Seniors can be victimized in many ways; internet and telephone scams, financial scams, home improvement scams, caregiver abuse, and elder abuse to name but a few.
Many of our seniors come from an era where trust was a handshake and a person was taken as a good person until proved otherwise. These traits, while admirable, are the same traits that often open the doors to abuse and being taken advantage of.
To ease the chance of being victimized in some fashion here are a few tips;
- share with a well known friend who you can really trust and who will give you advice without judging you.
- do not be embarrassed by what has happened to you – what is important is what has happened, not why it happened
- report any suspicious activity to the police. We are truly interested in your well-being and are bound by law not to reveal or discuss your case, even to family members.
- lock your doors when away and use basic home safety tips. Most break-ins are crimes of opportunity.
For more safety tips please visit http://www.sacp.ca/crimeprevention/index.php
There’s no place like home—and sometimes it seems like there’s no place safer. For seniors, however, the home is where many injuries occur, and most of these are due to falls. Changes that are part of the normal aging process, such as declining vision, hearing, sense of touch or smell and bone density can increase the risk of injury. Injuries can also be more of a problem for seniors because, as the body ages, it takes longer to heal and recover from injury.
You might think that “accidents just happen” and that nothing can really be done to prevent them. Not so. By taking some simple measures, you can considerably reduce your chances of being injured at home. It’s a matter of knowing what the potential hazards are, taking precautions and making adjustments. These changes can make a big difference!
This guide provides advice on how to prevent injuries by keeping your home, yourself and your environment as safe as you can. Checklists allow you to verify and increase the safety of your surroundings and lifestyle, and real-life stories offer testimony to the value of adapting.
Crime Prevention for Seniors
A Comprehensive Senior Safety and Security Booklet is available here. *Courtesy of the RCMP
