Advice needed on keyless door locks

[Misty999]

Hi all. I love all your useful tips and they way you offer support, empathy with a bit of fun added in too.
Ive joined the ‘forum no one wants to be in’ as I’m hoping to get some advice and tips for my best friend who only recently got her diagnosis. She lives with a pre-teenage son, and we are looking at adaptions that can be made in their home so they can stay there together, for as long as possible, and as safely as possible.
She is losing strength / use of hands and wrists and so is having trouble turning the key and door handle to lock / unlock her main door to their home. Does anyone have any suggestions for keyless locks /fobs? We have had a windows/door salesperson to the house but he didn’t know of any keyless systems where the same fob could be used inside and outside, so suggested 2 x locks which would be 2 x £350 to get round this issue. I’m sure there are other option though.....
She is under the care of 3 different OTs but there seems to be little actual action with getting things moving forward with practical help. She has tried a key turner/key extender added to her current door key but its not much help as she doesn’t have the strength still to turn it.
It would be great if anyone has any tips / advice to share regarding locks and front doors! Ive got lots of other questions too!........

[Ellie]

Hi Misty and a warm welcome to the Forum.

Sorry about your frien's diagnosis.

Have a read about Environmental Controls on this info link: https://static.mndassociation.org/ap...l-controls.pdf

Your friend's OT is the first port of call - if they're unaware of the process, the info is on the link above.

If your friend does have to pay for it, she may get a grant from the MNDA towards the cost.

Love Ellie.

[Lynne K]

Hi Misty, I got a referral to a gadget specialist service that is based in Liverpool. I forget their correct title. I'm waiting on that for several things. My OT referred me. I'd seen a selection of their gadgets at an MND local meeting about a year ago in Manchester. Lynne

[Misty999]

Wow.....thats great, thanks for the link to the EC document, this was really helpful. We can now ask more targeted questions to the various OT teams.

[Misty999]

Thanks for the tips...... definitely need to be asking more questions at the Local MND support group,

[nunhead_man]

Hi Misty

Thanks for the tips......

You need to be aware that as you move away from a particular individual turning a key you can end up compromising security?

There's a whole technology around keys being left in boxes secured by pin numbers for folk who need to let people in who cannot get to the door.

Be aware of those who proselytise about using voice activation solutions - that's all very well but the basic Alexa cannot distinguish between different voices asking it to open the door

https://homeaudioforge.com/2018/08/15/what-are-voice-activated-systems-to-open-doors/

[nunhead_man]

Good morning Ellie,

Thank you for this - I do forget to look at our own resources

Have a read about Environmental Controls on this info link: https://static.mndassociation.org/ap...l-controls.pdf

One thing is a little worrying though;

"Created: 09/19
Next review: 09/22
Version: 2"

I would think things change quite fast in this area - there seems to be quite a competition going on in the android and Apple camps to produce even more sophisticated devices

[Ellie]

I would think things change quite fast in this area - there seems to be quite a competition going on in the android and Apple camps to produce even more sophisticated devices

Yes indeed, Andy. One would hope the EC experts keep abreast of innovation, but I fear many offer traditional solutions only and don't necessarily think outside of the box

[Arcadian]

Yes indeed, Andy. One would hope the EC experts keep abreast of innovation, but I fear many offer traditional solutions only and don't necessarily think outside of the box

As someone with an original work background in instrumentation and control systems that included access control and security (and now having MND), it's been a little frustrating trying to get an overlap with development and trials / evaluation of such equipment, either with developers / manufacturers and / or issuers of equipment.

[Claireflo]

I have a yale smart lock as my husband uses a wheelchair so it allows him to press a remote to unlock the door rather than use the key. The remote can be used inside or outside to open the door. It also has a card or fob to go on a keyring that you place against the sensor.

I really like our smart lock however it can be a bit stiff pressing the handle down but I don't know if that is just due to how it was installed. It also needs the batteries changing every 3-6 months which may be a bit tricky depending on hand function (although hopefully someone could help with that).