Home Safety and Security for Older Adults
The rising number of older adults in the United States is also raising many concerns for their home safety and security. Miami-Dade County is Florida’s number one county for elders 60 and over. In addition, nearly one million of Florida’s elderly residents are living alone, and while it is very important for the elderly to retain their independence as long as possible, certain safety and security measures must be taken. Those in the Sandwich Generation are seeking help in how to take care of their parents, while also caring for their own children.
A home security system is a great way for older adults to maintain independence. In order to meet the needs of your elderly loved ones, a consultation with an ADT specialist is the best way to go. They will help you find the best plan and package, as well as additional equipment, which may be necessary to ensure the best quality of care and prevention.
Every ADT package comes with a premier keypad that includes police, fire, medical, and panic buttons in the case of any such emergency. Even more suitable for older adults is the ADT Two-Way Voice Keypad. This keypad has enlarged buttons for even easier access. In addition with the Two-Way Voice Keypad, when an active alarm is triggered, or when you chose to activate the interactive audio session, you are quickly linked to the ADT monitoring center.
Along with maintaining independence, there are many other needs and concerns that make a home security system the best option for your family’s safety. If you are living with a family member who has Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, a home security system can be of great relief. At nighttime they may attempt to wander off; the alarm will activate and alert you of what is happening. Also, if they can still be left home alone, if they do wander off, the monitoring station records the time of alarm activation and immediately informs the authorities and any family members on their list of the incident, allowing for a search to begin as soon as possible.
Home fires should be of greatest concern for families living with elderly loved ones. Fire deaths are the sixth leading cause of death with in this age group. For older adults, smoking is the leading cause of fire deaths, followed by kitchen fires. Being an older adult is a risk factor to maintaining fire safety. Disabilities such as hearing and vision loss pose a significant challenge to preventing and detecting a home fire. Elderly patients who are taking several prescribed medications individually or together may experience drowsiness or impaired judgment. These side effects may increase the possibility of unintentionally starting a fire, as well as decrease the possibility of detecting and escaping from it. An ADT approved monitored smoke detector is the best from of home fire prevention and detection. With an ADT approved monitored smoke detector, your home is safe from fire and smoke damage, and you are given quick access to the authorities, whether you are at home, away, or sound asleep.
Not only is a monitored smoke detector important for the home safety of those living with older adults, a carbon monoxide detector is also important. Low levels of exposure to carbon monoxide cause side effects similar to flu like symptoms and other common prescription drug side effects, which can be easily dismissed by an elderly person. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common cause of poisoning deaths in the United States. To prevent this from happening in your home, installing an ADT approved monitored carbon monoxide detector in your home security system is the best and obvious choice. The Environmental Protection Agency offers this easy to remember acronym to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning: I CAN B
I nstall carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas
C heck heating systems and fuel-burning appliances annually
A void the use of non-vented combustion appliances
N ever burn fuels indoors, except in devices such as stoves or furnaces that are made for safe use
B e attentive to possible symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
Follow these helpful home security guidelines to better ensure the health and safety of your loved ones, of all ages.
