Door opened counter/logger

marlot

I suspect that a carer is not turning up each day, and wanted a discreet way of checking in the evening when I get home.

I'm looking for something simple which will trigger when the door is opened, that I can check when I get in. Or a PIR which does something similar.

Perfection would be knowing what time they came, but that's less important.

I've tried googling and checking ebay but don't see anything suitable. Has anyone seen anything which might work?

zappahey

marlot wrote: »

I suspect that a carer is not turning up each day, and wanted a discreet way of checking in the evening when I get home.

I'm looking for something simple which will trigger when the door is opened, that I can check when I get in. Or a PIR which does something similar.

Perfection would be knowing what time they came, but that's less important.

I've tried googling and checking ebay but don't see anything suitable. Has anyone seen anything which might work?

If there's internet access, you could get one of those wireless webcams that sends an email when they detect movement.

Macca83_2

Something like this?

http://m.lightinthebox.com/Mini-DV-with-HD-Hidden-Camera-Motion-Detection-72-Degree-Angle-View_p237287.html

Toxteth_OGrady

If you can monitor landline call useage/time of call online, tell the carer that they have to make a call on the landline as soon as they arrive. No call, no pay.

paddyrg

Sticker on the doorframe somewhere obscure - you could set it at night, use the back door, check it's been broken the next night? Or are you unable to attend the site yourself?

Nannycam with motion detection might be an alternative

Macca83_2

paddyrg wrote: »

Sticker on the doorframe somewhere obscure - you could set it at night, use the back door, check it's been broken the next night?

cheap but effective.

downhillfast

zappahey wrote: »

If there's internet access, you could get one of those wireless webcams that sends an email when they detect movement.

This is what I would suggest. I have one set up for keeping an eye on our dogs and checking what time the dog walker takes them out and brings them back!

Can be tricky to set up to start with if you're not familiar with changing settings on a router but once set up it's great - you can even monitor it from a smartphone!

This is mine...

Lifeforms

if you're looking to take it forward after finding out that the person isn't attending to someone who doesn't have the capacity to confirm/deny, then you would be looking to provide evidence in such a case. I could easily see it being their word against yours and a door sticker, or counter which has no visible proof, aside from your own piece of mind. I'd suggest getting a nanny cam as that will give you dated video confirming, or denying it, and if it comes down to a "I did attend" vs a "you did not, but I was not there to see" nanny cams provide absolute proof.

Don't think of a teddy bear cam, you can get cameras in almost anything.
No recommendation for this site, never used it before, could probably get things cheaper (but watch for the picture of it, to make sure quality is decent) but more to show you what household objects you can get with cameras in that look obscure. Like there is a coat hanger one, that you could put next to the entrance which will record people entering and exiting, and be fairly innocuous.

http://www.eyetek.co.uk/hidden-camera-and-recorder-1

Mr_Toad

Years ago I set up a USB webcam in the bedroom window to check who was coming down the drive. There had been a spate of burglaries from sheds in the area.

I used webcam software that detected motion and capture a still image. You could choose a specific area of the image to trigger the picture, I used this to stop cars and pedestrians triggering it.

The webcam software was able to do all sorts of things, upload the images to a website, use the built in modem to dial a telephone number and play a message or best of all send an email with the picture to me at work.

I got emails when the postman or anyone else called.

I used software something like this.

http://coffeecup-webcam.en.softonic.com/

I'm sure there are lots of free programs that can do this sort of thing.

sillygoose

Another wall clock with hidden camera. Detects motion and records video of the person passing by with a 'timestamp' on the video to show when.

Mains powered so no battery worries and remote control to set. You would have to retrieve the memory card out of it to check on a pc with a reader slot (most laptops have them now)

http://cpc.farnell.com/defender-security/hd029/camera-clock-covert/dp/SR08019

Another suggestion is a good old fashioned DV tape camcorder you may have, set to its lowest resolution recording will go for hours if it can be left plugged in a power supply. They also timestamp the video. Usually they can be set to not show a recording light when running and it just needs to be left somewhere discreet so it can catch a glimpse of the entrance, the cover story would be its just been left on charging.