Home Security

How to Improve Home Security for Seniors

By Ring on August 10, 2023

Whether you’re keeping an eye on an aging parent, grandparent, or loved one with medical issues who lives alone, their safety is one of your top concerns. But since you can’t always be there to keep an eye on things, Ring is here to help you keep your loved ones safe. Our easy-to-use products can help provide protection when you’re not around while enabling your family member to maintain their independence.

Selecting the right home security system for seniors is simple with Ring. Here are some tips to help you determine the right products and features to keep your loved one safe.

Choosing the Right Home Security System for Your Elderly Loved One

The right security system is one of the best ways to help protect your loved one at home — and to gain some extra peace of mind when you’re not there.

Determine Tech Level

When finding the best security system for your elderly family member, one of the most important things to consider is ease of use. Some tech-savvy seniors may prefer to control their system with a smartphone, but others want simple controls that require no additional technology. As a home security system designed to work for anyone, Ring Alarm offers both.

There are several ways to install and use Ring Alarm, so anyone can feel comfortable using their system. If they’re comfortable using the App to walk through each step, our self-installation option is straightforward — or, you can easily do it for them. If you’d prefer that someone else take care of the set-up, we also offer professional installation.

Ring Alarm also offers two ways to arm and disarm the system: the Keypad, and if you subscribe to Ring Protect (sold separately), the Ring App¹. You can mount or place the Keypad in convenient areas around the house, so your loved one can easily set the Alarm to “Home” mode. If they enroll in 24/7 Alarm Professional Monitoring with their Ring Protect Pro subscription, they can also request Police, Medical, or Fire assistance.

The App offers the same functionality and houses all the essential controls in one place, like setting up new and compatible devices, adding Shared Users, and arming sensors to “Home” and “Away” mode. It also enables Alarm users to receive Alarm notifications with a Ring Protect subscription, sold separately¹.

Look for Shared User Functionality

Great security systems don’t just offer protection — they also enable you to stay connected with your loved ones, whether you’re in a different state or across an ocean. And as a Shared User in the Ring App, you can purchase compatible security cameras to check feeds using Live View and communicate via Two-Way Talk. Whether you want to say “good morning” and chat each day or leave a message for a family member who won’t answer your phone call, the Ring App makes it easy to check in.

In addition to saying “hello” and accessing camera feeds, Shared Users can also see stored videos, notifications, and Event History, and even arm and disarm the Ring Alarm. That means you can find the adorable footage of your kids giving grandma a bear hug and save it for her to watch whenever she misses them.

Consider How to Request Emergency Assistance

When your loved one needs help, both the Keypad and App offer a quick and easy way to request it. But those aren’t the only ways they can interact with their Alarm system. You can also purchase Ring Panic Buttons, which allow seniors to send an alert to the Alarm Professional Monitoring² center. You can use the App¹ to designate which Panic Button should be used for certain situations, like fire or medical. Each Ring Panic Button device comes with stickers to help your loved one differentiate between Panic Button functions, so they’ll know to press the “Fire” button if they hear their existing smoke detector going off or the “Medical” button if they experience an issue.

You can also get notified when your loved one presses a Panic Button as a Shared User on their Ring App¹. If you’re nearby, you can head over to check in, or use Two-Way Talk if you have a Ring Indoor Cam or Ring Video Doorbell (sold separately) to speak from afar.

Select the Best Connection Type

Ring Alarm has a built-in backup battery in the Base Station to help keep you secure for up to 24 hours if you lose power. Plus, if you subscribe to Ring Protect Pro, sold separately, you have option Alarm Cellular Backup.1 Whether you live a few neighborhoods away or across the country, you’ll have peace of mind that your loved one and their home are protected around the clock.

Top Home Security Features for Seniors

To level up security for seniors without sacrificing ease of use, look for a few key features. Ring offers these helpful options:

Mobile Alert and Remote Monitoring Options

A Ring Protect subscription, sold separately, sends users automatic mobile alerts when their Alarm gets triggered by an open window, or even someone at the door. And if they want an extra set of eyes on their system, your loved one can add you as a Shared User.

If your family member has Ring Security Cameras or a Video Doorbell, they can also use their smartphone to check in while running errands or having lunch with friends. Live View enables them to see what’s happening at home, and they can even use Two-Way Talk to reassure their furry companion that he’s a good boy.

24/7 Alarm Professional Monitoring and Emergency Response Services

The senior in your life may not have time to check every Alarm notification¹, especially when they’re enjoying a long vacation or spending winter at their sunny vacation home. With 24/7 Alarm Professional Monitoring², they can turn notifications off while playing a round of golf or lounging at the beach. If their Alarm gets triggered back home, a trained professional will call them and contact the authorities if they request assistance or don’t answer.

Ring users with an Alarm and Security Cameras can also add on a Virtual Security Guard subscription, sold separately, which allows a team of highly-trained professionals to monitor select outdoor camera feeds, use Two-Way Talk and sirens to help deter unwanted guests, and request emergency assistance if needed.

Professional monitoring can also be useful for seniors with mobility challenges. If their Alarm gets triggered, they won’t have to rush to the phone to call for help. Plus, if they see a notification from a Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Listener or Flood and Freeze Sensor, the professional monitors can ensure support arrives as quickly as possible.

Ring Makes It Easy to Level Up Home Security for Seniors

At Ring, we strive to make neighborhoods safer with home security products that are accessible to anyone — including seniors looking for an extra layer of protection. That’s why our Alarm components, Security Cameras, and Video Doorbells are easy to install, simple to use, and come with several optional features to help improve security, connectivity, and customization.

Need help customizing the best Ring Security System for your needs? Speak with an expert to discuss your options or explore our Alarm Security Kits today.

¹ Ring Alarm and all Ring Alarm accessories require a subscription for in-app features and digital notifications, including digital arming / disarming and integration with other Ring, Echo, Alexa, and third party products. Subscription sold separately. View ring.com/protect-plans for pricing and details.

² A compatible Ring Protect subscription is required to enroll in the Ring Alarm professional monitoring service. Professional monitoring service is available only within the U.S. (all 50 states, but not U.S. territories) and in Canada (excluding Quebec). Ring does not own its own professional monitoring center. Smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring is not available for a business or commercially zoned address. See Ring alarm licenses at: ring.com/licenses. Additional permit or false alarm fees may apply depending on your local jurisdiction. Additional charges may apply in areas that require permits or guard response service for alarm verification.

³ Virtual Security Guard is an add-on service that requires the following (each sold separately): subscription fee per enrolled location plus a compatible Ring Protect plan, Ring Alarm system, enrollment in Ring Alarm professional monitoring, and an eligible device. Rapid Response is the seller and provides the service and agents monitoring person detected motion events. Learn more.