Doorbell options for the hard of hearing

February 10, 2022 8:28 AM

My 92 year old mother, bless her, is still able to live alone. Her hearing is starting to worsen which means her TV and music is on full blast in her small 1 bedroom condo which is about 950 square feet. This also means when the door bell rings, she can't hear it in the bedroom or living room.

I know some doorbells have a small monitor that emits a bright flashing light when it is rung. I'm looking for something that makes overhead lights or lamps flash on and off. Are there other recommendations or ideas to help her know when someone is knocking on her door?

posted by IndigoOnTheGo to Technology (11 answers total)

You could set this up with smart devices... I know you can definitely do this with a Ring doorbell and Hue lights, you could set up an IFTTT routine to blink the Hue lights when the doorbell rings. It's not the cheapest option but it would work.
posted by brainmouse at 8:43 AM on February 10, 2022

I have the doorbell that rings LOUD and has a flashing light. I have smoke detectors that do the same thing. You can also get a phone that has a flashing light in addition to a ringer.

If you are in the US, you can contact your county or city "agency on aging" or whatever they call it in your area to find out about the doorbell flashing light and the smoke alarm flashing lights. You need both. I understand that for safety the fire/smoke alarm lights should be mounted on the wall or ceiling so they aren't disabled by someone moving a lamp. You might also contact your fire department and ask if they have a safety program for the elderly. If so, they often will come out and install these flashing alarms (and flashing C02 alarms) at no cost.

There is also a nationwide telephone program for the disabled and elderly that provides free telephones with the flashing light or light hookup, and amplifying devices, and the ones that type out what the other person is saying. Google "your state" and "disabled elderly telephone program" to find that program.
posted by KayQuestions at 9:01 AM on February 10, 2022 [3 favorites]

The Clarity Alertmaster has a couple of features - it comes with a doorbell, it can make a lamp flash, and it also has a vibrating bed shaker as an alerting device. Here's the product manual (pdf).

More alerting systems here.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:18 AM on February 10, 2022

If you don't want to mess with electronics, one option would be a remote-controlled-outlet controller taped to the wall beside the door with instructions and a plugin beacon lamp on the wall. (I'm not endorsing these particular brands, just picking the first search results that illustrate the idea.) If you do want to mess with electronics, there are lots of options. Making really loud noise or flashing lights isn't hard, but might require some soldering and programming.
posted by eotvos at 9:24 AM on February 10, 2022

Also not a cheap option, but you could get her a Ring doorbell and an Apple watch and use haptic notifications so she'll feel it on her wrist. Would also work for phone calls, if she can't hear it when it rings.
posted by something something at 9:39 AM on February 10, 2022 [1 favorite]

There are numerous remote / plugin doorbells on the market. You can put one in every room you need. Many like this have options for different sounds, different volumes, and LED light indicators. For less than $40, I would give it a try. I would go with something familiar but louder and with a clear visual indicator like this doorbell symbol. I would worry that a flashing light alone may seem like a fire alarm.
posted by Crystalinne at 2:11 PM on February 10, 2022

I just went on Amazon and searched "doorbells for deaf people". There were a ton of options. It might be worth a look over.
posted by stray thoughts at 3:11 PM on February 10, 2022

Can you get her to wear hearing aides? It would also be respectful to the neighbors not to be blasting TV and music.
posted by flimflam at 6:01 PM on February 10, 2022 [4 favorites]

Seconding hearing aides. My mom finally got a set, in order to hear her grandson (my nephew) - she had no idea how loud her kitchen hood was, or that she could hear the ventilation system when in the apartment hallway.
posted by porpoise at 6:26 PM on February 10, 2022 [2 favorites]

For another low-tech idea, I had a great uncle with hearing difficulties and over the years he had a couple of otherwise well-behaved small dogs that were trained to just *lose it* and come find him when a doorbell rang. One had a special little dance they did.
posted by Secretariat at 10:17 AM on February 13, 2022

Here’s an example of a place that trains. Not for everyone, of course, but since she’s still able to live alone, maybe she’s someone who would enjoy caring for a small dog.
posted by Secretariat at 10:21 AM on February 13, 2022