6 Tips to Keeping Seniors Safe at Home

Safety is a big concern for seniors and their families, especially as more baby boomers are embracing aging at home. Homes they've owned for decades that were perfect for raising children may not be as accommodating for people who may suffer from poor eye sight, unsteady balance or memory issues. Many home updates can help protect senior family members, allowing them to enjoy their homes for many more years. These tips will help protect the privacy and safety of older residents. * Home exterior security - A security alarm system is always a good idea, and many will also connect to fire protection services as well. Sliding and patio doors are among the least secure entrances to a home, so install a Master Lock 265DCCSEN Door Security Bar to resist any type of forced entry into the home. * Keep extra keys secure - Many family members of seniors like to have access to a home so they can check on their loved ones. Instead of hiding the keys under a fake rock in the yard, protect them with a Master Lock 5422D Key Safe. The safe attaches over the door handle for easy accessibility and requires a four-button push code to reveal the keys. It's also great for emergency situations if a family member accidentally locks the keys inside the house on a cold night. * Install security lights - Exterior lights help discourage unwanted guests, so install additional lights on all sides of the home and out in the yard's landscaping. You can install motion-sensor lights if you don't want them shining all night long, but you might notice nighttime critters like owls and raccoons will set the lights off. * Give valuables a safe home - Many baby boomers have accumulated a lifetime of treasures with real and sentimental value. Smaller items like jewelry, credit cards and cash can easily be stored in the portable Master Lock 5900 SafeSpace, which is perfect for traveling around the world or even to visit grandchildren. For important documents like wills and legal documents, a fire-resistant safe from Sentry Safe is a good option. * Create a flexible schedule - Because they're retired, seniors are able to leave the house for different activities during the day. Oftentimes, seniors will get into a regular schedule like meeting a group of friends for breakfast at 7 a.m. every Tuesday. Create an irregular schedule for your weekly activities so people won't be able to anticipate when you're home or away. * Digital safety is important, too - In today's digital world, computer passwords are the keys to valuable personal information. It is recommended that you use a unique smart password - one that contains capital and lower case letters, numbers and symbols - for every digital account. It's difficult for most people to remember multiple passwords, so many write them down, which can make them vulnerable to theft. The Master Lock Vault is a free, digital safe deposit box perfect for securing passwords, credit card numbers and digital copies of important documents, and it can be accessed from a smartphone at any time. With these security tips, seniors can enjoy spending many more years - comfortable and safe - in their homes.