Real Help!

kfet

I have been pretty much on my own taking care of my mother over the past 3 years.  I moved in with her in 2019 when it was obvious she shouldn't be alone.  Last summer I hired Visiting Angels to come in 4 days a week for a few hours each of those days.  She is a terrific blessing!  Since I have my own small business, this has allowed me to do the work that I need to do that has been faltering the more she needs care.

My mother has quickly declined over this past year.  She has a few good days where she can interact and is a lot like 'normal'.  But every 2 weeks she is gone...I use the phrase, "goes out of her mind" because that's exactly what happens.  She has the mental capacity of less than a 2 year old for 3-4 days, then comes back a little more each day until she reaches about 2 days of really good before going "out of her mind" again.  During these bad times, she cannot walk, has trouble taking her pills, cannot comprehend anything and barely can talk.  

I want to mention a couple of things that have really helped and taken some stress off of me and allowed me some freedom!  

Since during her bad times, she is up over and over throughout the night and tries to go elsewhere in the house, but can't walk so she falls.  The first thing I got recently is a bed pad that notifies you on a remote if she gets up off of her bed.

Now, a couple months ago, I got Blink mini cameras for different areas of the house!  This has been the best thing and I wish I had done it sooner!  They are wonderful and once you purchase the cameras (I think they were under $50), there isn't any cost unless you want one of their programs.  I can now go out to the shop where I've made a home office and still see if she's in bed or if she's up and moving.  I have even been able to get up early and go to the gym when she's doing ok and keep an eye on her!  I'm looking forward to being able to go out into the garden this summer and not have to run in every few minutes to make sure she's ok.  This has been so wonderful...I just had to let you all know in case you were considering whether a camera would be worth it...it definitely is!

If any of you have other ideas, please let me know as I will soon be getting into a time when I'll need to have even more help. 

May flowers

Thanks for this suggestion- does the camera work on Wi-Fi or cellular?

mommyandme (m&m)

As some of you have read, I tout cameras constantly.  They are invaluable! 

We us Wyze Pan Cam and have had the same cameras for 4 years.  They are also inexpensive, under $50.  Yes they are connected to the Wi-Fi yet I can see the live stream when I’m out and about on cellular.  My brother and husband also have access and I can share them with anyone I see fit.  

If you don’t have them, get them… I say with a smile. 

Thanks for your post and the good news in your life. 

LicketyGlitz

kfet! Sharing resources, man. You are what it's all about. Thank you for letting us know what's working for your journey.

LisaMGuthrie

Great ideas - thank you

Good to hear that you have had a good experience with Visiting Angels; on the cusp of maybe needing help.  

Care__

Yes I wish I had thought of camera system sooner. I set uo wyze and blink cameras all over my fathers house and outside doors with movement alerts to my phone. It was so helpful when he was living alone and should not have been.

M1

Have any of you camera users used them with satellite wi-fi?  Ours is pretty slow (difficult to stream for example), so I'm thinking I couldn't get real-time info from them.  Just trying not to buy if they won't work....

mommyandme (m&m)

M1,

I might just try one to start. You should be able to return it if it’s not helpful. I havent used ours with satellite Wi-Fi so can’t speak to that. 

$40 bucksish might be worth a try. 

JMack88

My cousins got my aunt a "Little Elf" brand camera to help keep an eye on my uncle.  It's good because you can control it with your phone so you can turn it and look around with it instead of being stuck with it just looking one direction.  It also allows for two way communication so she could talk to him if she needed to.  Go on Amazon and search for little elf camera to see what I'm talking about.

CarolynOW

Something else that is good for seniors is called ViewClix.  The senior does not have to do anything and you and family member can install it on your phones and call and see the person once you set the screen up in their home.  We have it for my dad and it works great. He hears it ring and we pop on the screen.  we can also add pictures for he to look at when we are not communicating with him.  Check it out!

buckeyenut

Ugh I wish I would have known about viewclix.. I just bought an ipad so the family can facetime with my dad in MC 

Cyndisaunt

Yes, the Wyze camera and door alerts have given peace of mind and my LO feels like she has more independence. I don't need to sit with her all the time so on her good days she can be out in her garden and go in and out as many times as she wants. 

More freedom for us both!

Hugs to all of you!

Cyndi