Do you want to monitor a senior living alone for safety?

Home Security Cameras For Seniors can be a great option to remotely monitor the safety of your loved ones when you can’t be there. Of course, if you need more support, an in-home caregiver referred by Abby Services can help but sometimes that level of support is not necessary.

You want to be sure your elderly loved one is safe.

Not every family has the ability to closely monitor a frail family member to ensure their safety. Families may do what they can by calling to check in but often find that that only presents a limited view of what is occurring.

Families are often concerned about falls, injury, and confusion when considering how best to monitor a family member from afar. In some of the worst-case scenarios, a phone call is either too late or your loved one may not have access to a phone when they need it most. That is where the value lies in home security cameras for seniors.

Families are seeking options to help ensure their elderly family member is safe and has the support they need.

At Abby Services, we are senior care experts. Often Families will call inquiring about hiring a private caregiver “just to check in” on a loved one. While Abby Services is one of our area’s most cost-efficient options for families, seeking private in-home caregivers, the cost of a caregiver visit is often difficult to justify just for someone to check-in.

Families continually struggle to balance personal and family lives, especially when an aging parent requires more attention than a loving family member can give. Fortunately, technology has presented many solutions in the form of home security cameras for seniors.

Home security cameras for seniors are often a cost efficient way for families to monitor their elderly family member from afar.

When families are considering the cheapest option to monitor their loved ones, home security cameras for seniors are at the top of the list.

By using affordable, readily available, wifi-enabled home security cameras for seniors, families can monitor their elderly family members from afar.

The challenge with this technology, while powerful, is that it can be intimidating or difficult for people to use effectively.

Most home security cameras for seniors promote easy setup to share access. We find the biggest challenge with this technology is internet access. Especially when managing the technology with someone who may not be extremely familiar with managing the home wireless networks necessary for these devices to function.

What are the top 3 home security cameras for seniors?

• #1 Wyze

Wyze cameras are at the top of our list for a reason. The Wyze home security cameras for seniors are easy for family members to set up and share access. While basic, they also have an array of available features and add-ons that can further increase their functionality when monitoring a senior’s safety from afar.

• #2 Blink

Blink home security cameras for seniors are also at the top of many lists. They are industry leaders and much like Wyze offer a variety of additional features while also easily making basic features available.

• #3 Ring

While known for their doorbell cameras, Ring has options with similar functions focusing on simple home security cameras for seniors.

When considering in home monitoring it is important to consider privacy.

When utilizing home security cameras for seniors it is important for families to consider privacy. A best practice is to notify any guests or caregivers in the home that the area does have home security cameras for seniors. This should not be a surprise, and the notice should be included in a conspicuous area.

What about security cameras inside an Assisted Living Facility?

• This is a question that often comes up. If a senior’s home is in a senior living facility families may still want to remotely monitor their loved ones and the care that they receive.

There are a few considerations in this scenario.

• Access to Wifi
• Is it legal
• Does the facility permit recording devices?

Access to WiFi: For this technology to work and be useful a stable internet connection is required that is fast enough to support video streaming.  Is it legal: Legal questions are best handled by an attorney. Here is a link to an article by an attorney covering Webcams in Nursing Homes.  In the article, the conclusion is: “It’s a crime to record a person’s voice in Florida without their permission. But it is not a crime to videotape them without their permission. So, if you decide to put a hidden camera or granny cam in your loved one’s ALF or nursing home room, make sure you turn off the sound.”

Does the facility permit recording devices? Whether this technology is permitted at a facility will vary depending on their internal policies. Families have been known to push for this despite facility policies that prohibit this type of monitoring.

In our experience, facilities who do actively permit this technology do the following:

• Remind families of the audio recording requirement outlined above.
• Post a notice reminding staff, guests, and residents that there is a recording device in use.

When does a senior need more help?

Unfortunately, there is no simple clear-cut answer to when a senior needs home help. The goal of remote monitoring is to allow families an opportunity to observe their loved ones to be sure they are safe and to identify concerns that may require further support.

Often the next step is contacting a service like Abby Services. With the support of a private caregiver, most seniors can remain safe and independent in their homes.

Exercise and Parkinsons Disease: A key component in Parkinsons Disease (PD) care and treatment.

Exercise and Parkinsons disease go hand in hand. As a neuromuscular disorder exercise can play an important role in Parkinson’s’ Disease therapy.

Why? Targeted exercise helps Parkinson’s patients with coordination, muscle strength, and movement. Parkinson’s Disease (PD) affects the ability to control movement and balance which can make walking and other motor movements difficult, even walking on flat, even surfaces can be a challenge.

Exercise that reinforces muscle strength, coordination, and movement can help to prevent falls. Even when falls may be inevitable exercise can help to limit the injury that occurs and help to facilitate recovery.

Falls are a very real risk, sometimes requiring surgery which can lead to further complications related to medications, blood clots, and heart involvement.

Abby Services has a great resource to help those working with Parkinsons disease patients addressing exercise and Parkinsons Disease.

What kind of activity helps exercise and Parkinson’s Disease?

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, a  general exercise and Parkinsons disease plan should include

• Stretching – 2–3 days per week with daily stretches being ideal
  • This could include yoga or just general stretching.
  • All stretches should work on sustained stretching with deep breathing or dynamic stretching before exercise.
• Aerobic Activity – 3 days a week for 30 minutes per session
  • Aerobic activities can include exercises that raise your heart rate including walking, running, cycling, swimming, and an aerobics class.
• Strength Training – 2–3 non-consecutive days for 30 minutes per session
  • Strength training can include weight machines, resistance bands, and light/moderate handheld weights.
• Balance Exercises – 2–3 days per week with daily smaller activities
  • Exercises should include activities that require multi-directional stepping, weight shifting, dynamic balance activities, large movements, and multitasking such as yoga, tai chi, dance, or boxing.

Exercise and Parkinson’s disease: There are excellent online and in person classes for Parkinson’s Patients.

Exercise and Parkinson’s disease, go hand in hand. In-person exercise classes are also an excellent way to socialize, motivate, and stay active. Due to a variety of circumstances sometimes you may not be able to travel to manage exercise and Parkinson’s disease.

There are even many online classes to be sure you don’t miss a day. In-person exercise classes are an excellent way to socialize, motivate, and stay active. No matter what you do keep moving! With the availability of in-person classes and activities you can easily do at home, there is no reason not to include exercise and Parkinson’s disease care as part of your daily routine.

The following is a listing of some online videos and resources to support exercise and Parkinson’s disease in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and beyond.

• Hope Parkinson’s Group has in-person exercise and Parkinson’s disease classes for residents of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and the surrounding areas.
• The Parkinson’s Foundation has a series of videos to tailored to the needs of PD patients.
• APDA Virtual activities including live events, and a catalog of varied past events.
•  Parkinson Foundation Boxing Workout
• Rock Steady Boxing Videos: (Seated or Standing)
  • Stretches
  • Seated Hand Exercises
  • Seated or Floor Core Exercises
• Power For Parkinson’s: Parkinson’s Home Exercise Class, Brain Teasers, and More!
• Patrick LoSasso: 5 great PD exercises
• Tai Chi Moving For Better Balance
  • 8 Form Tai Chi
  • Assisted Standing Tai Chi Warm-Up
  • Standing 8 form Tai Chi
  • Stepping “Moving Ball” Tai Chi

• Tai Chi For Better Balance by Suman Barkhas
• Seated Tai Chi by Suman Barkhas
• Power For Parkinson’s “Move and Shout” Class

Do you need assistance with Parkinson’s Care?

Abby Services is there for you and your loved ones. We have been helping families find the best caregivers at the best price since 1996! Here is more information on how we can help a loved me with Parkinson’s. Have any questions? We can help, just call 239-590-0861!

Abby Services in-home caregivers of Fort Myers and Cape Coral is doing their part to end elder abuse.

Lee Elder Abuse Prevention Partnership or LEAPP is a coalition of local businesses and services dedicated to preventing elder abuse.

Update: LEAPP no longer exists.

While it was an excellent partnership and program LEAPP no longer exists. Those suspecting Elder Abuse are encouraged to contact

The Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE  To report abuse, neglect, or exploitation, please call toll-free 1-800-962-2873. The Abuse Hotline investigates allegations of physical, sexual, and mental abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable persons.

Elder Abuse can be a silent problem.

According to the National Council On Aging, up to five million older Americans are abused every year, and the annual loss by victims of financial abuse is estimated to be at least $36.5 billion.

Elder abuse can include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect, and abandonment. Perpetrators include children, other family members, and spouses—as well as staff at nursing homes, assisted living, and other facilities.

Abby Services works to prevent elder abuse.

For at least the past 5 years Abby Services has supported and has been involved with LEAPP. L

EAPP stands for the Lee Elder Abuse Prevention Partnership. LEAPP is a coalition among Lee County, Florida human service providers and agencies.

The goal of LEAPP is, “To promote a Lee County community where older adults live safe, value and dignified lives.” and their mission is “to create community partnerships that effectively promote awareness of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.”

LEAPP Member Agencies include:

Alvin A. Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center
Abby Services In-Home Care
Able Health Care Services
Abuse Counseling & Treatment (ACT)
Adult Protective Services – Florida Department of Children & Families
Agency for Health Care Administration – State of Florida
Arden Courts – Ft. Myers
Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida
American Elder Care
Bonita Fire & Rescue
Cape Coral Police Department
City of Ft. Myers – Mayor Henderson’s Office
Coastal Behavioral Health
Comfort Keepers
Community Cooperative Ministries (CCMI)
Congressman Connie Mack’s Office
Cypress Cove
Direct Access Home Health

Dolores Bertolini – Caregiver and Retiree
Dr. Piper Center
Elder Law Office of Norma Hand Brill
Florida Gulf Coast University School of Nursing
Florida Gulf Coast University School of Social Work
Florida Rural Legal Services
Ft. Myers Police Department
Good Wheels
Gulf Coast Village
Heartland Health Care Center
Helen Fallert – Retired Social Worker
Hope HealthCare Services
Iona-McGregor Fire District
JBH Behavioral Health
Lee County Health Department
Lee County Department of Human Services
Lee County Housing Authority
Lee County Library System
Lee County Public Safety
Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Lee Memorial Health System
Long Term Care Ombudsman – Southwest Florida
Lynda Leonard-Boyce – Professional Guardian
Mederi Care Tenders
Millennium House
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – Southwest Florida Chapter
National Alliance Mental Illness (NAMI)
Neuropsychiatric Research Center of Southwest Florida
Office of Financial Regulations – State of Florida
Osterhout, McKinney & Prather Elder Law Attorneys
Parkinson’s Action Network
Prudential Financial
Redi-Care
Right at Home
Sanibel Fire & Rescue
Sanibel FISH
Schlager, Schlager & Levin
Senior Behavioral Health at Lee Memorial
Senior Friendship Centers
Senior Home Companions
Sherri Graham – Professional Guardian
Signature Healthcare
Southwest Florida Community Foundation
St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church
State Attorney’s Office
Superior Residences at HealthPark
The Honorable Archie B. Hayward, Jr. – Lee County Judge
United Way of Lee, Hendry & Glades
United Way 211
University of Florida Lee County Extension Service
Visually Impaired Person (VIP)

Through Abby Services’ involvement with LEAPP, we are able to help ensure our local seniors remain safe in their homes and can help support those seniors and their families who are at risk for abuse.

Abby Services was a lead supporter of the LEAPP Shred-a-thon.

Recently Abby Services supported the LEAPP shred-a-thon. The Shred-a-thon is an annual event around tax season which provides an opportunity for local residents including seniors to securely destroy sensitive documents. All donated proceeds go to help support LEAPP initiatives through a local partnership with The United Way.

By shredding sensitive documents Abby Services In-Home Care helps to reduce the risk of fraud, and financial abuse. Abby Services In-Home Care is proud to support LEAPP and all local initiatives in LEE County, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral who support our seniors and help keep them safe and in their home, regardless if they require in-home care or do not require in-home care.

For more information on how Abby Services In-Home Care and LEAPP protect our local seniors please visit www.leeelderabuse.org