Baby monitors have become more advanced these days. Video monitoring, two-way communication, night vision, motion sensors, and Wi-Fi connected apps are some of the features that you can find on modern baby monitors.
With so much advancement in technology, one interesting new application for baby monitors that has emerged is its use for monitoring adults. Specifically, they can be used to help monitor elderly adults who are afflicted with dementia like Alzheimer’s or otherwise whose safety can be ensured with some supervision.
In this article, we look at the best baby monitors that can assist you in monitoring your older loved ones. We will take you through our top choices, give you a product guide for your reference, and answer a few important questions at the end that you may have about baby monitors for the elderly.
If you are in a hurry, the table below gives a quick snapshot of the top 6, or you can scroll down for detailed product reviews.
Contents
#1 – Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens
This is our top choice for baby monitors for the elderly, and with good reason too.
One of the best features of this product is that it is equipped with an optical zoom lens with a digital zoom function. You can zoom in 4x to see even more minute details of the room, and this could aid you in seeing if elders are uncomfortable or are becoming restless.
The has a remote pan/tilt/zoom control so that you can every movement in the room via a . The trouble with dementia patients is that sometimes they just get up to get a glass of water or go to the washroom, and at other times they might be wandering away due to a loss of memory. Just to be sure, you can follow their actions once they move out of bed.
The baby monitor also has an alarm function and two-way talk capability, which can be invaluable and save you precious time when your loved one is getting ready to move out of the room. You can quickly talk to them and calm them down, or simply instruct them to stay where they are while you or someone reaches their room.
The DXR8 also has a wide-angle lens that can be used to replace the in-built zoom lens, which is a perfect accessory for use with the elderly.
Another great feature is the battery life – with an 8-hour full video mode battery life, you can rest assured that the monitor will work throughout the night and help you keep an eye on your loved ones at all times.
Some adults prefer to sleep in pitch black darkness, and it could be difficult to monitor them with a simple video camera. An invisible infrared night vision capability on this baby monitor solves that problem for us as well.
One of the most important but less talked about features of the DXR8 is that this monitor works completely off your Wi-Fi network and has its own transmission frequency. If you are concerned about privacy and people hacking into your private cameras at home, then the DXR8 is the way to go.
Pros
- Pan/Tilt/Zoom video capability
- Interchangeable 4X Zoom and 170-degree wide-angle pan lens
- Invisible Infrared night vision
- Two-way audio communication
- Room temperature monitor and alarm
- 8-hour battery life on video mode, 12-hour on audio
- Off the Wi-Fi, completely secure and private
- Well awarded and respected brand
Cons
- The battery does not hold a charge for long after some months
- If there are Wi-Fi devices between the monitor and its remote video unit, then there is a problem of the video cutting in and out repeatedly.
Why It’s Our Top Choice
If you’re just looking for our topmost recommendation, then here it is – in our opinion, the Infant Optics DXR-8 480p Video Baby Monitor, Non-WiFi Hack-Proof FHSS Connection, Interchangeable Lenses, Pan Tilt Zoom, LED Sound Bar, Night Vision, and Two-way Talk, low battery is the best baby monitor for your elderly parents and loved ones, because of the following reasons:
- Flexibility of 4 lenses: If you have a larger room, you might want your monitor feed to pan out. If your parents tend to get restless at night, you might like to be able to zoom in. With interchangeable lenses in this baby monitor, you can adjust the camera and have it fixed perfectly, as per your need in their room.
- Invisible infrared night vision: If your parent loves to sleep with the room darkened, you don’t need to disturb their sleep, but can still monitor their movements on video.
- Two-way communication: If you can see your elderly parents getting up, you can calm them down and get them back into bed simply by talking into this wonderful device.
- 8-hour battery life with video: You can monitor your parents on video all night long without worrying about the battery dying out.
- Complete privacy: Unlike most other baby monitors, this device does not use your Wi-Fi, therefore it is impossible to hack into it.
- Great Brand: Infant Optics is one of the most respected brands in the baby monitor business. The DXR8 has been the product of choice for over a million families and it has been awarded the moniker of the best baby monitor by almost every baby product magazine out there.
#2 – HelloBaby HB65 Baby Monitor with Remote Pan-Tilt-Zoom Camera
The HelloBaby HB65 Video Baby Monitor is another powerhouse full of features that is great to use with both babies and elderly loved ones.
Like the Infant Optics DXR8, this product also has a Pan/Tilt/Zoom facility, which lets you monitor the whole room easily. You can remote control the Pan Tilt and Zoom facility using the 3.2 inch LCD screen, with the camera rotating up to 355 degrees horizontally and 120 degrees vertically to give you the broadest stretch of visibility possible.
There are some very useful smart features in this device that are great for monitoring adults. Two-way audio communication can be used to help you communicate with your loved one to calm their nerves if they suffer from anxiety or panic attacks or are confused when they wake up at night.
Similarly, an automatic night vision feature and the low light feature ensures that you get the best video quality automatically even when the lights are turned down in their room, without having to disturb them.
The temperature monitor in this device lets you know if the room temperature is becoming too hot or cold for a comfortable sleep.
The monitor uses wireless technology, and it is careful to use frequency hopping and digital encryption to make sure that your private information is safe and cannot be accessed by a hacker.
The product is very easy to install – it is a plug and play device that just needs to be attached to the right cables and turns on instantly.
Lastly, another important feature is the battery life. As per user reviews, the battery life for this product is approximately 4 to 6 hours.
Pros
- Pan/Tilt/Zoom video capability
- Infrared night vision
- Two-way audio communication
- Room temperature monitor and alarm
- 4-6 hour battery life
- Wi-Fi enabled, with secure encryption and frequency hopping for safety
Cons
- No instruction manual for mounting the camera
- The video monitor turns on randomly during the night for some users
- The camera keeps turning on and off for some users
#3 – ANMEATE Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera
The ANMEATE Video Baby Monitor is a value for money option if you are looking for a baby monitor with its own video monitoring unit and all other features in a budget price.
This product has a 180 degree Pan/Tilt facility; however, unlike the previous two, this can only be adjusted manually, so you can set the camera once but can’t turn it around at night if your loved ones get out of bed.
It has a 2.4 inch LCD display monitor with high-resolution imaging and 2X zoom for live streaming your senior’s activities during the night.
This device also has two-way audio communication for calming your senior and talking to them if they are anxious or confused. The monitor has an impressive range of up to 960 feet.
It has 8 infrared lights attached to the camera for tracking the movement of your elders in a darkened room. It also has a host of features like voice activation of the video monitor, an alarm/timer for remembering important things like feeding and giving medicines, multi-camera expandability (up to 4 cameras can be set up with a single device), and Auto Scan view.
There is a temperature monitor in this unit as well. This unit does not use Wi-Fi for pairing the camera with the monitoring unit. Instead, it uses a secure channel at 2.4GHz digital wireless transmission frequency, which is safe from hacking and other nefarious activities.
Lastly, the unit has a strong battery (950 mAh) which can last up to 8 hours in their voice-activated mode. The product has a 24-month warranty as well.
Pros
- 2X zoom and high-resolution video monitoring unit
- Manual Pan/Tilt capability in the camera
- Infrared night vision with 8 infrared beams
- Two-way audio communication
- Room temperature monitor and alarm
- Timer setting in video unit – for remembering important thing like when to give medicines or change adult diapers
- 8-hour battery life in ECO mode.
- Uses separate 2.4 GHz channel for communication, not a
- 24-month warranty
Cons
- The keeps constantly searching for a connection, and therefore keeps turning the unit on with a loud noise each time, waking up the user
- The charging cord is loose
- The camera keeps turning on and off
#4 – Victure 1080P FHD Baby Monitor
The Victure PC420 Baby monitor is the least expensive baby monitor in our lineup, with all the necessary features needed for it to be useful for seniors as well. The reason why this device is a bit cheaper is that it does not have a dedicated, separate video monitor. Instead, it is able to display video through an app-based interface directly to your mobile phone.
No products found.This product has a 120-degree wide-angle lens and can store video in a 1080P format.
One of its best features is its motion detection alarm, which sends you a notification if there is any movement in the field of visibility of the camera.
Two-way audio is also present, with a 48dB microphone and inbuilt speakers. Infrared night vision is another feature that this device possesses.
Once you create an account to keep an eye over your loved one, you can share that account with others in your family as well. The device is connected to your phone through a 2.4G Wi-Fi connection and it does not support public Wi-Fi networks, for security purposes.
You can store your recordings in a 64G microSD card or even over the cloud (the cloud service is payable). Cloud storage will only be used when there is motion detection in the room.
Pros
- High-resolution (1080P)
- Infrared night vision with 8 infrared cams
- Motion sensor for detection of movement in your loved one’s room
- Two-way audio communication
- Uses 2.4 GHz channel for communication over Wi-fi
- Cloud storage of videos
- Value for money
Cons
- Lack of a dedicated means you have to keep your phone always engaged if you want to help with .
- The camera keeps turning on and off for some users
- Wi-Fi based video monitors can be hacked more easily, so please be willing to take that risk when buying this product
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#5 – GoodBaby Video Baby Monitor with Camera and Audio
The GoodBaby Video Baby Monitor is also an inexpensive choice in this lineup, and it also includes the video baby monitor separately.
This is one of the few baby monitors that has a full 360-degree rotatable head. All you need to do is to install it on top of the door or a high place, and the camera can monitor the entire room, giving you a perfect view when your loved ones move or wander around the room.
It also has a 2.4-inch video monitoring unit that connects effortlessly with the camera unit via 2.4Ghz radio frequency (without using the internet or any apps). You can get a clear real-time video of your seniors.
It has a two-way talk facility with an extra sensitive microphone to pick up even the minutest of sounds such as coughing. You can talk with your seniors over a range of 1000 feet.
The video monitor has an ECO mode facility, which ensures that the monitor activates only if motion is detected in the room. This helps to save the battery of the monitor, and also leaves you undisturbed when you are sleeping. You can also set an alarm in this device for things like feeding and medicine timings.
Night vision with infrared technology can help monitor the room easily even when the room is dark. There is even a temperature monitor in the baby monitor unit, which alerts you if the temperature in the room is becoming uncomfortable for your parents. You can add up to 4 cameras in the device.
Pros
- 360 degree rotatable camera
- Infrared night vision
- Motion sensor and ECO mode for saving power on video monitoring unit
- Two-way audio communication
- Uses 2.4 GHz channel for communication, but no Wi-Fi or app is used
- Temperature alarm
- Can set up timers for various activities in this device
Cons
- One user complained that the camera froze and showed a video of their baby sleeping when he was actually awake.
- The camera disconnects and connects back intermittently
#6 – Peteme Baby Monitor 1080P FHD Home Wi-Fi Security Camera
The Peteme Baby Monitor is the second monitor on this list that does not have a dedicated monitoring unit as part of the kit. It instead connects to your smart device using Wi-Fi.
On the whole, this device is a serious value for money contender, as long as you are okay with not having a dedicated video monitoring device. It has a 355 degree pan/100 degree tilt/100 degree broad view camera, which gives a complete viewing angle of your entire room.
Apart from this, the camera quality is excellent with a 1080P FHD resolution and a 6G lens. The night vision on this device is maintained through 9 infrared lights, which helps the camera adjust to low light conditions well.
The 2-way audio communication on this baby monitor is again quite good, and since this device connects over the internet, you can practically use the 2-way communicator from anywhere.
The device is multi-sharing, it can be viewed by many people simultaneously.
The video and audio storage can happen on a SD card (64GB supported) or even on the cloud service that is part of this device.
Pros
- 360-degree rotatable camera
- Infrared night vision up to 30 ft.
- Motion detection
- Wi-Fi based device, data backup over cloud and SD card
- Two-way audio communication
- Multi-sharing is possible
Cons
- Wi-Fi enabled cameras always come with a security risk, so please be aware of this before making a purchase
- No dedicated video monitor
- The camera makes random clicking noises as per one user
Buyer’s Guide: What to look for in a Baby Monitor for Elderly
Video Monitoring
While once upon a time baby monitors were just glorified walky-talkies, these days many baby monitors come with video monitoring capabilities which are really great when you want to use the device for monitoring the movements of your elderly loved ones, who may get out of bed silently and without you noticing.
Therefore, make sure that your device has video monitoring capability.
Night Vision
The baby monitor should have low light or night vision infrared-based viewing capability so that you can see their movements of your elderly loved ones when they get up in the night. A standard video monitor without night vision will monitor very poorly in the absence of good lighting.
Two-Way Communication
Make sure that your device has a two-way communication capability. Dementia patients are often confused, which is can cause them to start wandering. If they are able to hear your soothing and comforting voice before this wandering happens, they might be able to go back to sleep without encountering any trouble.
Motion Detection
Many baby monitors are able to detect motion in the room and accordingly alarm the video monitoring device. For elderly patients, motion detection is a very good feature to have so that you can be warned as soon as they start moving from their bed, and before they start walking out.
Independent Connectivity
Wi-Fi based baby monitors have been known to be hacked. There have been news stories of such baby monitors being used for wrong purposes by hackers. One shudders to think what such a hacker might do if they are able to reach out to a confused adult whom might be easily manipulated.
Therefore, for you and your family’s safety, if you are thinking of buying a baby monitor to keep a tab on your elderly parents, then choose a device that does not require connectivity over the internet.
Pan/Tilt/Zoom Facility
If you intend to use a for the elderly, then one major difference that you need to be ready for is that adults are not confined in cribs like babies in a . They can get up and move about the room easily, and even walk out.
A camera that can keep an eye on the whole room via a pan and tilt feature and can zoom into darker corners to show you any source of movement is a must.
Wall/Ceiling Mount
This is really a continuation of the previous point – you should ideally be able to mount the camera on the ceiling if you want maximum coverage. Table mounted cameras may be good enough for babies who can’t move out of their cribs, but for adults who are much more mobile, you will need to reach.
Separate Monitoring Device
There are two reasons why a separate monitoring device is important. The first is safety – baby monitors that connect to your smart devices are doing so over the internet and are inherently open to hacking attacks. The second is convenience – it could be more convenient for you if you don’t have to access your phone every time you want to check on your .
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do baby monitors get hacked?
The short and unpleasant answer to this question is yes. Some baby monitor needs to be connected to the internet. In addition, if a hacker can access your baby monitor, he or she can probably hack into your entire home Wi-Fi system. This means they can gain access to your emails, bank details, credit card information, SSN, the works!
In our research, we aimed to find monitors that don’t require internet connection, so 4 out of the 6 devices mentioned in this article are not internet-based.
In our opinion, in today’s connected day and age, the best idea is to secure yourself from all internet hacking by becoming tech-savvy and understanding internet security, beefing it up at the root, and then you can use any internet device without fear.
Q. Do baby monitors cause cancer?
While it is true that baby monitors, just like any electronic device today, emit Radio Frequency (RF) radiations, it is also true that they are calibrated to be compliant within today’s emission limits as per the standards and protocols determined by the government.
A study done by EMC Technologies-Australia, and quoted by the BC Center for Disease Control, has found that at a distance of 30cm, the peak power density of exposure to RF radiation from a baby monitor is higher than most other regularly used electronic devices such as mobile phones and microwave ovens [1].
While all this may sound alarming, the fact of the matter remains that there are no conclusive studies to show a possible link between RF emissions from home devices and cancer.
Q. Do baby monitors use a lot of electricity?
Electricity usage can vary widely by model and make. Typically usage is mentioned on the product descriptions in wattage.
For example, 15 Watt usage implies that 15 Watts of electricity is being used per hour, which calculates to be 15*24*30 Watts per month (approximately 10.8kWh). This means 10.8 units of electricity is being used, and you can multiply that by the per-unit cost to get how much you are paying for it as well.
Q. Do you leave the baby monitor on all night?
Many baby monitors on this list come with an ECO mode (motion or voice-activated mode), wherein your video monitor will come on only when motion or sound is detected.
This is extremely convenient if it works properly because it means that your device does not remain engaged the whole time, only when it is needed, the monitor gets lit up automatically. Another benefit is that this saves a lot of battery life. You wouldn’t want to lose charge on the monitoring device just before going to bed, and with this feature, you can conserve a lot of power. Therefore, there is no need for you to keep the monitor on all night.
Q. How do night vision cameras work? Could they be harmful to my baby?
While night-vision is seen in popular culture as the stuff of action movies, spies, and military usage, it is actually based on a harmless and very useful technology that is also used in the remote controls used to operate a television – infrared radiation.
Our eyes can see light in what is known as the “visible spectrum” of radiation. Outside this spectrum, on the one side, there is the infrared (IR) spectrum, and on the other side, the ultraviolet spectrum.
The IR spectrum is considered harmless and has applications in everything from heating pads to night vision goggles. The camera of the baby monitor basically floods the room with IR light (which is invisible to the naked eye), and then uses this to form an image which you and I can see.
Q. What are other types of monitors for elderly parents?
Some of the other ways in which you can monitor your elderly parents are listed below:
- Grandparent monitors: These are passive monitoring systems that can track movement 24/7. They typically have cameras that can monitor movement in the entire house.
- Movement sensors for the elderly: These come in the form of rugs or pads that can detect motion when the person stands on them. They are useful for patients who have difficulty in moving and need assistance from caregivers
- Life alert for seniors: LifeAlert is a service that gives emergency help in case of accidental falls and injuries.
Other Senior Care Safety Devices
If you are looking for more ways and means to monitor the safety and health of elderly parents, you can consider buying a bedwetting alarm for seniors. These alarms will let a caregiver know if the senior has accidentally wet the bed.
Another monitoring device that you can invest in for yourself and for your elderly is an air quality monitor. These devices constantly scan and report the quality of air in terms of all sorts of parameters like concentration of carbon dioxide. It can be especially useful for families staying near highways or busy streets or in homes with habitual smokers.
For general home safety for the elderly and otherwise, products like first aid kits, fire extinguishers, radon test kits, and mold test kits can be handy.
For the bathrooms, grab bars and non slip mats can be good investments.
Devices to Help Seniors Age in Place
Along with home safety for seniors looking to age in place, you can also buy devices to help seniors do so. Wheelchair ramps help seniors access different levels of the house or move their wheelchairs over doorways easily.
If your elderly parent is restricted to home and mobility is a concern for them, a transport wheelchair is a great option. Do remember, though that they will need an attendant if they are using a transport wheelchair. It can not be self-propelled.
If they like being out and about, a power wheelchair meant for outdoor use will benefit them. And you also get a wheelchair carrier to transport the wheelchairs around, in the car.
If your elderly parents spend a lot of time sitting, you can help them by getting them useful devices and furniture. A recliner chair is one such option. It helps the elderly sit in a comfortable reclined position and can be used for reading or in the living room.
If seniors find it difficult to stand up from a seated position, a stand assist device is a device that will make it easier to get up from the seated position. A coccyx cushion can provide relief if your elderly parents are seated for long periods of time on a hard surface. A posture corrector can be a great investment for the elderly and middle aged who slouch. It will help them maintain the correct posture and prevent stooping in old age.
If the elderly in your home are bedridden, mattresses for bedridden patients can help prevent bedsores and pressure ulcers. You might also like to try a bedside commode or a wheelchair with commode to help them answer the nature’s call easily.
Finally, if you are looking to give your elderly parents a thoughtful gift, we have compiled a comprehensive list for you to choose from.
Parting Words – More Than a Camera
As illustrated in this article, video monitors are far more than just a for . They are a flexible purpose-built monitoring device with long battery life and , a built-in communication system, and pan/zoom/tilt features all accessible from your pocket. They make a great investment to help ensure the safety of your elderly loved ones by enabling you to keep observe and communicate with them when they may need your help around the house.
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor is our favourite monitor out of our selection of choices, with its Wi-Fi free connection to avoid possibility of hacking, long battery life, and four flexible lenses.
The ANMEATE Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera is another great choice and a value-for-money option, with its solid set of features for less.
A video monitor is likely one of the more high tech devices you’ll be buying for your elderly loved one, so be sure to look through this article with care so that you are informed and comfortable with making a good buying decision.
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