Most mature adults want to age in peace. They don’t want to relocate due to age-related health issues; instead, they want to continue enjoying the familiarity of their own home. While it’s entirely understandable why they’d like to remain in their home, safety concerns come with the aging of a loved one.
According to AARP, 79% of older adults in the U.S. own their homes. Many of these homes are paid off, so there’s some measure of financial stability in the situation. However, aging brings changing physical and cognitive needs that require the assistance of others.
Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and similar conditions often play a major factor in the level of care aging adults may need. Fortunately, options to ensure the safety of an aging loved one are plentiful. Developing a solid care plan for allowing a loved one to age at home should involve the following considerations. Continue reading about the best security cameras for dementia on the market to keep your loved ones safe.
Components of a good care plan for aging in place
Several categories must be covered in a care plan for a person who’s aging in place. These plans often start simple but become more complicated as the person ages and their needs change.
There are a few primary hazards that elderly individuals face when they want to age in place. According to U.S. News, the four top concerns include:
- Decline of cognitive function and communication ability
- Ensuring nutritional needs are met
- Reduced mobility
- Falling in the home
Having a solid support system comprised of family members, friends, and home health nurses can help reduce the hazards of aging in place. Older individuals living alone should be visited at least once a day by a caregiver to confirm the adult is safe, eating healthy, and taking medications as prescribed.
People who want to age in place often need help with basic life tasks as they get older. In some cases, they may not realize just how difficult it’s become to do certain tasks until they actually have someone helping them.
Daily living activities older adults often require assistance to complete include:
- Bathing and dressing
- Going to the bathroom
- Medication management
- Cooking and meal preparation
- Household chores, such as cleaning, laundry, and yard maintenance
- Transportation to and from physician appointments, pharmacies, groceries, etc
There may even come a time when a full-time, live-in caregiver is needed. Caregivers could be a family member, a long-time friend, or a full-time home health aide. Regardless of who’s caring for the elderly individual, it’s critical that the caregiver understands the unique physical, mental, and emotional needs of the person they are caring for.
Security Cameras Protect Adults with Dementia
Real-time monitoring of the interior and exterior of an aging loved one’s home is an excellent way to give you peace of mind when you can’t be with your loved one. Security cameras placed in the bedroom, kitchen, and other areas of your loved one’s home instantly alert you to problems your loved one is having.
Here are the 4 best security cameras for dementia:
Reolink Argus 2E
The Reolink Argus 2E is a top choice for monitoring your loved one because it’s fully wireless. It comes with a rechargeable battery and can be moved from one room to another. The camera features smart elderly monitoring, which allows people who have the client app downloaded to receive real-time alerts if there’s an emergency.
It is user-friendly, so most elderly individuals can take care of it themselves.
Price: $103
MyKit HDIPC360
The MyKit HDIPC360 provides an up-close view of any room in the home. It requires WiFi to function and can be synced with an app. You can set it up so that you’re alerted to motion in the area. The picture quality and night vision features make this a great option for adults choosing to age in place. Another amazing feature is that you can communicate back and forth with the camera through the app, so your loved one can talk to you, and you can reply back to them.
This is limited only to shorter communications because connectivity may vary. Additionally, you can pair this camera with Amazon Alexa.
Price: $59.99
Ring Indoor Cam
The Ring Indoor Cam requires a subscription if you’re going to record the videos. Its small footprint and easy installation make it ideal for senior citizens who want to age in place. Two-way communication is possible. It can be placed on a flat surface or mounted to the wall or ceiling and plugs into a standard outlet.
You can pair it with Amazon Alexa. It offers motion-activated alerts and can record what’s going on for future reference.
Price: $59.99
Google Nest Cam Indoor
Google Nest Cam Indoor offers HD video, two-way communication, and night vision. These make it easy to interact with your loved one as often as necessary. It has a flexible mounting, including a standard base, a wall mount, or a magnetic base. Security is a priority with this camera because you set it up with two-factor authentication to ensure that only approved individuals can view the live feed or video history.
Price: $147
Tips for setting up the best security cameras for elderly individuals
Remember when setting up cameras in the home to respect your loved one’s privacy. If possible, avoid putting cameras in bathrooms. Instead, consider installing an alert system in the bathroom in case they need immediate assistance. Areas of safety concern where cameras should be present include:
- Above or near front and back doors to monitor who is coming into your loved one’s home.
- In the kitchen, stoves can be left on, refrigerator doors left open, or other safety issues could arise while your loved one is preparing a meal.
- Stairways. If your loved one stumbles or falls, you can immediately call 911.
- Common areas: You can alert your loved one of safety hazards, like bunched-up rugs or objects lying on the floor they may trip over.
Around 77% of adults who are 50 or older want to remain in their own homes as they age. Finding the right security cameras to help them do this safely not only preserves their dignity and sense of independence but also helps alleviate their loved ones’ anxiety over allowing them to live in their own home.
