Physical Security

Location

Physical Security begins with location. After you have thought about the people in your life that can harm you either intentionally or unintentionally as you get older. You might want to think about how you can put some distance between you and them. If you have decided to move you can also follow some of the reminders below.

Windows

If you have decided to stay in your current home as the place you want to stay as you get older or have decided to move to a new place you might ask yourself:

Is my home secure?

Do all of my window lock securely even I have a screen in the window?

Do my window screens have locks on them?

Are my windows easy to reach from the outside?

Can someone enter into one of my windows without standing on something?

Do I have things outside around my home (chairs, crates, or other furniture) that someone can use to gain access to my home?

In other words, clean up around your home and make sure there is nothing on the outside that can help someone gain access to your home. Also keep over grown trees and bushes trimmed in a manner so that no intruder can work on your windows without being seen by others. Keep your property well lit so that when you enter you can see if anyone is present or if anything looks out of place. You should do this no matter how safe your neighborhood claims to be. Bad people do not care about the reputation of your neighborhood. A lot of crime is opportunistic and is sadly committed by people who know you. Neighbors, friends, and relatives and friends of theirs.

Doors

The doors and windows are the only way someone can gain access to your home. If they are secure it will be very hard for a seasoned thief or a person wishing to do you harm to enter into your home.

A cheap door and an open door is the same thing. As you get older it might be wise to invest in a metal security door or doors no matter where you live. Even if you have french doors you should have security bars to secured them at night but easy to open from the inside in case of a fire.

It only takes one event to ruin the feeling of safety that you enjoy. It would be good to prepare for it.

A secure entrance, does not mean to have one door that is secure but rather it means to have two doors. A first door that one must enter to access another door which is your regular door. This will allow you to safely open your regular door at anytime having (the security door) always between you and anyone outside. You should do this no matter where you live. No one should be able to kick your door in while you are sleeping and enter your home.

Also if you have interior doors you should lock them at night so that no one has full access to your home while you are sleeping. In other words, you might consider getting into the habit of locking your bedroom door as long as you keep a separate key inside so that you never lock yourself in. When doors are unlocked people will enter.

Dogs

Some people are not accustomed to being around animals. They think of the work that is involved with cleaning up behind them. However, a dog can be a great companion and add a measure of security to your living environment.

The older you get the closer you may want to keep them by you. If they are outdoors they can bark to notify you that there is something unusual happening that needs your attention. If they are inside they can alert you that an intruder is present and is trying to gain access into your home.

If you are an older person and a single female you may want to have a good size dog that sleeps right in front of your doorway each night.

This would deter anyone that has entered you home from feeling that they are in control and may allow you sufficient time to call for help. If your dog is left outside, you might want to set your property up so that an intruder can not see it until he has breech the property. Normally if he knows that there is a dog but can not see it he will move on to a better target.

Additionally it might be a good thing if you have two dogs instead of one if they are being used for security because the dogs will naturally work as a team to secure the property. You can train the dog do his business in the same location during its walk so as to make the clean up easier. Your dog will naturally want to be at your side and protect you if he feels loved.

Alarms

Burglar alarm systems are another form of protection. They can provide a way to monitor doors, windows and provide additional features such as smoke detection and third person monitoring.

The cost for these services are truly worth the service that you get has a deterrent. Each window and outside door should have a sensor and the area where there are windows should have some form of break glass protection.

The monitoring service should first call you if a sensor is activated, if you do not answer with the password then they should call the police, fire and at times report a medical emergency.

Many companies offer a panic button, that you can wear around your neck while at home. So the cost of this service may be less expensive then only having a medical alert. Do not stash the panic button away in a drawer or loose it. It will be no use to you if you can not find it. Keep it near your bed under the pillow or on the night stand next to your cell phone. If you feel your home has been compromised do not leave your room to search for the intruder "use the panic button" if you are wrong you can always call the alarm company latter.

Another advantage is that your family can be automatically notified if any sensor is activated no matter where they live. They can also update your system remotely and help you solve problems instead of calling the company if it is something simple. These systems are highly recommended for seniors.

Frontpoint or Surety use the same alarm.com equipment. Our researchers have never used Surety but have had experience with Frontpoint. You may see the link below for more information.

Bars on Windows

It might be good to think twice before putting bars on your windows. In case of a fire you may not be able to get out of the house.

If you really want to do it you might want to look for the type that you can unlock from the inside. This type might be better because you can get out of the house in the case of a fire. Additionally it is very hard for an intruder to work on them because they are on the inside of the windows.

Control yourself

Another layer of security is being able to control yourself by being careful of who you allow in your home.

Do not let yard workers come inside your home to use the restroom, to wash their hands or to do other things that do not pertain to their work.

Write down the "rules of engagement" to keep yourself safe before calling a service company. Doing this will give you the upperhand when the service man comes to your home.

The "rules of engagement" are a set of statements that you want to tell the company once you have decided that they can send someone to your home to perform a service. You should write them down until you can remember them by heart. They can save you time and maybe even your life if you decide to use them.

You also may want to learn to watch what you say, that means to refrain from talking about financial matters to strangers or people that are new in your life.

Do not mention on what day your check comes in the mail. Do not mention a time table as regard to money such as "it comes on the 1st of the month" to strangers, companies, workers, old family friends and neighbors.

If you have to pay someone simply say "I will pay you soon, in a few weeks or on Monday" they should not know the routine of your money flow nor how much money you have in the bank. If someone ask you about your money simply say "I can't talk about what I don't have but if someone is giving some away let me know" with a smile of course.

Uncomfortable Situations

One thing you can do to avoid uncomfortable situations is to use "the rules of engagement" however you might find yourself in a circumstance where you feel uncomfortable. If you feel that something is wrong do not ignore it call someone immediately (the police if necessary) and keep them on the line until the person has finished their work and have left the premises.

Buddy System

If you do not want to call the police then call a friend and then tell the repairman while you are on the line with your friend "my friend is worried about me having a repair man here so she wants me to stay on the phone until you leave, I hope this will not inconvenience you." Then you might say to your friend on the phone but in hearing distance of the repairman "you can come over afterward if you like I will still be here." The point of the matter is, do not think that you can handle it by yourself use your resources of friends and family even if they are miles away. You can even rehearse this call with trustworthy family and friends in advance. In a real scenario they should not hang up but stay on the line. Have a buddy system in place for repairmen and workers.

Layers

As you can see there is not one answer to having a home that is physically secure but it is better to have several layers of security starting with doors and windows and then choosing what is best for your circumstances.