If she can no longer get to the front door quickly, anyone who needs to reach her has a problem. A lockbox or keypad lock gives helpers and responders a way in without breaking anything. Installing one is a simple job when it is done in order. The steps below move from the decision to the test, and each one should be finished before the next begins.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Step one: decide who needs entry
Make a list of the people who may need to come in when she cannot open the door. This may include family, a neighbor, a hired helper, and the emergency services. Note which of them need a key and which only need a code. Decide who is allowed to change the code and who holds a written copy of it.
Step two: choose the mounting spot
The box should be near the entry, out of the view of the street, and at a height that a responder can reach without bending. Check whether the spot is in direct sun or rain, since that affects the box's life. Make sure the mounting spot will not block the door swing or a light switch.
Step three: check the surface
Brick, stone, and steel doors need different fixings. Tap the surface and look for a solid place to mount. If you cannot identify the material, or if the mount would pass through a sealed wall, that is a sign to hire the install.
Step four: install to the instructions
Use the fixings the maker specifies, set the box level, and tighten everything. Do not mount it on a loose trim board. Once it is on the wall, give it a firm pull from each side to be sure it does not come off.
Step five: set the codes and keys
Set the code or give out keys according to the list you made. Keep a written record of who has what, kept in a place you can reach. Do not write the full code on the box or near the door.
Step six: test it with each person
Have each person on the list try the code or key from outside, at the hour they are most likely to need it if possible. A code that works in daylight can fail in the cold or in the dark. Ask the local emergency dispatch whether responders can use a lockbox at your address and what they need from you, and write down the answer.
Step seven: set a review date
Put a reminder on the calendar to recheck the codes, the list, and the box itself. Change the code when someone who had it no longer needs it, and when anyone moves out of the house.
When the question belongs to the care team
Whether she should keep a key, or whether she can still reach the door at all, is something to raise with her doctor or therapist if mobility is changing. That conversation shapes how this plan should be set up.