Are you a senior woman living alone?

Stay safe and maintain your independence with this advice

 

Combined statistics from the Internet find that up to 43% of single or widowed women over the age of 65 live alone. Being the victim of a crime can end the freedom that is a fundamental part of your life. Whether affected physically, mentally or both, such as having someone break into your home or assault you in a parking lot can leave you fearful of being on your own and interrupt the lifestyle you have come to cherish.

Though home burglaries are in a downward trend, you should still consider these suggestions to keep your home safe:

§  Keep a pair of men’s boots outside your door to indicate that a male lives in the home.

§  Wear an emergency response button around your neck that has a ‘fall detection’ feature.  If you open your door to a stranger, ask them what they want. If they are looking for a phone, tell them you will call 911. If it is a sales person, tell them you are not interested and neither is your husband. In any case, close and quickly lock the door with your emergency button at the ready.

§  Having a dog comes with a built-in alarm system – barking when anyone is close to your house. They also come with a huge bonus – A loyal companion.

§  If you are in bed reading, leave the TV on in another room – signaling there is more than one person home.

§  Have a male relative or friend record the voicemail message on your home and cell phone.

§  Do not plant shrubs beside doors or windows as it is good cover when someone wants to hide. If you do want to plant something, make it a thorny bush such as roses.

§  Never put plans to be away from home on any social media site. This is akin to telling criminals when your home will be empty.

§  When taking a bath or shower, call or text a family member or friend and tell them you will get back to them when you are safely out of the tub. If you fall and are unable to call for help, you have the security that someone will be checking on you.

§  Keep a flashlight in every room in your house. If the power goes out, you will not be in the dark looking for a torch.

§  Even if you have a locked mailbox, order a couple of free catalogs mailed to you in a male’s name.

§  If you get a new electronic such as a laptop computer, do not put the whole box into your recycling. This is an advertisement that there is something worth stealing in your home. Instead, rip the box into small pieces and divide it into a couple of bags.

§  Always double check to be sure you did not leave your keys in the lock on your door.

§  As you get older and have health issues, be proactive when it comes to changes you may need to make to your house. Have a ramp installed before mobility issues make it difficult to get up your steps. Change your tub to a walk-in model that makes it easier to get in and out of.

 

When running errands, use this guidance:

§  Never leave an outside light on when you are out during the day. This tells everyone that you do not plan to return until after dark. Instead, install motion sensor lights.

§  When shopping, if you feel that someone if following you, go to customer service after you pay for your items and ask to be escorted to your car.

§  While sitting in your parked vehicle, always keep the doors locked.

Set up the emergency contact information in your cell phone in case the authorities ever need in. Additionally, you should include a list of your medications and any medical issues someone giving you treatment should be aware of, such as if you are diabetic or have a heart condition.

Do not have a weapon unless you are willing to use it on an intruder. If you point a gun at someone, you have to be prepared to pull the trigger or the person will take it away and use it against you. Bear spray can stop someone who is trying to hurt you, but you have to be sure to aim it towards them and not you. In addition, there are times when someone has been sprayed and it increases their fury, meaning they may keep coming toward you.

In today’s world, one of the best pieces of advice that will keep you and your money safe is to NEVER give any information to anyone who calls or emails you – no matter who they say they are or where they are from. Technology is always expanding and fraudsters can now copy a family member or friend’s voice. When a stranger calls, simply hang up the phone.

Living alone may not be something women choose to do, but it can become a preferred way of life. It can be gratifying to be self-sufficient in their senior years.