Ring type doorbell

[countrygirl99]

Trying to persuade mum to accept a video doorbell after an incident this weekend. Anyone got any tips on choosing? The persuasion process will probably take ages but when I finally succeed I'll need to strike quickly before she changes her mind. No point just putting something in place because, based on previous experience, if she isn't happy she'll prise it off and out it in the bin.

Not being facetious but yes, a Ring door bell. They are good.

My DM has the Ring doorbell and Alexa Show (screen) so that when it rings Alexa shows her the front door view on the screen. She can also say “Alexa, show me the front door” and it will display - even if no one has pressed the doorbell.

She also has an Alexa plug upstairs so she can hear the doorbell there.

We have the Blink doorbell and installed for elderly FIL, we also bought extra camera which we now have in his home so we can check on him (following a fall where he didn’t have his phone or any emergency alarms) we can check on him on the cameras on an app, and also talk to him via the microphone. We have used it to communicate with him when he had another fall and were able to contact ambulance quickly (we check it every few hours) and when the paramedics came we were able to talk to them on the cameras too. Think you can get on Amazon and cheaper than Ring

Eufy doorbell. Same idea as Ring, but no subscription fees.

We have a Eufy for Mum with memory loss, because it doesn’t have any monthly charges. But it doesn’t capture quite as much as the Ring because it only records when it’s triggered by movement or the doorbell. You can still talk through it though.

At the start she thought it was unnecessary but she has forgotten it’s there now! We all have the app on our phones so can keep an eye on who is coming to the door. It’s been really useful as we’ve picked up a few situations.

We didn’t want it connected to an Alexa as she’s struggling with technology anyway so that would have just confused her more.

Do you mean for the door or are you suggesting it for inside the house (many do apparently)

Thanks everyone. No way will mum cope with talking to anyone using it or with an Alexa. She can't even play solitaire on her tablet now and she used to use the internet a lot. It's because we got a call from the carers Sunday evening to say she wasn't there, none of us live locally to pop round a bit later and check up she is there and we can't rely on her answering the phone, either she doesn't hear it (despite it being very loud) or she chooses not to answer. We thought if we had alerts from Ring or whatever we could at least know she's come home.

I have a ring and an alexa show, this would work well as they can see on a bigger screen who is at the door.

Just a side thought, have you approached your local council to see if they have a deaf services team? Or assistive technology team? They can install equipment that will flash a light or vibrate so she knows when the door/phone/smoke alarm is going as she has hearing difficulties. Might help with the phone issue.

Mum hasn't coped with a change of telephone number that happened over 10 years ago. No way will she cope with an Alexa. She's more likely to forget what it is and throw it in the bin.

One was installed in February. Within a couple of days it was unplugged and put in a cupboard because she couldn't remember what it was for and it kept flashing which annoyed her. We really do only need this do that we can check mum has come back home if the carers report she is out. Mum will not use it,she won't remember what it is

She doesn’t have to do anything, it will just automatically show up. I only use mine for a timer, the radio and for the doorbell.

She'll most likely throw the Alexa in the bin because she won't remember what it is.

We have a cheap tapo indoor camera in the window (anmazon) and it catches a good amount of action just not at night! You could set it up on the windowsill of an unused room behind the curtain and she might not see it. I know someone who used this brand of camera you keep an eye inside the house too for an elderly relative who was having memory issues

Honestly mum doesn't cope with new (and some previously existing) devices. She has Alzheimer's and was diagnosed 5 years ago. She has been provided with and discarded a dementia clock, hearing aids, equipment to help her hear the doorbell/phone/smoke detector, multiple mobile phones (she thinks they are broken when they need charging), and a 7 day heart monitor. She switches off the power to the central heating and then calls British Gas because it hasn't come on about 3 times a week, sometimes more. She leaves the freezer door open so everything defrosts and then shuts it again so everything is a giant ice cube so she defrosts it again and infinitum so now the carers have to check that and the heating controls twice a day. And that's just the stuff I know about. We just want something that means we can check remotely that she has come home. Because frustratingly, despite all that, she's still assessed as having capacity to choose where and how she lives.

We did think about an indoor camera but there is no hiding place near toor so we'd probably need several in different rooms. If she sees them she's likely to take them down and throw away so something outside the door feels more likely to work. We put a lock on a cupboard door to try and stop her switching off the heating and the next day she had prised it off.

Ah and they have a pilot light though we taped over it at some point it moved and you could see the light off it again so she would spot it or switch it off

Does she have broadband?

She does have broadband. I discovered last visit that the hub had been replaced but she has no idea by who and when. It's hidden in a wooden box so goodness knows how whoever did it found it. All I know is it must have been last month.

It's a nightmare isn't it. We tried putting notes on the switch and they disappeared. Stickiest stickers I could find didn't work.

You can get really discreet cctv she may not notice, and that could be installed higher up so she wouldn’t be able to reach it?

Recently had Ring installed for my dad not so much security but we have cameras in the downstairs rooms and showing the stairs. Dad lives alone and whilst as fit as a 60/early 70 year old he is factually 93 and he has had a few unexpected random falls that have so far been nothing more than a few bruises to him and his ego but it’s there so if I do not get my nightly call, I can log in and check on him. I have my own ring so I have to log out if mine and into his if I’m concerned but it’s a huge peace of mind for me as well as him that I can visually check on him and speak to him from the camera if I ever needed too.

I'm prepared to consider all options but I'd need to get her out of the house to install it. Outside just feels safer knowing mum. High up inside I have horrible visions of her falling from a chair trying to get rid. She can be very determined and stubborn.

Also with a doorbell I can try and sell it as we can keep an eye out for potential intruders while she is out or we can talk to someone at the door if they are worrying her.