I am just writing to say Hi, letting you all know I am back on this site. I see, even though it was off the net for a while all the messages seem to be pretty much still intact. I am doing well with my mothers situation and the cameras have been an invaluable tool in keeping my mother safe and secure in her own home. I feel so good being able to do this for her in order to give her what she so desperately wants to do, to end her days in her own home. If anyone has any questions I will be glad to answer them.

Jah, one never knows what will work til we try it.We choose the best way to make all happy.
I know you are doing all you can to asure mom remains in the compfort of her home with all the precautions needed.
This is something that is catching on all over.You show us it can work.
You made the decision that was right for you and I do believe we will see others follow your lead

Hi Mae,

You are right, where there is a will there is a way, and I think in many cases cameras are the answer. There are times where more aid is needed and I know that, but I think to many times people are taken from their homes too quickly, when if thought about there are ways to help them stay in their homes and be independent as long as possible. I am only talking about situations where it is similar to my moms health and care issues. No one is the same, no situation is the same. I only say these things to let others know that these things can and do work if you have a situation similar to mine. With minimal help and cameras and many other types of technology out there, care can be given with safety and less cost than many are experiencing now.

I beleive that I had been very much mis-understood in the past on some of the things I have posted on this board, I need to assure you and others my mother is getting every bit of care she needs.

I know there are cases where nothing but hands on care will work and those are really hard times for both the caregiver and the caregivee, I think though anything that can be done to stave off the actual hands on caregiving is a blessing to both, the ones who care and the ones care is given to.

Thank you Mae for your reply.

Jah, where there is a will , there is away.You had both because you wanted to grant mom her wishes.I watched a show one evening where they had a family that used these cameras for his mom.With so many families scatterd all over this maybe the answer.Plus you stated you have those who check on her.

bnot,

Thank you so much for your post, you do not know how good it makes me feel to know that I have helped someone.

The cameras are great, and I can see it being something that many can use and with the elderly population growing, there is going to be needed more and more innovative ideas.

Thanks again, you have made my day.

Wow, thats an interesting way to make sure a parent is ok. I know many do NOT want to give up their homes. Mine fought tooth and nail before she gave hers up.

I'd never thought about camera's. Wonderful idea, especially if they are frail, and really need more help than they are willing to admit.

I wish you the best of luck with this! Great idea for many, who's parents don't want to give up their home! Thanks for posting this, as most of my friends parents are getting to this age too. Something I can recommend for them.

Hi Mae,

It was good to hear from you. I hope you are doing well.

I would like to mention that having cameras, in many situations, can and does reduce much of the stress level for those caring for ambulatory loved ones, from long distance.

There are many that do not realize there are restrictions on who gets NH care, there are certain tasks that if you are able to do them, you are not, at least in my state, eligible for admitance into a NH. Also, in my state, if you are one who refuses to be put in a NH, there are legal steps that have to be gone through before this can occur. My mother fits both these categories.

My problem was, knowing this and my mothers personality, what was I to do? My eldest daughter came up with the camera idea, for long distance caregiving it is ideal, whether the elder has cognitive problems or not, the peace of mind for the family is PRICELESS.

I also, now have someone coming in on a daily basis for a hour to check on her, not that it is necessary in her situation, but, in part to appease the neighbors. These caregivers basically do nothing in her home, they sit for an hour and visit with her.

So, it is working, til the next thing happens, and we will figure out what is needed and get it done, just as everyone does, you just keep going.

Nice to hear from you Mae, best to you.

When we want to look out for a loved ones best interest we do what we can .Where there is a will there is a way.We can have some peace of mind when we live long distance and can keep an eye on a loved ones.Cameras are used so often.
Anything that gives positive results, I am all for it.We leave no stones unturned.

Hi Anna S,

I am sorry I didn't reply sooner, I had sort of lost track of this board. I do think it would work to watch from work, if your employer was willing to allow it. I can and do watch my mother on camera as I do things on my computer, in fact I am watching her right now and she is getting a snack out of her refrigerator I do have an outside camera and I can see who comes to my moms door. There is also voice, so I could hear if my mom needed help, if she was in a room where there is no camera, the private areas of her house, such as the bathroom. You can put up more than one camera, I currently am using four of them for her. It has been the best thing I have ever done in the many things I have implemented to assure my mothers well-being and safety in order for her to be in her home as this is her wish. I wholeheartedly think you will be glad you decided cameras as a caregiving aid.

Hi JAH:

Cameras would be a great asset for me. I am the sole caregiver to my mom. She’s OK on her own for about half a day. In the near future, I will probably have to return to an office. (I currently work out of the house) More than likely, we will move to be close to my office so I will be only a few minutes away. If my employer agreed, could I check on my mom via web cam from work? I would also want to know if anyone was coming to the front door. I plan installing an intercom system, so she doesn’t have to open door but when not there I would want to keep watch. Please note, I also plan to utilize day care and a paid companion but this can be expensive if done every day for eight hours. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I hope we all can say things and not mis-understand, I wanted to come back to this board and show everyone that I am a person with feelings and emotions just like everyone else. I just chose a different way to caregive, one that allows my mother the freedom and life she wants to live. I have never wanted to have others do as I was doing, just wanted to give others a message that there are many ways to caregive and if one thing isn't working there are other things you can do. I respect everyones right to do what they can the best they can.

Hi there,fat, dumb and happy, I apprediate your post, I don't think you or anyone on this board is the B word, I feel and I really don't know, that there was someone pushing buttons and we all got caught up in it. I don't hold grudges, we all have our hands full enough without turning on each other. I think caregivers are in many ways very special people and sometimes things just get testy. So lets just say enough said and we can all be friends. I think we all have a lot to offer to those who are posting now and those who will come later. Peace to all of us.

hey jah, welcome back! i have been wondering how the kodak house was going! good to hear it is working good. if daisy's family ok's it and pays, i am going to install them around my house. maybe i'll even get to catch my son and his friends on film! who do you contact for a system like this. let me be the first to say i was wrong and apologize for being a b*tch. welcome, and thanks for the wisdom and new tricks for caregivers!

Yes I am a big proponent of cameras in the home I had them for almost a year while my MIL was still here JAH they are a great tool to use I said that from the beginning.
My problem here was that my house is so big (3 levels ) Dang those stairs! so by the time I could get to my MIL the deed or deeds were already done, the camera afforded me a peek if you will into what she was doing to get to her before she did any damage...now the only time I couldnt stop her of course was in the bathroom BLAST IT lol
Ok not so funny but now everyone knows why I emptied out the bathroom of everything and put locks on all the doors
Hallway and bathroom was unmonitored so she used to get into my bathroom to find her picking tool of choice until I busted her and of course 200 bucks later for new doorknobs on all the doors I didnt have to worry so much on what she could get into....unless of course you count her climbing up on the shelving in the hallway to try and see if there was something she could use up on the higher shelves
Man Im tellin ya that woman was gonna give me heart failure

I had forgotten that JAH said she had guardianship now. I know that you can put cams in your own home. security, nanny, etc.

At what point can you put them in some one elses home? Guardianship is different from POA and DPOA, right? So far I haven't felt I needed to have eyes in Mom's home, and if I did, I know she and Bro would agree. But if she was not to know, what clout would Bro and I need?

JAH, BG had cameras for a long time, but it was in her own home. I never really questioned that.

Bunnys_grl

I am mindful of not trying to say things so I don't get mis interpeted, so I was just stating how it happened in my situation. I do not know the laws in other states and am not sure what they are in my state concerning cameras, so I did what I thought was in mine and my moms best interest and as long as there were legal proceedings for me to have guardianship and had it entered into the court record. I think in this and similar situations we need to do things as much as possible to cover our butts, if you know what I mean. I am so glad my idea is working well for you. I should clarify that, it was my daughter who actually came up with the camera plan. I think it would work in so many situations and lessen much worry as we care for our elders.

Glad to hear things are doing well in your neck of the woods JAH
BC when APS came in to our home here they never said anything about the cameras being illegal to use in fact she was impressed that I thought of doing it at all she told me more people in these situations should do it if LO's are still ambulatory since their prone to getting into dangerous situations because of this disease...you remember the incessant picking mil was doing, well if it wasnt for those cameras I had trained on her those picking frenzies would have been much worse

My mother is doing well, the cameras are legal, as I am guardian now and she doesn't need to give permission for the cameras, but it has been approved legally also. It is the best thing I could have ever done, she is protected and she is living as she wishes.The cameras are only in public places, not private areas, she deserves her privacy as we all do. Thanks for the nice post, hope to talk soon.

Hello JAH, I have been curious if you got your system working to your satisfaction. Social Services are satisfied? Many people are long distance care givers and the LO won't yet accept change or aids. I am still a bit baffled that this is "legal" without her permission. It is a very ambitious experiment. I hope it works for your Mother. Fortunately, my Mother will accept help to stay in her own home. We are lucky that way.