Home Security for the Elderly

As you age, the risks of becoming the victim of a violent crime steadily decrease; however, senior citizens must still take steps to stay safe in their homes because criminals do not discriminate when it comes to breaking into houses. In addition, older people are at an increased risk at falling prey to financial scams and fraud. These kinds of crimes can be just as harmful as violent crimes, particularly if enough money is stolen to destroy you financially. If you are a senior citizen, or if you are a family member of one, you must take care to ensure the house is a secure as possible.

First, you need to physically secure your home. For seniors, one of the best ways to do this is to have a Knoxville security systems installed. Be sure to choose one that includes off-site, third-party monitoring so that emergency personnel can be summoned at the first hint of danger. It is also beneficial to purchase a panic alarm that you wear around your neck that can trigger the alarm if you are unable to get to the control panel. Motion-activated lighting should be installed around the outside of your house to take away the cover of darkness. These systems can also be purchased at any home security system company.  Always trim your bushes and trees to keep from giving would-be burglars hiding places. If you have sliding glass doors, always keep a rod in the track to prevent the doors from opening. Finally, install strong locks on all windows and doors and be sure to engage the locks at all times.

Next, do not hide a spare key anywhere outside of your home. While it might be handy for you to have a spare key in case you lock yourself out, criminals know every hiding place imaginable, particularly  professional thieves and they will search everywhere they can think of before giving up. The best solution is to give a spare key to a neighbor you trust or you can get a lock box that you can attach to your door that will hold your key. It is essentially a safe that will allow access only to people who know the code. A lock box is especially helpful for seniors because if they are incapacitated for any reason in the house, family members can give the code to emergency personnel to get into the house quickly.

Finally, do not give any of your personal or financial information to anyone you don’t know. Sales people never need this information for any reason. If a salesperson wants to come to your house to show you a product, have a friend with you when he comes. Anybody who is trying to force you into buying an item or giving him your information is likely trying to scam you. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t, so walk away.

As a senior, you want to be as independent as possible, but your age puts you at certain natural disadvantages; however, by following some basic common sense steps, you can make your home, and your life, a lot safer.