In-house alert 19 July 2019 at 9:05AM in Over 50s MoneySaving 14 replies 5.9K views

Gers

My elderly mother is both frail and failing - since early March I have been with her full time. Now she's bed bound and can only reach the commode when required.

Until recently she's been able to use her mobile to reach me within the house which has worked well. Now she's much too shaky to manage this - last night she wasn't well and couldn't phone me. Happily all is OK, however this is now a worry.

Is there any kind of in-house easy to use alert system specifically for this kind of situation? I have done an online search though am overwhelmed with the 'choice' and would appreciate advice from anyone who has been faced with this.

Thanks.

Misslayed

The baby monitor my step daughter uses when visiting would seem to work - she plugs it in near the child and carries the other end wherever she is in our house. No wires, very compact.

ETA it works both ways, big brother sings to baby if she's fretting!

Gers

Misslayed wrote: »

The baby monitor my step daughter uses when visiting would seem to work - she plugs it in near the child and carries the other end wherever she is in our house. No wires, very compact.

ETA it works both ways, big brother sings to baby if she's fretting!

Thanks for that, never thought of a baby monitor although does it 'hear' all the time? I was thinking about something more along the lines of a button being pressed when help needed.

PasturesNew

If you use a doorbell with a PIR, she could just wave her hand in front of the PIR and you'd hear a loud BING BONG. Requires testing for location/her reach/accidentally waving her hand though else you'll find you get a BING BONG every time she turns in the bed.

Misslayed

Gers wrote: »

Thanks for that, never thought of a baby monitor although does it 'hear' all the time? I was thinking about something more along the lines of a button being pressed when help needed.

Yes it does 'hear' all the time, but it has an on/off switch, so as long as your end is switched on, she could keep her end nearby and switch it on when she needs help.

Farway

PasturesNew wrote: »

If you use a doorbell with a PIR, she could just wave her hand in front of the PIR and you'd hear a loud BING BONG. Requires testing for location/her reach/accidentally waving her hand though else you'll find you get a BING BONG every time she turns in the bed.

Or maybe just a wireless door bell, with the push on her bedside table or whatever, should prevent false alarms from just turning over

greyteam1959

My elderly parents both have a cheap wireless door chime each.
They use them to summon their carer within the house if they need the toilet etc.
Each door chime is set at a different chime.
They carry them all the time & have them on their bedside tables at night.
Drives the carers nuts but is a cheap effective solution.

Gers

Farway wrote: »

Or maybe just a wireless door bell, with the push on her bedside table or whatever, should prevent false alarms from just turning over

greyteam1959 wrote: »

My elderly parents both have a cheap wireless door chime each.
They use them to summon their carer within the house if they need the toilet etc.
Each door chime is set at a different chime.
They carry them all the time & have them on their bedside tables at night.
Drives the carers nuts but is a cheap effective solution.

Like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Doorbell-Waterproof-Cordless-Melodies/dp/B07MVXYF8T/ref=asc_df_B07MVXYF8T/?!!!!!googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309857966843&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7387484684280638958&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046939&hvtargid=pla-825047827832&psc=1

good idea - thanks.

Farway

Gers wrote: »

Like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wireless-Doorbell-Waterproof-Cordless-Melodies/dp/B07MVXYF8T/ref=asc_df_B07MVXYF8T/?!!!!!googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309857966843&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7387484684280638958&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046939&hvtargid=pla-825047827832&psc=1

good idea - thanks.

That's the sort of thing, there are also ones where the receiver [bell] is battery powered, which is what I have. The advantage is it can be in a your pocket if out in the garden for instance

Gers

Farway wrote: »

That's the sort of thing, there are also ones where the receiver [bell] is battery powered, which is what I have. The advantage is it can be in a your pocket if out in the garden for instance

Thanks, I've ordered it. No need for the battery one as DM is in a flat.

We'll both feel a little less anxious overnight now. DM wanted me to buy a bell :eek: wasn't going to do that!! :rotfl:

Gers

The doorbell arrived yesterday and is perfect - thanks so much for the suggestion.