Home-security tips for seniors
Home-security tips for seniors
Seniors are often targeted by criminals. Though many criminals target seniors from afar via telephone or internet scams, criminals also seek to enter seniors’ homes. The Bureau of Justice Statistics states that from 2003 to 2013, the ratio of property crime to violent crime was higher for the elderly and people ages 50 to 64 than for people ages 25 to 49.
Home security is important for people of all ages, but especially for seniors and aging individuals who live alone. By following certain safety tips and developing a home-security plan, seniors can feel safer at home.
• Lock windows and doors. It may seem like common sense, but failure to repeatedly lock windows and doors can, and often does, give burglars easy entry into a home.
• Think about a smart doorbell. Technology now enables doorbells to provide a video feed to a person’s smartphone or tablet over Wi-Fi. This allows residents to see who is at the door and speak to the person without having to open the door. Some products like Ring will even register motion activity and record short videos from outside the house.
• Don’t share or leave keys. Avoid leaving keys under a mat or in a flower pot. Others may be watching the residents’ actions and gain access to their home while they are away.
• Ask for ID. When service people or other individuals come to the door, verify their credentials by asking to see some identification.
• Get a home-security system. The best protection against burglars is a homesecurity alarm, states HomeSecurityResource.org. Such an alarm often deters burglars from breaking in. • Use home automation. Home automation, or a “smart home,” can be utilized to turn on lights, set the thermostat, lock doors and much more.
• Adopt a dog. Dogs can be an asset to seniors. Dogs provide companionship and can bark to alert seniors if someone is around or inside the home.
• Install a lockable mailbox. Locked mailboxes restrict access to sensitive information, such as bank-account numbers, sent in the mail. Make sure retirement checks or other payments are deposited directly into bank accounts instead of having them sent by mail.
Home security is serious business for seniors, who are vulnerable to criminals.