Pool Alarm for home of dementia patient...

[Anonymous]

My step-MIL has been dx with Alzhimers, and it has been a rapid decline. She lives nearby with FIL, who cares for her, and he works a part time job (this is not sustainable IMO).

Anyhow, they have an inground pool-we're in FL so it's in a pool cage outside the back door. sMIL seems to have lost the ability to swim. Dh and I offered to buy a pool alarm-I actually offered to buy a DOOR alarm, but FIL was not open to this. I know nothing about pool things, and there were dozens listed online. Any recommendations of an alarm that is simple to use?

[Anonymous]

I’m not familiar with the term “pool cage”—is that a fenced enclosure with a gate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not familiar with the term “pool cage”—is that a fenced enclosure with a gate?

I would like to know too. Do you mean a screened in lanai?

[Anonymous]

OP here- so in their house, there are sliding glass doors to a lanai-screened in. The lanai has a screen door to where the pool is, which is enclosed by a pool cage, which is like a metal frame with screen that covers the whole area, and has it's own screen door to the yard outside.

[Anonymous]

Can you keep a combination lock on the pool cage gate? That is what we do for our SN adult daughter. That way your dad can still get in and out without a key but it is too difficult for your mom to figure out alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you keep a combination lock on the pool cage gate? That is what we do for our SN adult daughter. That way your dad can still get in and out without a key but it is too difficult for your mom to figure out alone.

Correction: Step mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you keep a combination lock on the pool cage gate? That is what we do for our SN adult daughter. That way your dad can still get in and out without a key but it is too difficult for your mom to figure out alone.

Unfortunately, FIL is not open to locking or alarming the pool cage door-he has some denial issues, denial of severity of the decline of step-MIL. I was thinking alarming the pool itself may be next best idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you keep a combination lock on the pool cage gate? That is what we do for our SN adult daughter. That way your dad can still get in and out without a key but it is too difficult for your mom to figure out alone.

Unfortunately, FIL is not open to locking or alarming the pool cage door-he has some denial issues, denial of severity of the decline of step-MIL. I was thinking alarming the pool itself may be next best idea.

She’d have to wear it:
https://www.amazon.com/Safety-Turtle-Child-Immersion-Water/dp/B019CWBUS2

[Anonymous]

The thing with pool alarms, it might be too late by the time they went off.

Would it help if the message came from someone else? I used to know a nurse who worked for an insurance company to basically “baby proofed” homes for the elderly. Things like eliminating slip and fall risks, installing grab bars.

[Anonymous]

Four sided fencing around the pool (With a self-closing, self-latching gâte) is the only proven prevention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Four sided fencing around the pool (With a self-closing, self-latching gâte) is the only proven prevention.

An elderly person would probably be able to figure out how to open a latched gate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you keep a combination lock on the pool cage gate? That is what we do for our SN adult daughter. That way your dad can still get in and out without a key but it is too difficult for your mom to figure out alone.

Unfortunately, FIL is not open to locking or alarming the pool cage door-he has some denial issues, denial of severity of the decline of step-MIL. I was thinking alarming the pool itself may be next best idea.

Honestly, a pool alarm won't go off until she falls in. Is he in good enough condition that he could hear the alarm, register what's going on, get to the pool, perform a rescue etc . . . in a matter of minutes? If not, then it's just a false sense of security.

[Anonymous]

If he is in this much denial, the pool will not be the only problem.

Ugh, I’m so sorry, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Four sided fencing around the pool (With a self-closing, self-latching gâte) is the only proven prevention.

An elderly person would probably be able to figure out how to open a latched gate.

Can you put it so high as to be out of reach for the wife?