How to Keep Tabs On an Elderly Parent When You Can't Be There

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Keeping tabs on an elderly parent who lives alone has never been so easy thanks to a host of sophisticated new home monitoring systems that have sprung up in recent years.

These systems work through small wireless sensors (not cameras) placed in key locations throughout your parent's home. The sensors will track their movements/activities, learning their daily patterns and routines, and will notify you or other family members via text message or email if something out of the ordinary is happening.

For instance, if your loved one doesn't open the medicine cabinet at their usual time it could mean they forgot to take their medication, or if they went to the bathroom and didn't leave it could indicate a fall or other emergency.

You can also check up on your loved one's patterns anytime you want through the system's password-protected website. And for additional protection, many services offer "medical alert" call buttons too that can be placed around the house or worn in case your parent falls or needs to call for help.

A top company that offers this type of service is BeClose (866-574-1784), which offers a wide variety of sensors that run $399 or $499, plus a $69 monthly service fee if paid a year in advance.

If you're interested in a more budget-friendly option, check out Lively (888-757-0711), which costs only $50 with a $35 monthly service fee.

Lively uses small motion sensors that you attach to movable objects like a pillbox, refrigerator door, front door, etc. These sensors will track your parent's movement/activity and let you know of any abnormalities in their routines. For example, if your mother didn't pick up her pillbox to get her medicine, or she didn't open the front door to go out and retrieve the morning newspaper, you would be notified and can check on her. Lively also offers a "safety watch" in case she falls or needs to call for help.

Another affordable option to consider is Evermind (855-677-7625), which lets you keep an eye on your parent by monitoring their frequently used electrical appliances through small plug-in sensors. So, for example, if your father didn't turn on the coffee maker in the morning, or if he's not watching his favorite television program before bedtime, you would be notified. Evermind cost $199 for the three sensors, plus a $29 monthly service fee.