Should Your Elderly Loved One Have Extra Home Security?

It isn’t just about the area you live in but how vulnerable you feel should something happen in your home. For the elderly, home security isn’t just about putting up barriers to stop people getting into their home or garden but about making sure they are protected when someone tries to take advantage too, such as cold callers and distraction burglaries.

For many elderly people, vulnerability comes from living on their own. This doesn’t just affect the security of their home but their own well-being too. And yet, many of us wish to remain living at home, a common thread in the Better at Home report.

But what steps can be taken to beef up security at home?

Window locks and doors

Burglaries are not, as is commonly thought, a nighttime criminal act but one that occurs during the day, more often than not, and is also more common during the summer months. The reason why is because unwittingly, homeowners leave their home vulnerable with open doors and windows.

Secure window locks and door locks are essential, a simple security measure that can make a big difference.

Distraction burglaries

This is when thieves work in a team with one keeping the person talking at the door whilst the other enters the property through an unlocked or open door or window. Within minutes, a huge number of precious items can be taken.

A door chain allows an elderly person (and anyone else) to open the door just enough to see who is calling. And by keeping other exterior doors closed and locked, no one else can enter the home unless invited by your loved one.

Technological security devices

The amount of technology at our disposal has mushroomed in recent years and when it comes to home security, technology has certainly made a difference;

  • Doorbells with cameras – it is now possible to see who is at the door with a doorbell that has a live feed to a mobile phone or tablet. Instead of answering the door, you can swipe the screen of a tablet and talk through the microphone.
  • Smart locks – with these locks, you enter the home by either typing in a code or using a fob or swipe card. There is no need for a key and thus, losing your keys or have them taken is no longer an issue.
  • Security lighting – security lighting is nothing new but having it fixed in the right place means it is more effective. It also extends to lights in the home being on timer devices which allows the home to look ‘lived in’.

Feeling less vulnerable

Whilst all these measures are well and good, they don’t always remove the vulnerability that the elderly can feel living alone. Live in carers can help to remove the fear of living alone. Find out more about at The Live in Care Hub (www.liveincarehub.co.uk) about how a live in companion could be a change for the better for your loved one.