I used a Ring security camera but any camera with a built in speaker will work as long as the app or software allows you two way communication. I tested it with all of my Moms FB favorites on the Portal and it worked every time. Now there is no more worrying if she is going to understand the Portal notification sound as a video request or even if she is going to remember the “Hey Portal answer”

I figured out a workaround with Portal so I can create what is more or less an auto answer ! I installed a Ring camera near the Portal. The Ring camera has a built in speaker. I use my iPhone to call into the Ring camera and activate the microphone. Then on my iPad I call the Portal via Messanger. When I hear the Portal notification I talk into the iPhone and say “Hey Portal answer” the Portal hears the Ring camera and connects the call. It works like a charm and doesn’t rely on my mother who has dementia to answer the Portal call.

hi Tony Lohnes. My dad has dementia as well and isn't a big star with technology. How many times I tried to explain him. I have bought him an echo 8 from amazon. with this device you can drop inn into his house and talk to him without he has to do anything. So it is a bit entering the privacy of a person without his permission, but in my case my dad loves it when I call him as a surprise and it is a great way to keep an eye on him. I have more tips for you if you need them. My mail is peterkoning7@hotmail.com. Im using a google home hub a Facebook portal and an echo show. Each one of them has their one benefits to stay in contact with your loved ones.

HOW did a billion $ company miss this AUTO ANSWER AND AUTO END CALL voice only functionality....a must for my elderly Mum in Australia!

And how would that work?

Need a way for the portal to have a connection to an amplifier for my hard of hearing Father who at 100 yrs old has Covid and cannot hear me. I am not allowed to visit, he keeps asking for me to be with him, It is very sad for these old folks who must rely on caregivers dressed in PPE for their comfort. NOT to mention the people who are risking their lives caring for the covid patients. Can I put an extension cord on the end of a Portal? I am 1400 miles away from my Father and it breaks my heart!

Yes, my 97 year old Nan cannot hear it ring. She needs this feature!

Something needs to be done asp. My mom has dementia and no matter how hard I try she can't say portal. There should be Auto answer or an app for the care giver that he or she can answer there own call from another location, this way the senior can see you and talk to you. Why couldn't there be more features with this...like a finger print and Face recognition ?? All they would have to do is touch the screen or portal if programmed right would pick up on there face. Auto answer and other things should be added to make life easier for seniors who need this now more than ever. As they are real lonely. Come on Facebook we need this now. How about an app to connect seniors that are lonely? A Friendly voice in Ontario has a service that a senior can call and talk to someone when they are lonely. Perhaps Facebook could come up with a app where seniors can see and talk to someone when they are lonely.Maybe Facebook could contact a Friendly voice and work something out for video chats? I see so many ways we can make life better for our seniors. Auto answer would be an excellent start. My mom does not know how to turn down the volume. So if the care giver could fix this from another location. this would be an excellent help.

I agree that this device is invaluable for shut-ins who are not able to use smart devices easily, especially if they are disabled. My father-in-law is paralyzed, and his voice is too weak to be able to be understood by portal and by Alexa. He is in a nursing home and since no visitors are allowed due to COVID19, he has to rely on the staff there to answer his calls for him. If there was an auto answer feature or if Alexa drop in were enabled, then we could check in on him more often. If I had realized that drop in was disabled, I would not have bought this product. He cannot move his hands to press the nurse call button, and since his wife can no longer be by his side, we thought using the portal would be the next best thing to watch over him. It is not fair to disable an existing function that is potentially a lifesaver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a critical function - it should be added as an option with a select list of contacts that would be auto-answered