Questions and answers
What families ask us
And what we honestly answer. If your question is missing, call or write to us.
Law
Is it legal in Austria to film a carer in the flat?
Under clear conditions. Not in private areas such as the bedroom, the bathroom or the carer's room, not to monitor work performance, with visible signage, with the carer informed beforehand and with short retention. Seniorenschutzengel is built exactly along these conditions. The details are on Privacy and law.
Why are recordings deleted after 72 hours?
Because the Austrian data protection authority regards a retention period of up to 72 hours as the standard case. Everyday recordings do not need to exist longer. Events in protected zones stay sealed, with a documented purpose, so that a theft can still be traced if it is only noticed later.
Does the carer have to agree?
She must be informed before the first recording, in writing and in a way she understands. We hand over the information sheet in her language in person. If she rejects the cameras altogether, we discuss with you how to proceed before anything is installed.
What if my mother can no longer decide for herself?
Then the person authorised to do so decides, for example under a power of attorney for care or as adult representative. We clarify this during the consultation, before any camera goes up.
Technology
Can I watch my parents live?
No. The recordings are sealed, there is no live image, not even for the family. You receive alerts when something is unusual and a summary every evening without video. Recordings open only for a reported incident.
Does the flat need internet?
No. The hub brings its own mobile connection. The flat needs neither Wi-Fi nor an internet contract.
What happens if someone unplugs the hub or covers a camera?
The hub has a battery, keeps running and uploads the last recordings immediately. A power cut, a disconnected camera or a covered image is itself a sealed event, and you are notified.
Do the cameras record audio?
No. The microphones are disabled. Conversations are not recorded anywhere.
Does the system recognise who is in the picture?
No. It detects that a person is in the room and whether that happens in a protected zone. There is no face recognition or biometric matching.
Where are the recordings stored?
Encrypted on SafeCloud, an Austrian cloud service. The data does not leave Austria. Our staff cannot view the recordings; they are encrypted per household.
Process
How is an incident handled?
You report in the app what is missing and since when. You choose the period, and only that period is unsealed. Reason and time are logged, and the carer is informed. You receive the recordings as an evidence package with timestamps and checksums, for the police or a lawyer.
How long does the installation take?
One morning. An electrician runs the cables along the ceiling line, we mount the cameras and the hub, put up the sign and set up the app.
Do the cameras look like the ones in a shop?
No. They are small, flat, white ceiling cameras without visible LEDs. The hub is a compact device that can sit on a shelf or disappear into a cupboard, with a designed enclosure on request. We care that the flat remains a home.
Where do you operate?
In Vienna and Lower Austria as well as in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg. We have locations in Vienna, in Tulln for Lower Austria and in Kitzbühel for Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg. Consultation and installation take place at your parents' home. For other federal states please ask; we will tell you honestly whether we can cover it well.
What does Seniorenschutzengel cost?
There is a one-off installation and a monthly fee for storage, app, technical monitoring and service. The packages are on the Packages page, and you receive the quote after the visit to the flat.