This system is designed to alert you if an exterior door is opened during the night.
It does not try to stop wandering.
It exists to make sure you know when it happens.
Who This Is For
This system is for caregivers who:
- Live in the same home
- Are worried about nighttime exits
- Want alerts without locking doors or installing cameras
If wandering has already become frequent or aggressive, this system may not be enough on its own.
What This System Does
When a monitored door opens at night:
- You hear a spoken alert telling you which door opened
- A light turns on and flashes for visibility
- The alert repeats until you cancel it
The goal is simple: wake the right person, fast.
What This System Does Not Do
- It does not prevent exits
- It does not track location
- It does not call emergency services
- It does not rely on cameras
This is an awareness system, not a control system.
Core Components
- Door sensors on exterior doors
- A voice assistant or local speaker
- A light or smart plug for visual alerting
All components are consumer-grade and replaceable.
How It Works (Simple Flow)
- Door opens during the defined nighttime window
- Sensor triggers an alert routine
- Speaker announces which door opened
- Light turns on and flashes
- Alert repeats until canceled
The system assumes you’re asleep, distracted, or in another room — not watching a screen.
Canceling the Alert
Alerts must be easy to stop once you’ve checked in.
Depending on your setup, cancellation can be done by:
- A voice command
- A physical button
- Turning the light off
The system should never require a phone unlock at 2am.
How to Explain This to Your Loved One
“This doesn’t lock you in, and it doesn’t watch you.
It just lets me know if a door opens at night so I can make sure everything’s okay.”
Limitations and Failure Modes
Like any home system, this can fail.
- Batteries die
- Power goes out
- Wi-Fi drops
This system reduces risk. It does not eliminate it.
If you can’t accept that, no system will feel safe.
Optional Add-Ons
Once this system is working reliably, some people choose to add:
- Fall awareness
- Remote notifications
- Redundant alerts
These are layers, not replacements.
Ready to build it?
See: System 1 Setup: Nighttime Wandering Alerts
Download the Step-by-Step Build Guides
These guides walk you through building the system from start to finish.
Choose the version that matches how reliable your internet connection is.
These guides are reference manuals. You don’t need to read them unless you’re ready to build.