Lorex

Keeping tabs on an aging parent or other relative is crucial to maintaining their safety and improving your peace of mind. When regular visits, phone calls or Skype chats aren’t practical, a remotely viewable security camera can provide an always-on view of your loved one and his or her home. Modern wireless cameras come with a range of features that let you log in from your phone or tablet to see and hear how things are going.

Canadian security-device company Lorex, based in Ontario, offers a range of cameras, monitors, recorders, and accessories for home and business use. Lorex offers equipment for monitoring babies and children, pets, seniors, and property via mobile device and computer. The company is part of FLIR Systems, which also produces military-grade surveillance equipment, industrial imaging and measurement instruments, and other measurement and detection tools.

Product Description:

Lorex offers a HD Wi-Fi camera (model LNC204) for home-monitoring use. The camera connects to the user’s home wireless network and is designed to be accessed remotely and securely via PC, tablet, and smartphone.

Pros:

Users can connect their camera to a home wireless network in less than 2 minutes using a mobile device, the Lorex Ping app, and the scannable QR code on the back of the camera. A video on the product page walks users through the setup process. Up to 20 users at a time can access the camera’s secure feed, allowing users to spread monitoring responsibility among several family members.

Other features that families of seniors may find helpful are the camera’s 2-way listen-and-talk audio function, motion-, loud noise- and temperature-detection tools that can send alerts to system users, and night-vision capability within a 30-foot range, which makes it easier to check on loved ones at night.

Cons:

While the camera itself has a 3.3 out of 5-star rating on Amazon, the Better Business Bureau has noted a number of complaints related to the company’s customer service. Currently, the BBB gives Lorex a rating of F and says on its website that the “business has failed to resolve underlying cause(s) of a pattern of complaints.”

Fine print:

Lorex offers a 60-day return policy with no re-stocking fees. Customers are responsible for getting a return authorization code and paying the cost of return shipping. The Lorex customer policies page says the company will replace damaged or defective goods with an equivalent product or a free upgrade if the requested item is no longer available. Products are under Lorex warranty for 1 year; components and accessories are warrantied for 90 days; customers must provide a receipt or billing statement as proof of purchase.

Cost:

The LNC204 HD Wi-Fi camera costs $149.99 and ships for free. A 10% off coupon code is available on the product page.

Best for…

Tech- and mobile-savvy families who want a simple way to see and hear what their loved one is up to. The temperature detection tool could be especially helpful for seniors who live in an area where working heat or air conditioning is necessary for survival.