If you need to stay more connected to a parent or family member who lives independently, this story is for you.
Wellcam™, created by Alarm.com, is a new way to stay closer to each other, and to ensure that your family is safe and well when you’re not with them.
Earlier this year Bobby installed an Alarm.com Wellcam in his mother Margarete’s home. Here’s their story.
We asked Bobby and Margarete what they appreciated most about Wellcam—and what makes it different.
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“I feel like my generation—Gen X-ers—are very busy in general,” Bobby told us. “We’re always active. It’s work, family and sleep when you can.” Although he lives just an hour away, work and family commitments mean that he can’t visit Margarete as often as he’d like. Their Wellcam helps to bridge the gap.
As an extension of Bobby’s own home security system, Margarete’s Wellcam connects directly to Bobby’s Alarm.com app. It’s easy for him to quickly check in with Margarete, say hello, and see that everything is okay—or to “visit” for a longer conversation when time allows.
“The Alarm.com app is crazy easy,” he says. “You just pop it up, click and say hello—and she talks back.”
“We get to visit a lot more than we used to,” smiles Margarete. “I look forward to him calling.”
Better Than a Phone Call.
For Margarete, Wellcam has several advantages over a phone. Her Wellcam’s call-out button connects her directly to Bobby’s smartphone—no dialing required—for a clear, hands-free conversation via Wellcam’s two-way speaker.
“With a phone, you can’t hear as good at my age,” Margarete says. “But this is almost like he’s sitting right here with you.”
“It can be hard to stop what you’re doing and make a phone call,” Bobby adds. “You might spend 15 or 20 minutes tied up on the phone. But with this, it’s a quick two- or three-minute ‘hello’ and you’re about your day.”
Make a Difference.
As well as keeping his family more connected, Wellcam helps Bobby ensure that Margarete and her husband RL are safe and well. Alongside the Wellcam, Bobby installed a broader Alarm.com-powered Wellness solution, which intelligently monitors activity using Wellcam’s motion detector and other sensors.
“It’s an evolution of home security technology,” Bobby explains. “It learns what’s normal, and when something abnormal occurs, it notifies someone who cares so that they can get in front of it.
“Maybe someone is getting up more in the night more than normal: it could be a sign that they’re getting sick, or not taking their meds properly. The system picks up on that, and alerts you, prior to it becoming an emergency room call. I’m proud to have found something that makes a difference.”
“You don’t even know it’s here,” says Margarete. “But if something goes wrong, it’s here to protect you and let someone know.
“It’s really helped a lot,” she says. “I feel a lot more secure.”
Your family can benefit from Wellcam and Wellness technology. For more information check our Aging In Place Solutions and Alarm.com.