Any ideas on safety for an older person who stays alone?

Question

Safety measures in terms of communication, gadgets, physical well being and safety, and any other one can think of. Thank you.

I want to thank everyone for their prompt and great ideas and suggestions - each and everyone of you have helped tremendously. Thank you! (I won't be hitting the 'choose best answer' button, because *all* are 'best answers', as I can see.)

Answer 1

Purchase a cordless phone which has a built-in panic button charm which you can wear as a pendant around your neck.

Slips and falls are the most common form of accidents among home-dwelling older citizens. You need to have a way to communicate from where you have fallen, if that should occur.

Have your children or younger adults from your church come into your house and move everything off of shelves you cannot reach from a standing position. This will eliminate the temptation to get on a ladder, stool or chair.

Answer 2

I saw this recently, If the person still drives and has the remote with an alarm setting or the horn setting. Keep the car remote by the bed at night to set off the alarm or horn to attract help if needed.

Of course bars in the bath and a really good hand rail at any type of step. These are MOST important. As balance begins to become unsteady with age.

Taking things down from heights is excellent. I am 66 and broke an ankle (narrow stairs) 5 years ago and am still not as steady or confident as I was before. With Heights primarily.

Make sure this persons important paper work in all in ONE place and more than one family member that would be in charge knows about it.

I cared for my parents while their lives ended and my Mom had everything in a thick notebook, in the plastic sleeves.
Prepaid funeral, clothing to be buried in, all preferences, Life insurance policies (you will need 4 to 5 certified death certificates). All Social Security Information, Any personal things they want taken care of. All of the choices on which sibling did what. My oldest brother was Executor, My other brother (he had much medical experience with his wife) had the medical power of attorney, and I the only daughter was in charge of daily care and Hospice contact.

So thank God their lives ended without any family trauma. Everything was done to their wishes.

In the case of my Mother in law they changed her area code and that totally confused her mind at about 78 so from that point on the phone was practically useless.

I hope something I have mentioned will be helpful to someone.

I just read the Idea about the pendant that can be pressed to call for help. My Mother in Law lived alone in Iowa with Alzheimers (no one knew how advanced it was and she refused to move ) We got one for her thinking this would be helpful. She would leave it hanging any place, it was really quite funny, since they could never get in contact with her.
She would hang it in a tree while gardening or on the bed post or leave it in her car (before we took the ignition key).
She just could not figure out why the door key would not work the ignition. Now this seems cruel but she and other people on the road were safe. And she always had neighbors and family member checking on her . Plus the down town was only 3 blocks away.

Alzheimers, what a challenge!

Answer 3

Try watching TV sometime they do have communicatons devices on the market they're called Life Alert. Basically speakers are put in certain rooms thorought the home and the person wears a pendant that has a button on it, if they fall and hurt themselves all they have to do is push the button and yell "I've fallen and can't get up" and the operator at the other ends says we're sending help and the persons name like Mrs. Smith"

Answer 4

This is the one a friends Grandfather got. He seems very pleased with the service so far.

http://www.lifestation.com/?Gtop52=Senior-Safety&broad-ad2

We have a security system that talks to you. When the chimes are on, it will tell you if the front door is opened, there is movement in the garage, etc. We got the idea from our Grandpa. He likes to keep the garage open while he is in the house since it gets so hot. This way he knows if someone is coming to the house. He also likes to keep the doors open to cut down on the utility bills. We got it from Monitronics. It includes a smoke detector, panic alarm as well as a security system. Here is a link to them.

http://www.monitronics.com/

Finally, put in rails or seats for the bathroom, no-skid carpets in the kitchen and on any tiled floors as well a large print phone list on the fridge.

Good luck.

Answer 5

There are so many precautions a person can take. Be careful
when out shopping. Lock car doors, carry mace or pepper spray. If possible learn a defense method. Always let someone know where you are going and when you will be back even if you don't live with them. If you think you are being singled out or followed go to the store manager. Be sure you carry a cell phone. Call the police if you even suspect
that someone has targeted you. If possible wear a fanny pack
instead of carrying a purse, it leaves both hands free and they can't grab it from you. Be careful out there!!

Answer 6

An automatic phone dialer system that is activated by pushing a button on a pendant worn around the neck would help. You can buy one at an electronics store and program it to dial the 911 center and other critical phone numbers. If you want more security, you can opt for a more expensive service with operators who check in occasionally. You may want to consider a pet for company.

Answer 7

A good cell phone with 911 button.

A sign in widow for fire department indicating senior citizen in house and location of the bed room.

Keep house well illuminated. Notify police of situation.

Keep things off the top of the stove or anything that can fall onto the stove. A good monitored burglar /fire alarm is great.

A large easy to read illuminated address number makes for easy location by first responders.

Slip proof rugs and surfaces in bath room

Set up a net work of neighbors and friends that can make phone checks. Check in yourself often. Keep the lines of communication busy.

How about a dog? Can they take care of a pet?

A telephone list of numbers so people can be reached if needed.
Independence is great, glad you are helping some one keep theirs.

Answer 8

Best thing is an assisted living apartment building. If that is not an option, try installing handle bars in the shower and get a button alarm that they can wear around their neck. That way if they fall, they have help no matter what. Just make it as safe as possible.

Answer 9

have the family or friends check every day to make certain the person is all right. have an answering machine message which never gives the number or name. there was one my sister used which was " we're not at home right now. you know the routine. do it. "

neighbors are a big help. each neighbor can help keep an eye out for another.

Answer 10

I'd get a good cell phone with a camera. That way you can take a picture of a would be intruder, and call the cops. Plus, get a dog, or one of those little gadgets that plays a tape of a dog barking. Learn kung fu!