Senior Security - How Seniors Can Be Safer At Home

16 April, 2010

Mark Lowry

Home security for seniors requires a slightly different focus on some key areas of security. One of those areas is dealing with the psychology of burglars. Many see the homes of our senior citizens as easy targets, and a source of quick money for a variety of different reasons. Making the home of a senior in your life harder to penetrate is a very good start.

Installing a monitored home security, like and ADT monitored alarm system is a perfect way to start. Not only does a monitored system offer genuine home security by protecting doors and windows with sensor alarms, but the accessories that come with a newly installed home security system will also help. Yard signs and windows stickers with the name of the home security company are actually great deterrents. It’s been rumored that advertising your home security company is just tipping your hand to burglars, who can circumvent your home security system if they know which company they’re up against.

In reality, that’s a lot of Hollywood hype. Without your PIN and/or password they will be unable to disarm your home security system. Take the time to adhere the stickers to a visible front-yard window, and post the yard sign in an equally conspicuous location. The last thing a burglar wants to contend with is a home security system that will sound a shrill alarm, potentially record his presence with wireless cameras, and have local police emergency response units on their way, often faster than dialing 911.

Medical pendants are another great home security accessory. Medical pendants are one-touch emergency transmitters than can perform a variety of tasks, including being able to detect if the person wearing one has fallen down. With the press of a single button, anyone wearing a medical pendant can notify their home security monitoring company that there’s an emergency and assistance is required. Medical pendants can be worn as a necklace, a bracelet, or like a pager on a belt or the waistline of trousers. Consider medical pendants for any senior in your life that has special medical needs or is less mobile and agile than they once were.

Strong locks on your doors and windows will strengthen your professionally installed home security burglar alarm system. Sash locks and a security bar in the track of windows is an excellent security measure. Short of actually breaking the window, which will instantly sound an alarm, this simple security measure renders your windows virtually impenetrable.

Case-hardened steel deadbolt locks are a must for any door leading into or out of your house. A steel bolt that penetrates the door casing by 1.5 inches or more makes getting through that door extremely difficult. Have a professional locksmith do the installation if you’re more comfortable with that arrangement.

Seniors can be much safer at home with a combination of a professionally installed and monitored burglar and fire alarm system, complete with accessories designed for seniors, conspicuous advertising of that security system, and the use of strong locks on all doors and windows.