7 Safety Tips for Living Alone
Living alone can be worrying for both the person and their family. Plenty of things can go wrong around the house. Especially for seniors, the risk of getting severely injured or immobilised after slipping is increased. Emergencies like fires and safety issues such as burglaries can happen at any moment.
Here are some tips on how to feel safe living alone in your own home and enjoy the benefits that independent living has to offer.
1. Know Your Neighbours
Being part of a tight-knit community isn’t only good for your social life, but for your safety, as well. Knowing the names and faces of your neighbours—and them the same about you—will make strangers stand out. Not everybody visiting your street poses a safety threat. But when your neighbours know that you’re living alone, a stranger lurking around your property will ring their bells.
If your friends are also familiar with your daily schedule, like when you take a walk, water your plants, or when you turn on your porch lights, something odd about your routine can alarm them and check up on you. You’re virtually not alone if you’re living around neighbours you can trust.
2. Think Like an Intruder
You can identify lapses in your home’s safety and security by thinking out of the box—in this case, out of your home. Head outside and start observing your home from the street. Are there suitable hiding places for intruders? How much can you see inside through your windows?
Take the time to walk the perimeter of your property for potential break-in points, as well as safety issues like fire hazards, tripping hazards, and dangerous branches.
3. Create an Exit Strategy
Assess and practice the most efficient way to get out of the house from every room. This could be life-saving in the event of fires or malevolent intrusions. Some safety advocates even promote practising your exit strategy while blindfolded so you can guide yourself out despite visibility issues, such as blackouts or smoke from fires. It would also be better to identify more than one exit strategy for each location in your house.
4. Get a Security Camera
Security cameras are arguably the best deterrent against intruders, and they work better if you have them installed by a professional. The market is saturated with options for security cameras, so there will be a setup for every need and budget.
Having another set of eyes looking out for your safety is sure to give you peace of mind. Additionally, modern systems can allow your relatives to check in on you remotely. It’s like having someone else in the house constantly watching over your well-being.
5. Motion-Activated Lights
Nothing can startle an intruder like automatic floodlights around your property. They also light your path for you when you need to get to something outside or when going home late. Like security cameras, these lights work best when planned and installed by a qualified professional. They will most probably place them near entry points and hard-to-see areas of your yard.
6. Install a Smart Doorbell
Surprisingly, most burglaries happen during the day. With remote audio and video capabilities, doorbell cameras can give the impression that someone is in the house even when you’re away. Having a video recording of everything going in front of your house can also deter potential intruders.
When you’re in the house, this could prove useful since you don’t have to physically walk up to the door to see who’s ringing. You can see and speak to who’s outside and decide whether it’s safe to open your door to them or not.
7. Get a Personal Alarm or Medical Pendant
Slips and falls, as well as other medical emergencies, can be life-threatening, especially for seniors and persons with disabilities living alone. Panic alarms can send an alert for help with a simple push of a button. These portable devices, usually worn around the neck, provide quick assistance during times of distress. Just make sure that the personal alarm you’re getting has the medical alert features best suited for your needs.
You’d be pleased to learn that our pendant alarms for the elderly can also serve as an excellent lone worker alarm for at-risk employees. Give us a call today and ask about our home care package.