By: Frank Engelman | Posted: December 10, 2021 | Updated: April 18, 2023
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The Problem to be Solved
Nocturnal Wandering by Dementia Patient
For those of us caring for a loved one with dementia, nocturnal bed exits can be an overwhelming problem. The problem gets even worse if the person with dementia leaves the house at night without anyone knowing.
The Dementia Door Minder is a solution to the problem that arises when a person with dementia gets up at night, leaves the house, and wanders off.
Oh, Grandpa is trying to open the front door in the middle of the night … again
If your loved one tends to go to the front door at night and opens it to look outside, this can cause you serious concerns. What to do?
Here is a video showing the Dementia Door Minder in action
This solution uses automation to encourage the person to return to bed, rather than using “locks” to prevent them leaving, or “alerts” to wake a caregiver to chase after them — although it can also include alerts.
Locks and Alarms Have Limitations
If you search the Internet, the typical solutions suggested for this problem involve door locks and or alarms. However, in my experience both of these approaches have limitations.
While you could put difficult to open locks on the door, what if it is an emergency?
Some people have tried putting simple motion sensors that sound an alarm when the loved one goes near the door, but there are several issues. For example, the alarm only really helps if there is someone nearby who can rush out and persuade the person with dementia not to leave the house. otherwise, by the time you hear the alarm and react, they are gone.
Below is an example of a simple motion alarm. For some situations, this might be sufficient.
Caption- Limited function IR motion sensor
Stand-alone “Greeter”
You can buy a simple stand alone solution including a motion sensor and then a “greeter” that plays a message when motion is detected. See the Kit List for the exact product we looked at.
However, there are several issues with this approach.
There is no way to set it for time of day. If it goes off during the daytime, it will become annoying
There is no easy way to adjust the volume
The voice quality on this type of device is only fair
There is no way to keep track of the number of occurrences
There is no way to get an alert on your mobile device
My Solution: Discourage Them from Leaving.
The approach I prefer is to use automatation to sense motion and then to discourage your loved one from opening the door at night without preventing emergency exits.
In this solution, I will cover a visual and verbal means to encourage them to not go outside at night (shown in the video at the top of the page).
The solution in this article is based on using a YoLink motion sensor that is only active during the nighttime as well as lights on the actual entry door and a speaker.
This can provide a less jarring door exit alarm by using either a text-to-speech generated message or a recording of a family member’s or caregiver’s voice through a Tochtech Tochie speaker rather than a beeping alarm.
Caption: Entry Door Light
Caption: Sensor and light clip mounts
This is an out-of-the-way place to mount the light and sensor. It also lights up the whole door, verses just a light somewhere near the door.
Caption- speaker mount (Picture speaker mount)
The Tochie speaker can play sounds, a person’s voice or a text-to-speech message
Kit List for this Solution
See the Kit List for the Products and Routines etc Needed to Implement This.
*Disclosure: The research and opinions in this article are those of the author, and may or may not reflect the official views of Tech-enhanced Life.
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Retired Intel Engineer wanting to share DIY technology tips for the children of parents wanting to remain living independently. I like posting ideas and answering technical questions. If a product or software has an issue making it hard for seniors to use, I try to offer workarounds and also try to contact the manufacturer for solutions. I write a column for this website in the Innovation- Homebrew Solutions & Ideas section
