Checking in on Mom, or the People Who Once Kept an Eye on Us
There comes a moment in adult life when you realize that “keeping an eye on” someone has quietly changed direction.
It used to be parents watching toddlers toddle toward electrical outlets. Now it’s adult children (and siblings-in-law) watching phones, calendars, and text messages, wondering whether no news really means good news.
This is not a role reversal anyone trains for.
The Distance Problem
My sister-in-law lives alone, about 50 miles away. Not far enough to be “across the country,” but far enough that you can’t just swing by after dinner to see if everything is okay. Fifty miles is the distance where concern has time to ferment.
She is fiercely independent. She wants to live in her own home. She should be able to live in her own home. And like many people in that situation, she has taken reasonable precautions. She has a “Life Alert” device, which—credit where credit is due—has already proven its worth several times. It allows her to summon emergency assistance if needed.
The Quiet Gaps
The real anxiety doesn’t come from the moments when something does happen. It comes from the moments when nothing seems to be happening at all.
There are days when the phone rings and rings. Or when it goes straight to voicemail. Or when it rings once and then…nothing.
Technology to the Rescue
Recently, I purchased a system called the Nomo Smart Care System for a client we are assisting. Checking in on Mom with a web-based support system uses discreet motion sensors placed around the house to provide reassurance that daily life is proceeding normally. This allows the person in the home to maintain privacy, unlike a camera-monitoring system.
Motion tracking, temperature monitoring, and shared app access allow family members to stay informed without intruding.
Checking in on Mom can be done with such a system, which provides real-time reports on motion, including each time the refrigerator, shower, or front door is opened, how often sleep is interrupted, and the number of bathroom trips.
You can also share the app with others to broaden the support the family can provide, even for members who are far away.
I have been impressed enough to buy a second system for my sister-in-law, which I will install before Christmas.
Dignity Matters
This system does not hover. It does not intrude. It respects independence while providing peace of mind.
A Gentle Encouragement
If you have an elderly relative living alone, I encourage you to look into tools like this. Not because you’re expecting something bad to happen, but because peace of mind matters.
Concern is love with nowhere to sit. Good systems like this can give it a chair. It allows frequent checking in on Mom. It even has a speaker so that you can talk if the phone is down or missing.
Here is a link to Nomo Smart Care.