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Stay Secure and Connected During COVID-19 Outbreak

By:
Jesse Siegel
|March 27, 2020

From checking on elderly relatives to safer deliveries, tips on using smart home security systems 

The world faces an unprecedented crisis. As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to climb, leaders are taking drastic measures—shuttering schools, businesses, and recreational centers while urging or mandating people to stay home to slow the rate of infection.

During these challenging times, Frontpoint Security remains committed to being there for our customers. We have taken swift action to protect our exceptional Customer Care team while maintaining our award-winning level of support. Frontpoint’s 24/7 professional monitoring centers are fully operational, ready to respond to emergencies like break-ins or fires instantly. 

Customer Care is available via chat on our website, by calling 877-602-5276, or by emailing [email protected]. We also maintain a list of Frequently Asked Questions, installation guides, and more on our support page to address common concerns.

The safety and security of our customers are our highest priority. Here are some ways you can use your Frontpoint system to help keep you and your loved ones safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

Doorbell cameras let you answer the door without face-to-face contact

Having food and other items delivered to your home is a common way to avoid crowds during the coronavirus pandemic. But it's hard to maintain 6' of social distancing while answering the door—and, for security purposes, it's essential to know who is there.

Doorbell Security Cameras enable users to see and speak to visitors at the door without having to risk face-to-face contact or letting in an unknown visitor. Instead, you can tell a delivery person where to leave a package from inside your home or send misguided social callers away (or discreetly ignore them).

Some delivery companies like Uber Eats and DoorDash now offer contactless delivery, letting you instruct drivers in advance to leave meals on the porch or other requested areas. By notifying you as soon as movement is detected near the door—even if the doorbell is never pushed—doorbell cameras let you know the moment dinner arrives.

Read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s FAQs on food safety during the coronavirus pandemic, and a summary of the FDA guidance on food delivery.

A doorbell camera’s motion alerts are also useful for thwarting porch pirates. The number of package thefts reached record levels before the coronavirus crisis, and stolen goods are particularly troubling now, as demand soars for various items.

Also, it’s important to take note that burglars sometimes disguise themselves as service workers to case neighborhoods or gain entry to homes, a tactic which could be seeing a new twist during this crisis. Police departments in Florida and Ohio have warned residents to beware of burglars who are “taking advantage of the novel coronavirus outbreak by posing as medical experts to gain entry to victims' homes.”

"If you see someone approaching your house in a white lab coat or mask claiming to be a CDC worker, do NOT let them in. Please call 911 immediately!" the Daytona Beach (FL) Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.

The mere presence of a doorbell camera deters criminals who don’t want to be identified and, of course, you don’t have to go to the door to see who it is. You can also inform scam artists or potential home intruders that you have called the police through the camera’s speaker if they attempt to gain entry.

Picture of Delivery Boxes Outside Apartment DoorPicture of Delivery Boxes Outside Apartment Door
Leverage doorbell cameras to receive food and other deliveries without answering the door in person.

Use home security cameras to check on elderly relatives while maintaining social distancing

Social distancing is especially critical for elderly populations, who suffer the highest risk of severe illness from COVID-19. But while refraining from visiting older relatives may be vital to keeping them safe, it also causes them to feel isolated—and can raise concerns about how they’re managing on their own.

Phone calls with seniors who are worried about becoming a burden may not reveal a full picture of what’s happening inside the home. Frontpoint enables existing customers to add Premium Indoor Cameras to their account but place them in an elderly relative’s house.

That way, you can check on your loved ones even if they don’t have a full home security system—receiving visual confirmation of their wellbeing while using two-way audio features to communicate. Installation can be as simple as plugging in the camera and setting it on a shelf, making it easy for seniors who are overwhelmed by new technology to set it up.

The Frontpoint camera comes equipped with night vision, as well as zoom, pan, and tilt capabilities to optimize views of a scene. Images and audio may be viewed in real-time on your smartphone or another mobile device, enabling you to instantly check on aging relatives if they aren’t answering the phone or something otherwise seems off.

You can point cameras at areas in the home where falls are most likely to occur, such as stairs or sunken living rooms. Cameras can also be an excellent way to observe how hired caregivers are treating your loved ones.

If you need to respond to any situation that you see, or there is an emergency like a slip and fall, you can speak to your loved ones through the camera’s two-way audio features. The two-way audio can also be used to simply check in and let them hear your voice, reminding them that they aren’t alone during these worrisome times.

Picture of SeniorPicture of Senior
Frontpoint allows you to add a Premium Indoor Camera to your account that can be installed in an aging relative’s home. You can check on your loved one and stay connected until it’s safe to visit in person.

Sensors can reveal whether aging parents are managing well during coronavirus pandemic 

If an elderly relative already has a smart security system or will add one to their home, you can program the system to send you alerts that offer discreet reassurance about their wellbeing. For instance, Door and Window Sensors can monitor when doors on the refrigerator and medicine cabinets open and close, letting you know that your loved ones are eating regularly and taking medications on time.

You can also use the app to program system components that help ensure aging individuals successfully move through their daily routines. That could mean flashing smart Light Bulbs in the kitchen when it’s time to take medication, or using Wireless Light Controls to shut the lights and TV off at a particular time each night, so seniors on a budget don’t waste money on their electric bill.

A smart security system can also “learn” the behaviors of aging relatives, and proactively send “unexpected activity alerts” if it spots a break in the normal routine. For instance, if a sensor on a medicine cabinet isn’t triggered when it’s time to take a scheduled prescription, the system can notify you via text, email, and push notifications.

It also alerts you to potential emergencies, such as an exterior door opening if someone wandered out of the house in the middle of the night, or a bedroom door failing to open at the usual time in the morning. After receiving an alert, you can view real-time camera footage or otherwise check in.

Protect your family with security and fire safety best practices while you spend more time at home

Of course, homeowners and renters should continue to use a smart home security system for its core function during the coronavirus pandemic: protecting people and property from threats. Even though you are spending more time at home, continue to implement home security best practices such as locking your doors and arming your alarm to prevent break-ins.

Unfortunately, as economic conditions deteriorate during a recession, crime rates often increase. During the financial crisis in 2009, 39% of police departments surveyed by the Police Executive Research Forum experienced an increase in robberies, 32% reported an uptick in burglaries, and 40% noted a surge in thefts from vehicles.

Adjust your smart devices to adapt to your new schedule. There are many ways smart security systems can help make your life easier while you spend more time at home. For instance, you can reposition indoor security cameras to keep an eye on younger children now that everyone is home. The cameras will let you see and speak to kids in the playroom while you try to get work done in your office. You can also protect your family by automating devices or using voice commands to a connected smart speaker to minimize the number of common surfaces that need to be touched.

Fire also becomes a more significant threat when people spend more time at home. Synthetic materials used in modern homes cause fires to burn hotter and faster than ever before. And traditional smoke detectors that don’t call for assistance are useless if people can’t call for help themselves because they are trapped or overcome by smoke.

Frontpoint's professional monitoring centers keep a watchful eye around the clock, ensuring help is on the way if emergency signals are sent, and you can’t be reached after two rapid phone attempts. Our customers can rest assured that they are protected by one of the most advanced and highly regarded monitoring centers worldwide. These facilities are staffed by professionals expertly trained in emergency response, and they have accreditations that include approvals from the Department of Defense, the New York City Fire Department, and the safety organizations UL and FM Global.

The Frontpoint security system itself is also virtually tamper-proof, with no wires for burglars to snip and a smash-proof control Hub that contacts the monitoring center even if intruders shatter it.

Picture of family at homePicture of family at home

Stay safer in challenging times with your home security system

Frontpoint Security is committed to protecting our customers in good times and bad. Leverage your smart security system to help stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic, from stopping intruders to maintaining safe social distances while receiving deliveries or checking in on elderly relatives.

Because Frontpoint offers preprogrammed DIY home security systems, full set-ups or adding new components to an existing system don’t require a technician. You can simply order devices and set them up yourself. A complete installation only takes about 30 minutes, and many components can be set on a shelf or applied to surfaces with double-sided tape.

Thank you for continuing to trust Frontpoint Security to keep you secure and connected with the people you care about during these challenging times. If you have any questions or concerns about your equipment or service, we’re just a phone call (877-602-5276), instant message, or email (support@ frontpointsecurity.com) away.

We hope all of our readers and customers stay safe and well. Please refer to the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines (as well as your local government guidelines) for protecting yourself and your community during this pandemic.


Frontpoint keeps families safer and more connected in their everyday lives. We've been revolutionizing the home security industry for over a decade. And we're just getting started. To shop DIY home security systems, check out our Security Packages. If you have questions or would like to discuss a quote, contact us at 1-877-602-5276.