We have nearly 50 million citizens age 65 and older living here in the United States and Canada. These seniors represent one of the fastest growing population segments and also, unfortunately, a group that is commonly targeted for crime. I know I often worry about my mom’s security and am happy that she is a pretty savvy lady, BUT any senior can be at and additional risk for crime vs. younger age groups.
As the senior population continues to grow (they estimate it will nearly double by 2050 in the U.S. and 2035 in Canada), need for senior safety education also grows. As part of the Master Lock’s ongoing commitment to keep consumers safe through every life stage and season, they offer these top safety tips for seniors.
Safety Tips for Seniors
- Be Alert When Out and About:Property crimes represent the highest share of crimes against those 65 and older – nearly nine out of 10 – according to the National Elder Law Network. Master Lock recommends that seniors be alert and aware of their surroundings when out of the house and to keep valuables protected. For example, always lock cars, even if they’ll only be unattended for a few minutes. Keep packages and valuables out of sight, and always check the area around your car before entering or exiting. When out in public, women should wear their purses close to their body and men should carry their wallet in an inside coat or front pant pocket.
- Lock Up Home Safety:Typically a place of comfort and refuge, seniors should never have to worry about safety in their own home. For added protection beyond traditional door and window locks, safeguard sliding glass and patio doors with the added strength of a Master Lock 265DCCSEN Door Security Bar and consider a home alarm system to alert against intruders. Keep doors locked both when you’re home and away, but allow access to a friend or family member in case of emergency by storing a spare key in a trusted key safe, such as the Master Lock 5422D Key Safe.
- Secure Personal Items in a Group Home Environment:Misplaced or stolen belongings are a frequent complaint of nursing home residents. Keep valuables safe by storing them in an easy-to-use, locked safe that only you and a trusted companion know the combination to. Small items, such as credit cards, jewelry or cash, fit in the portable Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace, while larger items, like documents or memorabilia, can be stored in a fire-resistant safe from Sentry Safe.
- Protect Against Identity Theft: Mature consumers (ages 50 and over) represent the largest demographic of identity theft victims, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Why? Consumers in this age group typically have more assets than younger consumers, making them ideal targets.Reduce your risk by never carrying your social security card; shredding documents that contain any identifying information; keeping personal information such as bank statements, Medicare statements and social security numbers in a locked safe; and storing credit card numbers in a safe location for easy retrieval if they’re lost or stolen. The Master Lock Vault – a free, digital safe deposit box – is a secure, reliable location for storing credit card numbers and digital copies of important documents for easy access from any smart phone or computer.
- Think Twice Before Divulging Personal Information:Seniors are also major targets of fraud, such as telemarketing scams, according to the American Association of Retired Persons. Follow the general rule of thumb that if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Never rush into signing anything, and never give your credit card, Social Security, Medicare or bank account details to anyone over the phone. When in doubt, check with the Better Business Bureau or police.
We received the Master Lock 5422D Key Safe mentioned above and it really is a great way to store extra keys that are securely locked away and only accessible with an access code. You can set your own combination using up to 12 letters, numbers or both. Since it has a protective weather cover that protects freezing and jamming, you can leave it outside. For a senior, this is great way to leave an extra key for friends and relatives to come into your house during an emergency or to keep an eye on things when you are traveling.
We are going to be installing our own safe at our rental properties when they are vacant. It is a pain to have to be available when painters, carpenters, etc. are coming to do work, so this way we can just leave a key inside and give them the code – then change the code again later!
For more safety tips and products, visit the Master Lock website at www.masterlock.com or the Master Lock Facebook page at www.facebook.com/masterlock.
Reader Giveaway: One lucky Thrifty Jinxy reader will win their own Master Lock 5422D Key Safe. To enter, just complete the entry form below by 11:59pm ET on 3/24/15. Good luck!
About Chrysa
as I am now the elder our parents have passed and we try to keep our valubles in safe hidden places,,the kids know where everything is stored and where
Seniors are targeted for a reason. They get weaker and less capable of defending themselves with each year of age.
I want to protect our passports, photos, certificates, etc from fire.
We worry about my mother in law and being taken advantage of by other relatives. Thank you
My concerns for my elderly mother is being taken advantage of by individuals she trusts.
My mother is a devoted person to helping those that she is able in that of encouragement or that of what she’s able from the heart. There is also some very important documents that relate in reference to medical conditions within my family, which this particular device would be perfect to hold.I have been having quite a hard time saving up for this product and I can guarantee that if selected it go to a person that really needs it for so many personal belongings.
computertech2you@live.com
Security concerns for elderly love ones include strangers and falls.
As we age we become forgetful and this is one way of keeping all important items together where family members can find them. It will also help with having only one place to remember where these things are. In an event of emergency all important papers are in one place!
My biggest security concern is keeping my property and loved ones safe from intruders.
My biggest safety concern is identity theft.
My biggest safety concern is falling down and breaking something or injuring yourself.
Identity theft is my biggest concern.
My biggest security concern is someone breaking into the house when we are not at home
Identity theft or even steal my credit cards!
You don’t know who can be trusted or not. It is heart breaking when one of your own relatives steals from you, I know. It is best to keep things secure to remove temptation.
Thanks for the senior tips. I could use a lock box.
most importantly is identity theft
We worry about our important documents.
I’m most concerned about losing my important papers in a fire.
I’m concerned my aunt will fall with no one around to help her
My security concern is keeping my property and family safe from intruders.
My only concern is keep our cars safe outdoors. One was graffiti’ed in our driveway last year.
I worry about my Dad all the time. He lives alone and the crime rate keeps getting worse and worse every day.
I do worry about people taking advantage of my parents. I also worry about them being able to keep up with their important paperwork and documents and keeping them in a central and safe place.
My biggest concern is falling when home alone.
Paperwork mostly.
My front door when i am home alone
My biggest concern is fire.
Since I live in a dorm security is a big issue.
Though I live just seconds away, I am always worried about the safety of my elderly grandparents. While we don’t live in a high-crime address, the truth of the matter is…. Crime knows no address. My 21-year old daughter also lives with them, so I am concerned about her safety as well.
My safety concern is keeping irreplaceable items safe from dangers like fire.
My security concerns are our passport and important documents such as marriage certificate and birth certificate
I’m concerned with break-ins while I’m at home.
Email scams are my most concerning for them.
Home burglaries have me the most concerned. Thanks for the great security ideas!
I worry alot about idenity theft
Oh my goodness, our lock broke yesterday!! We had to duck tape our door for a while, got it fixed right away! Home break ins are always a worry of mine.
One of my biggest concerns is intruders.
I’m a single mom and I want to make sure I can keep my family safe.
My concerns are that my kids won’t be able to get in the house if needed.
I worry about my parents getting older and muggers or breakins. thankyou, ken
My concern is now having a baby just being extra safe and taking any steps to prevent someone from even attempting to do anything.
I like having a place I can safely lock up medications.
I am very concerned with identity theft, especially with credit card and bank accounts.
I am concerned about burglers breaking into my home.
My main concern is the possibility of a home break-in. Since the house has several exits, I would have a fairly good chance of getting out, but we do live in a rural area, and there is the added safety factor that there is almost always someone else at home with me.
I’m concerned about them getting injured while home alone.
My mom has cancer and has several people that come to her home to work with her.
I worry that there will not be anyone around when they need help.
I’m concerned about our important documents and jewelry
Identity theft is a big security concern. Plus, I hate to say this but as we get older, we lose things more easily which is a also a concern.
I feel much safer with a lock.
Im always concerned about break ins or them being taken advantage of.
In today’s world locks are necessary
I worry about my sisters stealing off my mom. She has been ill.
I worry about identity theft sometimes. Ive had my credit card number stolen before, its not great.
We’re mostly concerned about people breaking in. Our old place was broken into 3 times and we had a lot of our stuff stolen. Since then we’ve moved to a much better area but it’s still always going to be a concern of ours.
Identity theft is my biggest concern.
I worry about stolen cards and identity theft
My concerns are people breaking in and identity theft.
i have had money stolen from me so im worried about money and any personal information
My biggest concern is someone breaking into my house.
Where to put the rubies?
My security concerns are fire, break-in and identity theft.
I’m concerned about someone stealing my mom’s identity, or accessing her bank/credit card info and stealing from her.
We are always forgetting keys. Luckily, I live close to my mom, so running over there isn’t a problem when I am home, but i’m not always home.
I always worry about my mom and her house
Right now my parents are still quite sharp mentally and careful, but my mom does have a bad habit of not locking her car doors when she’s “only going to be a moment”
My son is moving into the city for college in the fall and this would be great for him.
I worry about break ins and fire for the elderly..They can’t get around as good and some people might take advantage of that fact.
i am concerned with break ins. my area has really gone down hill in the past few years.
I’m concerned about identity theft.
im so scared that we will have a break in.You hear of it happening all the time.
This site has so much information and is so helpful. I would love to win the lock.
My concern is home security.
I spent the last 2 years having to take over my mother’s life when she went in to a nursing home and should have been in assisted living for 5-10 years before that. Her situation was a mess but she still had her faculties that she was not taken advantage of but did not even know how much money she had. She’d had CD’s in her drawers rather than in a safe or safe deposit box. she died months ago and I’m still dealing with the legal and financial issues.
The biggest concern would be home security.
My mom’s neighborhood has had a couple of breakins, mainly cars, but still I worry.
My security concerns have to do with a crime spree in our general area, so worries are down just a bit.
My biggest security concern is keeping my personal information safe.