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The Kitchen Table

Has anyone ever used an alarm or lock on a door?

4 years ago

My mom and stepdad live in an apartment in an independent living facility. My mom suffers from dementia. My stepdad thinks she got up in the middle of the night last night and went out into the hallway with some details that I do not believe, but that's a whole other story. Does anyone have any experience with a lock or alarm that they have used. I saw several on Amazon but they all said they have a deafening alarm, but they have neighbors that I don't want to wake up at 2:00am. Any suggestions????

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Comments (11)

amylou321
4 years ago
You can put a child proof door knob guard on her door before she goes to bed. These prevent being able to turn the knob on keep it from being pushed down, depending on the type of knob of course.

For an alarm to be effective it needs to be loud. There are some door alarms with adjustable volume, but it will likely still alert her neighbors. There are also some alarms that will simply send an alert to your cell phone, but that may not be loud enough to wake your stepfather at 2 am.
dedtired
4 years ago
When we had problems with my mom wandering, we hung bells on the doorknob.
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littlebug zone 5 Missouri
4 years ago
We had one of those door alarms at our last house. It was deafening.
sushipup2
4 years ago
Check with the management of their facility. There are probably rules about what you can or cannot use.
wildchild2x2
4 years ago
If mom is petite and stepdad is taller a flip lock installed higher up on the door could work. We used them when our kids were small.
Elizabeth
4 years ago
https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Caregiver-Prevention-Receiver-Detector/dp/B085QFRZ2Q/ref=sr_1_45?keywords=alarm+mats+for+elderly&qid=1645946782&sr=8-45

My aunt and her son used this type of an alarm that sensed motion next to her bed. The volume on the receiver was adjustable. It worked very well and did not disturb the neighbors.
bpath
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
A flip lock might m not be allowed in the building. Management or emergency personnel need to be able to get in. A chain would work and be accessible from outside (install it vertically), but still they might not allow installation.

We put child covers on doors at my mom's, but in an independent living they may have levers instead of knobs.

A bell on the door should help. Like a strip of jingle bells. But, they have to be loud enough to wake her husband. And not removable by her.
Bevthebrit
4 years ago
Bed Alarm? Also sensor alarms placed on clothing and a wall sensor near bed will send an alert to a cell phone. Just Google bed alarms.
yeonassky
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I have not personally used any of these but thought it was something you might find helpful in your search. This is from Alzheimer's. . net...

https://www.alzheimers.net/8-8-14-location-devices-dementia

The website below talks of ways to help take care of seniors who are wandering.

https://dailycaring.com/8-ways-to-prevent-alzheimers-wandering/
jewels_ks
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks everyone! I'm going to talk to the facility tomorrow and see what they think. Also, their door is a lever.
katlan
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
When we were caring for my father in law we had a bed alarm. It was a pad that we laid on the bed, under the fitted sheet, positioned under his body. If he got out of bed the alarm went off.

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