Keeping an inobtrusive eye on loved ones

How it works

The system uses small, unobtrusive sensors placed around the home — on a fridge door, a back door, in a hallway or kitchen — to build a picture of normal daily activity. When that pattern changes, the system notices.

If activity drops below what would be expected — or if the system detects a prolonged presence in one location that could indicate a fall — it first gives your relative a chance to confirm they’re okay. If no confirmation comes within a few minutes, it sends an alert to everyone on the family contact list by text or email.

There are no cameras. No microphones. No wearables to charge or forget. The person being monitored doesn’t have to do anything differently at all.

What we monitor

• Door activity — fridge, back door, front door
• Room presence — using passive sensors that detect movement and occupancy
• Stairwell monitoring — to detect a potential fall
• General activity patterns — TV use, internet activity
• Doorbell activity

Sensors

Tapo magnetic door sensors monitor entry points. Aqara presence sensors detect room occupancy and movement — without cameras, without recording.

Local intelligence

All monitoring and decision-making happens locally on a small device in the home. It doesn’t rely on a cloud service to decide whether something is wrong.

Family alerts

When the system decides something needs attention, it contacts everyone on an agreed list — by text or email — simultaneously. No single point of contact to miss a message.

Voice confirmation

Before alerting the family, the system gives the resident a gentle prompt via a smart speaker — a simple opportunity to confirm they’re fine before the alert goes out.

What if the batteries run out?

The sensors report their own battery levels to the system. In six months of real-world use, no batteries have needed replacing. We’ll set up alerts if any sensor battery drops low, and we’ll talk you through what to do.

What if the internet goes down?

Local monitoring continues without internet — the system keeps watching. Remote alerts and family notifications do require connectivity, so internet reliability is something we discuss during setup. We’re also developing a heartbeat monitor to flag connectivity issues proactively.

What if the system crashes?

Home Assistant has proven exceptionally stable in our trial — running continuously through frequent updates without failure. That said, no system is infallible, which is why we’re honest about this and build in safeguards where we can.

Will Mum/Dad accept it?

This is usually the hardest part. Because there are no cameras and nothing to wear or interact with, most people are comfortable once they understand how it works. We always involve the person being monitored in the conversation — their comfort matters as much as your peace of mind.