Safety Tips for Seniors SecurityWritten on the 5 September 2022 by Kerri Vandenberg
CRIME PREVENTION To state the obvious, a smart alarm system can protect you and your property from criminals. Our Elderly population are often seen as the ideal target for criminals. Whether it is true or not, criminals assume that older people are less physically capable and that they don’t do as good of a job of securing their homes. With a smart home Security System, you have one of the best crime deterrents available. Criminals tend to look for the easiest targets, so when they see a house with a security system they usually decide to move on to a target that presents less of a risk. Burglars are just one of many dangers that can exist in this world. With a smart home alarm system, you get protection from more than just crime. These systems can be equipped with fire protection devices and carbon monoxide alarms. You can even set up flood sensors that will activate an automatic shutoff valve on your water line to protect against flood damage. With a smart security system, you will get warnings for all of these events sent to your phone or from the control panel. If the system is connected to a professional monitoring service, you don’t even need to worry about calling 000 in the event of an emergency. That leaves you free to get yourself and others to safety. As you get older, your children and other family members are bound to worry about you more. Even if you do not need help around the house, it is understandable if they have concerns for your safety and security. If your family members know you have a quality Security System installed, they won’t feel the need to worry quite as much. With an elder security system, you can do more to ease these concerns. If you have a trusted family member, you can allow them to register them with the smartphone app that connects to your alarm system. That way, they can get alerts sent to their phone or they can check your security cameras if they have a reason to worry about your safety. Your smart home security system can do more than just provide elderly security from things like crime and fires – these systems also provide a secure platform for home automation features. Many of these features can be great for making your life easier as you age. As an example, you could get smart locks that will unlock as you approach your front door. That means no more fumbling with keys when you get home. You could also program different features to work together to make your home safer and more convenient. Take smart lights as an example. You can program your smart lights to turn on when your hallway motion detector is triggered at night. That way, if you wake up to get a glass of water or go to the bathroom, the lights come on automatically. Beyond the home automation features that can make your life easier, a smart security system can do things to make your home more efficient. By adding a smart thermostat, you can save money on your utility bills while keeping the home comfortable. Just like the old programmable thermostats, you can set a schedule for heating and cooling, but you have additional features that can make the home more efficient. When connected to your smart security system, it could detect doors and windows that are left open. The thermostat will then send you a notification to close the window or door, and it will also adjust the temperature to save you money until the window or door is closed. Some safety devices for the elderly even have geo-location services. If you have the security app on your phone, the system can detect when you have left and when you are coming home. When you leave, it will lower the temperature of the heater or turn the air conditioner down. When it sees that you are on the way home, it will then go back to its normal setting to ensure a comfortable home when you return. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE Elderly alarm systems can also have features like health alert systems. Some of these are wireless and can be carried around the home. You can also set up stationary devices that can be used to trigger an alert in the event of a medical emergency. A simple panic button can be a good all-purpose device for calling help when an emergency occurs. With the push of safety alert buttons, emergency personnel can be on the way to provide assistance when you need security for seniors. Some of these systems even provide the ability to set up a panic button on your smartphone. MAINTAIN YOUR INDEPENDENCE As you age, the possibility that you might not be able to live on your own increases. If you are like most older people, the idea of leaving your home and losing your independence is unpleasant. With that said, a smart home security system can help you maintain your independence. Just having the system will make you safer and more secure living on your own. Home automation features can make your life easier. Your family will also feel better about you being on your own, and they will be less likely to suggest moving you out of your home. If you would like more information on CCTV Cameras/security systems and Home Automation for your elderly, contact the team here at SGV Electrical. We are one of Queensland’s leaders in home security products, and we can design a system to meet your needs as an individual. Call us now to get started on your free consultation 1300 944 022 Author:Kerri Vandenberg |