I have always know about Alzheimer's disease and its associated symptoms.  Recently, a close friend's mother was diagnosed with it.  She was ina car accident and when the police showed up, she had no idea how she got there.  Once a week, our customer servivce team gets a call from a caregiver who needs some type of product to help them monitor the where abouts of the Alzheimer's victim they are providing care for.  I mentioned in a previous post a particular story that hit me hard. A patient climbed out of his window, during a snow storm, and walked to the train station in his pajamas.  He was trying to get on the train and head to the city where he was raised.....over 350 miles away!  Trying to learn as much about the disease as I can, I read an interesting artcle posted on the Mayo Clinic's website: Alzheimer's: Understand and Control Wadering.

If you are a caregiver for an Alzheimer's patient or know someone who is, I would recommend reading the article.  This is a serious issue and often times, is not really thought about until it is too late.

 

 

I am often asked how effective our fake security cameras are.  For that question, I usually refer to our SC2040-OD Outdoor Fake Security Camera. 

This is because the SC2040-OD is a fake security camera we custom build in house from an actual outdoor camera housing.  We order these camera housings from our supplier and modify them with a flashing LED, battery pack, and as shown in this picture, a tinted viewing window.  In this same exact configuration we have them throughout our offices, warehouse, and outer perimiter of the office building with one important exception.....in many of them we insert a real live security camera. 

To the observer, you cannot tell a difference and honestly, I often forget which ones are live and which ones are fake security cameras.  I cannot afford to place live cameras throughout my facility.  What I can do is mix the two. 

Any small business owner, or large business owner for that matter should consider this sort of arrangement.

 

We are proud to announce the full line of Dakota Alert driveway alarm and other security alert products is now available on Security2020.net.  Due to our large volume, we are able to offer these products at the most competitive rates available.

 

http://www.security2020.net/wma-3000-dakota-wireless-driveway-motion-alarm.html

 

 

 

T.O.O.B is a really cool startup in California that uses a half dome mirror to create an omni dome projection theater.  It is one of those technologies that is just plain cool.  The product was recently featured on the Price is Right!  Check it out below for a video of the theater.  How would you like to have one of those in your house?

They use an acrylic half dome mirror like this one.

We get calls from customers just about every day who tell us real life stories of how our products are used and may have helped in one way or the other.  Today we had a customer call in asking for help with a product recommendation.  She worked for a retirement home in New York that specializes with Alzheimer's retires.   Last night, an elderly man with Alzheimer’s sneaked out of his window and walked one mile to the train station but was intercepted before boarding a train to New York City.  Obviously everyone’s foremost concern was the welfare of the patient but also of concern is the liability of the care giving facility. 

After speaking with someone from the facility today, we recommended the Voice Alert 6 Wireless System, VA6000.  This is essentially a wireless alert system you can use in a variety of ways.  This versatile product can use a variety of sensors to send a wireless signal to the receiver.  With up to 6 recordable Zone messages , the receiver will signal will alert for the appropriate zone.  In this example, a wireless sensor could be placed above all exterior windows and set to zone one of the receiver.  When the sensor detects motion, it could transmit a signal to the receiver which could emit something like this “movement detected at outdoor windows.”  You can connect an unlimited number (or combination of) PIR sensors, vibration sensors, and other sensing devices; your only limitation are the number of zones.

Hmmm….maybe they should check out the Skylink Home Security System.  Works great, easy to install, and far less expensive.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ceo-security-tabs-fall-at-google-fedex-and-disney-2010-04-12

-Jason

I often get the question as to whether Fake Security Cameras really work to deter crime.  Below is an actual customer testimonial recently sent to us after his father’s neighborhood was vandalized, but the father’s house was spared.  This is our Outdoor Fake Security Camera, the SC-2060-OD.  The camera housing is a real security camera housing :

“Funny story (well not funny but informative), I installed the (fake) cameras at my dad's house just b4 I left to Disney World and his neighborhood got vandalized while I was gone.  It started at the end of the street and stopped at his house.  6 houses got hit including the house directly across the street.  He (and I) are convinced that the Dummy cameras protected his property.  He couldn't shut up about it except to hear my daughter talk about Disney.

Thanks for your professional attitude and service”

-Jason

Just about every retail store has a product that they simply can't sell (although many won't admit it!)  Over the years, we have had our fair share, and the Garbage Can Metal Detector we have is no exception.  As a matter of fact, I thought this was such a dog we don't even have it on our website.  We have three to four of these that have been collecting dust over the years.

A couple of months ago I received an email from a young man at a university who was working on a recycling project for one of the schools lunch rooms.  He want to place a motion detector near the garbage cans and make an announcement reminding students to recycle before they threw their trash away.  For this project we had just the right product, the Voice Alert VA6000S, Wireless Annunciation System with PIR based motion sensors.  The motion sensors, upon sensing movement close to the trash cans and recycle bins would send a wireless signal to the Voice Alert Receiver.  The Receiver would then announce a pre recorded message such as “please remember to recycle,” or ”please place plastics in recycle bin.”  Here’s a picture of the VA6000S system:

           

Through our conversation regarding the success of the project, in a joking way (but kind of serious) I recommended the Garbage Can Metal Detector Lids we had and how these would really be a great addition to the project.  If I student accidentally throws an metallic  objects into the trash can, a bleeping alert is sounds.  We donated a couple of the lids to the project to see how they work.  You never know, the  previously lonely garbage can lids may yet find a happy home!

It's below freezing outside as I write this, so one could assume I wanted to look at a nice sunny pool setting to warm my toes. One would be correct, but this message is important and it doesn't have to be warm to think about pool safety for your children.

In most cases, pool owners start by putting up a fence to prevent uncontrolled access from their yard. When small children or non-swimmers are in the mix, an extra step might be to further protect the area immediately around the pool with smaller fences, gates or other temporary devices. This is a great start. Children however, are clever and pretty darn good at navigating through and around these barriers if given enough time.

One of the goals this year for the Security2020.net blog is to provide more information with real world applications of our products and how they can increase the safety and security of your loved ones. We have several ideas that we will publish this year, but an incident here this week made it clear to us which application to discuss first. One of our employees had a relative diagnosed with Alzheimer's this week following a wandering incident at her home. One of our long time products is already in use around the world as an Alzheimer's Wandering Alarm (the VA6000 6 Wireless System) either by itself or using the sensors with the Text Alert for notifications via cell phone.  By using various motion sensors, the caregiver can be alerted when their loved one is wandering.

Experienced caregivers are all too familiar with wandering, but many newly diagnosed patients and families may not be aware of what to do to help ensure the safety of your loved one. A great resource is this article on the Mayo Clinic website. We've highlighted a few key safety tips from the article here:

1. Remove tripping hazards such as throw rugs and extension cords. Install night lights to aid nighttime wanderers and put gates at stairwells to prevent falls.
2. If wandering isn't associated with distress or a physical need, you may want to focus simply on providing a safe place for walking or exploration. This could be a path through the rooms of your house or a trail through a fenced backyard. Some nursing homes have circular routes where wanderers can travel to their hearts' content.
3. A variety of devices can alert you that your loved one is on the move. Pressure-sensitive alarm mats can be placed at the door or at your loved one's bedside. Warning bells can be used on doors. Childproof covers on doorknobs also are helpful. Many people also install sliding bolt locks up high on doors, out of the average person's line of sight.
4. Doors to off-limits rooms pose a different problem. Camouflaging a door with paint or wallpaper to match the surrounding wall may short-circuit a compulsion to wander into such rooms. Curtains over the door might also work. A mirror on or near the door stops some wanderers. Sometimes a stop sign on a door is enough.

Also from the Mayo article:

The Alzheimer's Association's Safe Return program is designed to help identify people who wander and return them to their caregivers. For a modest fee, you receive:

• An identification bracelet
• Name labels for clothing
• Identification cards for wallet or purse
• Registration in a national database with emergency contact information
• A 24-hour toll-free number to report someone who is lost

You can register someone by filling out a form online at the Alzheimer's Association's Web page or by calling 888-572-8566.

Additional Alzheimer's Resources:

• Mayo Clinic
• Alzheimer's Association
• The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation