Safety for seniors at home

We all love our parents. And as we get older, so do they. In the natural impulse to continue with independence, seniors living alone could easily become prey to unsavory characters. Home invaders, thieves, and con artists view the elderly as easy targets for their criminal intent. To protect and care for those who have cared for us our entire lives, there are many ways to ensure the safety of seniors at home.

Locks and Measures

Good locks are always the first defense when securing a home.

Entrance doors should be made of solid wood or metal, with reinforced frames to prevent damage. Every front door should also have a deadbolt in addition to the doorknob. (Be careful when choosing a deadbolt. One with a twist bolt on the inside is more secure in an emergency, while a key can easily be dropped or lost.) Four inch screws should be used to install the latch into the door frame, thus securing against someone kicking in the door. Be aware that glass panels next to a door are easy for an intruder to break and then reach in to turn a lock.

Sliding glass doors, in addition to a latch, need to be more solidly secured with a deadbolt or foot latch. These added security measures can be installed by anyone handy with a screwdriver and drill. Even a thick clothes rod or broom handle can be cut to size in the blink of an eye.

Garage doors with electric openers are the most secure since there is no external latch to unlock. Remember to give the keypad code only to family and trusted friends or neighbors. If there is no electric opener, be sure to use the manual locking mechanism located in the center of the door.

Perhaps the most vulnerable entrance to any home is a window. Here, one lock is often not enough to keep out a persistent thief. The glass can be broken and the locks can be opened from the outside. Double pane glass is much more difficult to penetrate and has the added benefit of energy savings with additional insulation. In extreme cases, bars can be installed on ground floor and basement windows to further deny easy access to a criminal. Remember to always keep windows closed when not in use. Even those high above the ground can be accessed by a roof or gutter.

do the best

While locks are key to securing a home, other measures can be taken to determine criminal activity. The idea is to make a home less of a target for those who wish to harm it. Lighting is actually the easiest and least expensive way to achieve the look of surveillance.

Even when you or your loved ones are not home, leave a light or two on inside the house. This will cause a potential thief to move forward to avoid a confrontation. Timers that plug into an electrical outlet are an inexpensive and easy way to achieve the illusion of occupancy. Set lights and even TVs to turn on and off at different times throughout the house in case someone is watching. Exterior motion sensors, which turn the lights on with any movement within sensor range, are a surprise trick to send any would-be intruders running. Motion sensing lights must be installed by a licensed electrician as they replace the existing fixture.

Another simple crime detection trick is to place a Beware of Dogs sign in a window or driveway. Better yet, it’s an official looking alarm system sign. Both will create the illusion of additional protection at low cost. The downside of this discovery is that there is nothing to support the claim. A true home alarm system is the solution. While sometimes expensive with installation and monthly fees, alarm systems will not only alert the police, but also authorities in the event of a fire or medical emergency. There are also simple alert sensors that can be installed on individual doors and windows. These sensors are two-part devices that are quick to set up and typically install with double-stick tape or a couple of small screws. They produce a deafening beep when the circuit is broken and are sure to send a would-be intruder on their trail quickly. Of course, you may want to visually monitor all the action, which is where video surveillance cameras come into play.

Video surveillance systems can record any movement in and around the house. Video cameras have the added benefit, simply by their presence, of deterring crime. Those who are doing something wrong do not want to be filmed and caught in the act. That being said, a dummy camera can be installed as an alternative to a more expensive (but very useful) surveillance system. A real working system will allow you to monitor the action in the home in real time from a computer or smartphone. Video surveillance systems are on the market today at all prices and all levels of surveillance. A simple Google search will put them all at your fingertips.

Be smart –

Never leave a spare key under the door mat or in a planter. Give the keys only to trusted relatives and neighbors.

Never provide social security or bank account numbers.

Social Security and other monthly checks must be direct deposit. A thief can easily figure out check arrival dates and mailing times.

And don’t forget, tell your manager that you never, ever have to open the door for a stranger!