Safety At the Front Door

It's a good idea to have a sign outside near the doorbell and/or in the middle of the front door to deter unwanted callers, and since many people have them it shouldn't attract unwanted attention to being vulnerable. There are commercially available signs, or you could make your own and attach it to the inside of a glass panel in the door, or get it laminated to make it rainproof. We'd suggest wording such as "NO salespeople   NO cold callers for any reason   Have your ID ready". Avoid wording or pictures that might confuse someone with dementia into thinking they aren't allowed in.

You could make a sign for inside the front door, with a reminder according to your loved one's abilities. This could say things like "Don't open the door to someone you don't know" (although make sure visiting carers will be let in), or "Remember to put the chain on the door before talking to a stranger", or "Remember to take your key if you go out" etc.

A peephole in the front door is useful to enable your loved one to see who's at the door, and of course they may be used to using one. Make sure it's at the right height for them, and check that the lens on an old one is clear and replace it if not. Note that you don't need one with a swing cover, which may make it more difficult for them to use, because the wide angle lens makes it impossible for anyone outside to see anything at all inside (although if your loved one worries someone can see in then a cover could be useful). Some peepholes have a separate cover attached to a ring so that you can decide whether to use it when you install the peephole.

There are two different types of unit you could consider fitting.

The first is a video intercom, which has a doorbell button and video camera outside, and a display screen inside, so that your loved one can see who's outside and talk to them without opening the door. This does rely on the person outside pressing the doorbell button rather than knocking on the door, or some units may display via motion detection, and you should be able to press a button inside to see outside if not. To talk will require your loved one to press the talk button. If the unit's too complicated for your loved one then they may just end up opening the door, of course.

The second type of unit is a video doorbell - instead of having its own display screen for inside the house these need linking to a good wireless internet connection and a mobile/cell smartphone. This could allow you to see and talk to the person at your loved one's door, wherever you are, but in this case do check whether the system can link to a second smartphone or display for your loved one.

Look at how the units can be powered - permanently plugged into the mains or requiring batteries to be recharged.

There are two types: the traditional chain, which your loved one may be familiar with using, or a looped bar that swings over a ball, which may be less fiddly if your loved one understands how to use it. Unless long screws are used to fit them they'll pull out of the door frame or wall if the door is shoved hard from the outside. Do consider carefully, though, the risk that a visiting carer may not be able to get in if the chain has been left on, either because your loved one has simply forgotten how to use it and can't follow directions on what to do, or because they've fallen or are ill. If there's access to the back door, and it isn't bolted inside and the carer can get the key from a key safe, then that could be an option for an emergency.