Baby Monitor, LifeAlert type necklace, or other option best for Mom with Alzheimer’s?

I've set up my apartment with security cameras. Through the app, 2-way communications is available.

I have one camera in each of the bedrooms, the living room, kitchen, and front door.

There's a second camera in the living room that I use as the "cat cam". It's aimed at the areas the main sleeping area for the cats. When we are gone for an extended time, my wife gets anxious about the cats. I can use the cameras to track down the cats and sho her that they are okay.

The app is available on Android, Windows, and IOS devices. Recording to the cloud is possible (extra cost), although I don't see any reason why to do that. The video can be recorded to a micro SD card. The cameras also automatically recognize motion.

My wife lost her partial denture a couple of weeks ago. Looking at the camera, I was able to see where she had left them.

If you send me a private message, I can let you know what cameras and app I have. 🔜ADMINS: can I post that information here if I won't be financially benefiting from mentioning the names?🔙

I used Ring camera for surveillance. I use Alexa Show also for surveillance, but mom was taught how to tell Alexa to call for help. It will then call my cell phone.

Keep in mind that in some areas there may be a waiting list to get into a facility. You can always turn the opening down if you’re not ready. We waited 6 months. I would think that at some point caring for her and holding down a work from home job is going to be very very difficult. Not know how quickly or slowly things will progress makes this so difficult.

My grandmother wore a Life Alert style necklace for years and understood what it was for, often assuring me that she always had it on. When she finally did have that traumatic fall(she suffered from Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia), she had no idea what was the point of the necklace or how to use it to summon help. Luckily, the gentleman who delivered her her meals noticed she didn’t answer the door that day, which she always did, so he reached out to police who, in turn, reached out to me to try and open the house before they would have had to force the door open.

If not for human intervention, she might not have been discovered for several days.

Any new technology you buy will be a short term fix, maybe buy you a few weeks or months. She just can't be left alone anymore. Once they are a wander risk, there are many other risks. Safety issues inside the house because their judgement is so compromised. Taking meds they shouldn't, the entire kitchen (stoves, knives, metal in the microwave etc), my mother started to be unaware of how to handle something like a broken glass and get herself all cut up. While you work on getting her 24-7 care some tech may help, but do not assume she can learn anything new. That is highly unlikely she could take to any new device, it has to be something you set up and use yourself. An Alexa style unit allows you to "drop in" and see via the camera and talk to her. The Angel Sense system allows you to set up boundaries so it would alert you if she left. The Apple air tag would allow you to track her if she took off (assuming she wore the right shoes or coat or wherever you attach it.) An Apple Watch would allow you to track her location and also has a fall detection alert, but many PWD would take it off randomly. All these have limitations and are a temporary fix. There is no substitute for full time care once they get to this stage. Each year in my community there are multiple PWD who wander and are found dead. It happens every day all over the country. It's just not something to take lightly, the risks are real. Good luck to you and your family as you face this.

"We do have the powers of attorney but haven't gotten them signed yet. Has anyone had any difficulty getting something like that notarized? Wasn't sure if having to explain it to her in their office would be a red flag to a lawyer or notary. "

If not signed , you just have paper. Not a lawyer , but all of you need to understand what the documents are and how/when to use them . Depending on wording a POA can end when the person is incapacitated or still be active after their health changes, the wording can give powers of placement etc .

These type of documents [you'll probably need more than a DPOA -a AHCD, will or trust , medicaid advise, general tax advise etc] aren't something you can use "Google Esq."(sic) to try to save money. You should consider an elder law attorney. You'll also get advise on how to legally handle her finances in the future.

Elder law attorneys aren't inexpensive but the advise is invaluable since there usually aren't any do-overs. Going to probate court is much more expensive, takes time when at that point you've probably hit a crisis.

The good news is elder law attorneys are used to having to explain the forms and to decide if, in their legal opinion, the signer understands enough to be informed. Usually takes a couple of visits , spaced out by a few weeks so that the attorney can see there is sufficient understanding before signing the paperwork they created in the time gap.

https://www.nelf.org/attorney-directory-search is a list of some elder law specialists, there are obviously more that specialize in elder law.

[ "She's actually on her phone a lot," Does she still have access to her assets- scammers look for impaired folks, say they are their "secret" pal and poof , money , assets and information [ DOB SSN cc#s etc] gone.

I'd check who she is talking to , and consider limiting the numbers to family and friends you trust after you have a signed DPOA. You can freeze her credit at that point too- that also requires you be the named agent . The lawyer can give more info on this ]

I had similar problems with my dad. What worked for us was the JubileeTV box. It's a small device that connects to his TV and has a simple 6-button remote. He presses one button, and it initiates a video call with me on my phone's app. You can connect your family members to the box, too.

It also has a camera, but it doesn't constantly monitor him, so he has his privacy. It's more of an on-demand thing. I can check in if I need to, it tells me when someone enters or leaves the room, and how long did he left for. When I see he's been gone for too long, I know something might be wrong.

Hope this helps, and good luck