Page 2 | Hidden nanny Cams. recommendations

Megan70 · 2020-10-03T12:00:41+00:00

Trying to make a long story short, my friend's mum is leaving alone, they are happy with this arrangement but due to her age they want to put a hidden camera in the house to make sure she is alright and also keep her indepence as much as she can as it seems to be really important for her. Do you have/use one you are happy with? They are looking for something not depending in a subscription but rather be able to be stored independently.

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 03/10/2020 14:04

Terrible idea.
The Alexa one sounds better she will get warning and be able to chat to them.
I'd probably get a ring doorbell for her, motion activated so they know if anyone else goes in or if she leaves.

NKFell · 03/10/2020 14:17

Unethical and horrible.

Original poster

Megan70 · 03/10/2020 14:27

Just wanted to cut the story short as it is their own private life and I was just looking EXCLUSIVELY for recommendations.

Her mum is already old, she is showing signs of age, sometimes forgets things... she has always been a very independent woman and really likes to remain like that, she will be moved lately to any of their children's house. Decision was talking between all her brothers and sisters with mum included (not at her back), so YES, mum wants as well to have an indoor hidden camera for her safety. They worry about her having a fall at home, on the kitchen or stairs, someone maybe knocking on the door and forcing their own way inside the house. They are happy for her to live her life independently as long as she can, but really want to know that she is safe (not "spying"on her).
Cam will be for entrance hall and maybe kitchen dinner.
Anyway, that is the whole family decision not something I think I have any right to put my nose in. I just thought I might help and find some recommendations

OP posts:

Hobnobswantshernameback · 03/10/2020 14:29

What a vile thing to do to a person
Bordering on voyeurism

Hobnobswantshernameback · 03/10/2020 14:30

And you won't get recommendations as anyone decent wouldn't even contemplate doing this

DangerousMouse · 03/10/2020 14:31

Why does it have to be hidden if she's happy with it?

Hobnobswantshernameback · 03/10/2020 14:32

Maybe tell
Your "friends" that a community alarm would do the job without being illegal and unethical

lughnasadh · 03/10/2020 14:32

Why on earth would the mother want a hidden camera in her own home?

Is she planning to liven up her days with a bit of hide and seek?

QuimReaper · 03/10/2020 14:35

Why does it have to be hidden from her if she wants it there and knows it's there?

LittleMissLockdown · 03/10/2020 14:37

If the mum is supposedly on board with the ideas the camera wouldn't need to be hidden.

It's also pretty insulting to the poor women that her children are discussing all her issues with their friends. If they had all talked and agreed a plan as a family to help her maintain independence this should be between her and her family only. I doubt she gave consent for her kids to tell everyone.

Random63638 · 03/10/2020 14:42

If by some accident you are using the word 'hidden' incorrectly you could look at systems from hive or netatmo to begin with. They both do cameras for inside that can be connected to an app for viewing. They are not hidden. From what you have said they do not need to be hidden.

Florencemattell · 03/10/2020 14:53

I think the fact you said hidden camera means the elderly lady does not know .
It’s illegal.
Btw nanny cameras are only legal if a nanny is told they are in the house. It’s illegal to film a person without their permission. To do it without permission in a work situation you have to have had a crime committed eg money taken .

Orchidflower1 · 03/10/2020 15:08

@DangerousMouse

Why does it have to be hidden if she's happy with it?

This^^

If this is REALLY for the reasons you’ve stated eg falls, someone forcing their way in- how will the family know? Is someone going to man the “spy cam” 24/7??

Much better to have a buzzer / warden call lanyard or wrist strap.

Original poster

Megan70 · 03/10/2020 15:25

@Random63638 and @Florencemattell . Sorry that must be my fault, as I don't know how exactly to call the camera. It would be like a kind of "nanny cam" or small indoor camera, something that would be discreet, they don't have nanny or any carer working but the old lady would want something discreet not obvious on view for her own safety. I don't think anybody is worried about legal or not, is her house, she is an adult and it's not filming public street, it's just for her. Maybe I should have put a different tittle to this thread to don't provoke so much controversy where there is none. I really wouldn't know how to name it. "discreet indoor cam"?

OP posts:

ineedaholidaynow · 03/10/2020 15:27

I think OP you might be better off starting a new thread and explaining that an elderly lady would like a camera in her home to help her family see her. But I would also recommend a warden call wrist strap etc

Kandinsko · 03/10/2020 15:29

Are you mad? You can’t do that. Jesus.

FlitterMouse · 03/10/2020 15:33

She might benefit from a ring doorbell, a falls alarm/falls detector, careline, keysafe and an assessment from her community nurse, ot or social services, some surgeries have a multi disciplinary team who can risk assess the elderly in their own homes and make recommendations. How would a spycam in the hall help if she falls upstairs. If she is vulnerable, scared she might get attacked or fall, and getting forgetful maybe she would be safer in sheltered accommodation or a warden flat.

IWantT0BreakFree · 03/10/2020 15:38

I'm so glad they are "happy" for her to live independently Good Lord I hope my children aren't like this when I'm old. She's an adult with capacity from the sounds of it and doesn't require her children's permission or blessing to live in her own home.

If the camera is something that this lady genuinely wants and you aren't colluding in a situation whereby she is being coerced into having her privacy massively breached for the convenience of her children, then maybe a new thread would be more helpful, asking for advice on behalf of an elderly lady who would like indoor security cameras so that her family can keep an eye on her for safety purposes.

viques · 03/10/2020 15:46

@Megan70

Just wanted to cut the story short as it is their own private life and I was just looking EXCLUSIVELY for recommendations.

Her mum is already old, she is showing signs of age, sometimes forgets things... she has always been a very independent woman and really likes to remain like that, she will be moved lately to any of their children's house. Decision was talking between all her brothers and sisters with mum included (not at her back), so YES, mum wants as well to have an indoor hidden camera for her safety. They worry about her having a fall at home, on the kitchen or stairs, someone maybe knocking on the door and forcing their own way inside the house. They are happy for her to live her life independently as long as she can, but really want to know that she is safe (not "spying"on her).
Cam will be for entrance hall and maybe kitchen dinner.
Anyway, that is the whole family decision not something I think I have any right to put my nose in. I just thought I might help and find some recommendations

Unless the family members were monitoring the camera 24 hours a day (ie spying on her constantly) then some of the things you mention would not be helped by a camera. They need to think of other ways of her alerting them to an emergency situation where she needs help, and also maybe the alexa screen mentioned upthread for contact and socialising with her.

Florencemattell · 03/10/2020 15:51

A wrist band that’s she presses when she falls would alert her family. You pay a monthly charge for this.

Quaagars · 03/10/2020 16:38

OK, confused now with your update!

Why does it have to be hidden if she's happy with it?
This

Also, if it's because they're wanting to check she's OK and not fallen or whatever, how are they going to go about this?
Is it a camera in every room, I mean if she falls in say the kitchen and the camera's in the living room, how would the camera pick that up?
Is it like 24 hr surveillance otherwise I'm not sure how that'd even work!

TPS2009 · 03/10/2020 16:42

An Apple Watch can pick up falls and alert people

june2007 · 03/10/2020 16:43

I would contact something like AgeUK and look at personal alarms and ring doorbell systems.

OperationallySound · 03/10/2020 16:43

None of this makes any sense. What if something happens to her away from the 'hidden' camera? In a different room? Overnight? When someone isn't supervising her? She needs an emergency call button, not being watched.

Random63638 · 03/10/2020 18:24

A nanny cam is a specific hidden camera used when you think someone is up to no good, and they are illegal so stop calling it that! If you search for 'home internal security camera' you will get some options. But as pp have said it's really not that great an option for monitoring wellbeing because you can't cover all angles and however happy the lady is I'm sure she won't want one in the bathroom, which is a risky place so she may well fall there.

If you are in England (only system I know) you can request an assessment from the council to see if they recommend any items to support independent living. My gran had one, it took about 3 months waiting but was mostly useful. The council didn't provide equipment but did make it clear what was available and suggested some suppliers.

There are lots of options for supporting people at home, cameras are probably not what you are looking for.