still driving but his memory is bad. So, I check in on him several times a day. I saw one of ex SIL's friends asking dad if she could clean house for him. She had already called me and asked and I told her I would think about it but before I could get back to her and tell her it wouldn't work (dad wouldn't want it, wouldn't want to pay her and I don't have the $$) she was there asking him. He said no. She said "well, your daughter said she needed help". He said he didn't care if the house was cleaned or not. So, having the camera may reveal things going on other than just with your parent. But then, my dad has all these users/losers around him too. Maybe that isn't normal, I hope not.
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Also, dad kept turning the volume off on his cell phone. So, we can talk to him over the DropcamPro. So, we started calling his name and he came to the camera and we told him to turn the volume up on his phone. He couldn't do it so we glued the volume button on high when we were there the next time. He lives 90 minutes away from us and we go down every week or every 2 weeks depending on our schedule and his needs.
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Yes. We told dad we were putting in a camera so we could check on him. Make sure he hadn't fallen down the stairs. My exSIL was living with dad at the time. She was all on board, prior to putting in the camera (because she wanted us to see how badly dad treated her). AFTER the camera?? She could not let it go. Told EVERYONE the camera was there. "Be careful what you say, the camera is on."" Well, she forgot about it one night and we saw her on camera at 10:45 rummaging through my dad's junk drawer just looking, looking and eventually took something. THEN we saw her getting my dad's wallet out of his pants. (He left his overalls on the stair landing). She took it to her room, with back to camera, she walked back to the landing and put it back. About 2 minutes later She remembered the camera was on and walked over to it and hit it to turn it to the side so we couldn't see anymore. That was on Saturday, Sunday we told her she needed to move. Now she's gone and dad is alone so the camera is even more important. Ours is a DropcamPro. Can access it from my smartphone. Also, I made a clip and saved it on the cloud of my exSIL and what she did. Who knows how many times she did that before the camera.
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Tell her you want to put it in for her safty if she says OK great if not unless you are her legal guardian don t tell her it a camera or daycare you choose and tell her I love you show her where the cameras are and tell her to wave and blowyou a kiss call her at end of each day and tell her how well she looks have
A chat
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My brother just used a baby monitor to watch mother at night, as she was constantly falling, setting off her alarm button and THEN the whole "call list" was being called, night after night. He did tell her and she was OK with it. They live in the same house and having the whole fire dept. show up several times a week was getting old....turns out she was on a medication that made her hallucinate and she didn't know what was going on--this happened only at night. Took away that particular med and she stopped falling. we've talked as a family about the possibility of having to monitor her 24/7 at some point, but she deserves her privacy. (And a more boring "show" would be hard to find.) That may happen at some point, but not now. I think having a monitor on them if they are bedbound and you want to work outside or during the night is a great idea. One situation at a time.
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Purchase one for $100 at Costco and downloaded the app for free on smart phone. I told my aging parents it is a security camera to ensure their safety. It is placed prominently in the dining area which expands to kitchen, hall to bedroom/bathroom and living room. I can see if mom is taking her am pills, if each parent is getting around ok, weighing in as required. Best money eve spent!
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Best thing I ever did. However, I would not hide it. Sit down and discuss it with them and put the camera's in places that aren't private. I have mine in the den where my mother sits all the time and I can see parts of the kitchen. The second one is in our living room where she sits sometimes as well. You could put it in the hall outside the bedroom that way you can see when she gets up. I also have emails sent from the camera's when there is motion. That way I can tell when she is up and moving around. If I don't see her on the camera or emails after an extended period of time, I can run home and check on her. Trust me it has been a Godsend.
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Have you discussed this with your mother? You cannot install a surveillance camera without prior knowledge. No matter how worried you are about her, she still has the right to live in her home without being spied on, and you need her permission. What will happen will happen regardless of a camera. Be careful.
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I'd be uncomfortable putting it in without telling her. If her memory is declining, she'll likely forget about it but I still believe in elders' rights. That being said, I know how hard it is to not be able to know what's going on and a camera may make you feel better.

We got along well with personal alarms which my mom used often but they depend on the person being willing (and remembering) to wear them. In the end, it's your decision about whether to tell her or not. We all have different situations. Whatever you decide I'd choose one with a password as Harpcat suggested. Nothing is hack proof, but a strong password will keep the neighbors from intruding anyway (unless you have some very unusual neighbors: )
Carol
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While DaveIFM brings up good points, I did want to state that Piper does take security precautions and is password protection. Does that mean it couldn't be "hacked" into? Well you can ask China for that answer...even the CIA can be hacked into. Now if someone hacked into my dad's camera, they would get bored very quickly seeing him watch TV most of the day. LOL
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i also experienced a monitoring system from my employers when I sat with their mom who had dementia, they bought it so that if they needed to work outside they could keep an eye on her, we also used it in the evenings after putting her in bed to monitor her.
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we used a video system for my father who was developing dementia, he approved it at the time and it was a big help in monitoring him while we were not with him.
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some state laws limit how and where hired caregivers may be monitored; while federal wiretap law makes it illegal to record oral communication, which is why surveillance cameras usually lack audio.

YOU, employer, must let workers know that cameras are being used

Beware: That baby monitor on which you rely to watch your LO can also be used by would-be burglars and others to snatch the signal from afar and peer into your house.

The potential problem lies in the open and unlicensed radio frequencies that video monitors use. Your device's signal could be picked up by the receiver of a stranger's video monitor, giving that person a live video feed of your room while the transmitter is on.
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We use a Piper camera just in my dads living room/kitchen area of his apartment not in his bedroom. He is aware of it and approved of it. We told him it was in case he doesn't respond to a call or he's not feeling well and to be sure if he falls we can get help. He has pull cords in the bedroom and bathroom but not in that area. It also enables us to speak to him through it if we want to.
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There is lots of stuff out there from very simple and cheap to very sophisticated. I haven't used the stuff but you'll get info here from people who have. I would think you have two choices: hide the stuff very well and hope Mom doesn't find it and freak, or have a heart to heart and convince her that it's a good thing. Also if she agrees it's much easier to set up a system that's not hidden.
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