I’m trying to find a reliable front door camera for my mom’s house. She has dementia, and I need a way to monitor when caregivers and family members, like my sister, come and go. My sister says she visits often, but I’m not sure she’s staying long, so having a record would help. Here’s what I’m looking for:
Not a doorbell replacement – I live in another city, and I don’t want doorbell notifications on my phone. The current doorbell also doesn’t face the street.
Hardwired option – I’d rather avoid constantly replacing batteries.
Wi-Fi capable – So I can check footage remotely.
Good motion sensitivity controls – I’d like to avoid recording every car or bird that passes by.
Recording retention – It needs to store past recordings for weeks so I can review and download footage if needed.
I’ve done a lot of research, but reviews seem mixed for even the top-rated options. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I use a Ring doorbell camera and can access recordings going back two months. You can turn off the doorbell sound notifications in the app, so you’ll still know when someone is there without getting the loud alerts. Mine is hardwired, which avoids the hassle of frequent battery changes. Before hardwiring, I had to change the battery every two weeks. Since hardwiring, it’s been hassle-free.
Sorry to hear about your mom. My mom had dementia in her final years, and it’s really tough to see someone you love go through that.
@FortressHome
Thanks for your kind words. Dementia is definitely a challenge.
I’m hesitant about doorbells because my mom’s doesn’t face the street, and I don’t want to replace it. Do you think Ring cameras (not the doorbell ones) could be a good alternative for this?
@Dennis
Yes, Ring also makes standalone cameras. They go back 60 days and can hold two batteries, so they last longer. I think they can be hardwired too, but you’d have to check. You can mount them at an angle to avoid street traffic, and they’re easy to install. You might even consider putting one inside the house to monitor caregivers.
A Wyze V4 camera might work for you. You can set it up on a windowsill by the front door and plug it into a wall outlet. It supports SD cards for local storage, and Wyze offers cloud recording as well.