It can be a difficult and worrisome task to take care of your elderly family members. After all, besides caring for your seniors, daily life demands of you to take care of your children, stay on top of your career, bills, and other family obligations. You can’t juggle everything at all times.
Statistics conducted at The Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, show that more than a quarter (12.5 million) of non-institutionalized older persons live alone in the US.
What About Nursing Homes?
Nursing homes and medical facilities of the like provide care for our senior family members and those in need of extra attention, like elderly persons with Alzheimer’s.
However, approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60 or over who live in a nursing home are the victims of elder abuse or other instances of neglect.
That being said, there are better ways to watch over your seniors instead of having to pay thousands for nursing homes. The expenses and fees can add up, and the fact that your seniors are being moved to an unfamiliar place could be extremely unsettling for them.
So, if you’re reluctant to send your elderly relative to a nursing home, granny cams can be a great alternative. But, they can also add an extra layer of security for the elders who are already in such institutions.
The Benefits of Using a Granny Cam
Keeping a close eye on our elderly family members with security cameras is one of the best ways to take care of them. There’s no doubt it’s a fast, efficient, and cost-effective method that will save you a lot of time and effort.
The importance of having a security camera to watch over your seniors can’t be overstated enough.
Of course, having a nurse, or a babysitter (or a granny sitter, if you will) to watch over and keep them company could be useful while you’re away. But, you can’t be around to take care of them at all times. You have other things to deal with throughout the day and you can’t be in two places at once.
Our ever-improving technological advances provide us with high-quality and cost-effective surveillance equipment that can do that job for you. People are investing in top-notch security systems in increasing numbers, and elderly monitoring systems are no exception.
The Importance of Granny Cams (Security Surveillance for the Elderly)
Check out these examples of the common uses for elderly monitoring cameras:
- Monitoring your parents/grandparents with Alzheimer's is crucial. You can place a hidden granny camera to properly monitor their movement.
- A number of elderly family members have mobility issues, are crippled or chair-ridden. Having a camera to watch over them will allow you to check on them once in a while.
- If you’re allowed to place a granny camera in the nursing home where your seniors reside, you can ensure they are safe and away from neglect or abuse. For more information about the regulations and legal issues on nursing homes and hidden camera equipment, please read our guide.
- If you are a retiree or you live alone, a hidden camera system will make sure your home is secured. It will provide you with a 24/7 security system so you won’t have to worry.
Thanks to the accessibility of these types of innovative monitoring solutions, staying connected and aware of what your elderly family members are doing is now easier than ever.
Such home security cameras for the elderly allow you to watch your parents or grandparents in real-time with high-quality video surveillance monitors. This is especially useful when you’re away from them.
Why You Might Not be Allowed to Use Granny Cams in Nursing Homes
Before you consider installing a monitoring system for your seniors in nursing homes or in assisted living facilities, you need to be informed whether or not you’re allowed to do so.
The legality of placing a security surveillance system for the elderly varies from state to state, and it depends on many different instances.
As we mentioned above, seniors living in nursing homes generally suffer from various medical conditions. Some are with limited mobility and can’t function without the help of another. This is what unfortunately makes them susceptible to mistreatment, neglect, and abuse.
What’s more, many seniors suffer from dementia and cognitive decline. As we already mentioned, Alzheimer’s disease is definitely the main reason why people resort to security cameras or babysitters.
If you suspect foul play or neglect from babysitters, you can check out our SpyGuy guide on babysitter monitoring and security surveillance against burglars and thieves.
Just recently, Minnesota approved introducing new legislation for the use of surveillance cameras in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It’s currently the ninth state to pass this kind of security regulation law.
Here are the states in which security cameras for the elderly are allowed:
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Minnesota (proposed)
- New Jersey (proposed/under review)
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
Most US states don't allow cameras in nursing homes due to privacy concerns. There’s also the possibility of staff members not giving consent for being filmed while on duty.
The laws regarding surveillance cameras in nursing homes are either complex or still under review. Some elderly residents have cognitive limitations which further complicates the question of consent and a reasonable expectation of privacy in their living quarters.
How to Choose a Suitable Security Camera to Watch Over Your Seniors
You’re looking for the perfect monitoring system but don’t know where to start? If you agree with us that home surveillance is the most suitable option for taking care of your elderly family members, let’s dive right in.
We, at SpyGuy, have the perfect spy equipment and a catalog to choose from. Let’s look at the benefits, options, and ways to pick the perfect monitoring device.
Which Features of Elderly Monitoring Camera Systems Do You Require?
First things first, you will need to figure out which features you need your camera to have.
At SpyGuy, we believe that real-time monitoring is an absolutely essential feature. Without real-time monitoring, you won’t be able to act at the right moment.
Apart from a suitable real-time system, you will need a surveillance system with high-quality resolution, as well as a motion-activated sensor system. Our SpyGuy internet cameras have a fantastic surveillance feature where you can monitor your elders from anywhere. It’s perfect for when you’re away.
Having an easy, remote viewing, high-quality camera with a real-time feature is all you’ll ever need for a highly efficient surveillance system to take care of your elderly relative. All you need is a proper internet connection where your seniors reside. These are basically the essential features of a proper senior surveillance system, and placing them in suitable rooms will do the job just right.
It’s important to note that the location and angle in which your camera is placed is your main concern. Depending on the situation and room, you can place the elderly security camera in the kitchen, living room, or bedroom where your seniors spend most of their time.
The Rectangle Clock - For The Living Room
For example, the SpyGuy Rectangle Clock is a very suitable hidden camera to monitor your elderly relative. It’s disguised as a convenient little antique clock perfect for the living room your seniors live in.
The Rectangle Clock’s most essential feature is the real-time recording and surveillance.
With our software app, you’ll be able to log into it and monitor your relatives from anywhere in the world with your laptop or smartphone. If you need to monitor activity live or just want to check-in, this feature is a must-have.
The batteries last up to 90 days (continuous recording lasts 16 hours) and it’s equipped with a standby motion-capture feature, ensuring that the hidden cam only records when someone walks by. The Rectangle Clock starts another recording when it detects another motion.
The Digital Clock - For The Bedroom
Just like the Rectangle Clock, the SpyGuy Digital Clock has everything under control. The Digital Clock can be placed anywhere, but it works best in the bedroom of your senior family member.
The Digital Clock mimics a regular alarm clock and records a crystal clear 1280x720 high-resolution video with motion-capture and a real-time surveillance feature. It has a night vision feature which is very useful if the elderly person is prone to sleep-walking or has a tendency to get up at night.
The Smoke Detector Internet Camera - For The Kitchen
The Smoke Detector Camera is disguised as a smoke detector and works beautifully in the kitchen. It’s similar to the other cameras, with a motion-capture feature, a software app for remote surveillance, and a night-vision feature to boot.
It has a date/time-stamp feature, with a motion-activated sensor, and lets you know what the elderly person is doing at the exact moment.
You’ll want this specific camera for the kitchen if you suspect your Alzehimer’s-afflicted family member forgot to turn off the stove or close the fridge.
The Wall Clock - For Everywhere Else
Placing the Wall Clock as an additional monitoring precaution is key in taking care of your elderly relative. It’s motion-activated with a real-time feature just like the rest of our SpyGuy internet cameras, records high-quality 1280x720 video resolution, and the tiny camera lens has a 75-degree angle.
It also has a night-vision feature which we believe is essential in proper elderly surveillance and monitoring.
Having multiple cameras and surveillance mechanisms on your phone and laptop ensures that you’ll be keeping a close eye on them, and you can never be too careful. But really, there are no worries, as almost all of our cameras have a continuous 16-hour recording capability, and you’ll just need to recharge them once in a while.
Contact Us
As we said above, having an in-home monitoring system to watch over your relatives without them having to feel threatened is important, and we have ways to ensure proper surveillance.
At SpyGuy, we have a variety of products and spy equipment you can use to prevent burglary, harassment, and all kinds of problems that require modern solutions.
Please feel free to contact us and ask us about any inquiries you might have and share any ideas with us!
