Statistics Show Elderly Most in Need of Home Security

In the past three years, the Bureau of Justice reports have indicated that elderly people are becoming more frequently targeted when it comes to burglaries or home invasions. Obviously, this is simply an example of crooks preying on what they perceive as the weaker link in society. Often, elderly people live alone and have medical issues that impede their abilities to respond to an intrusion, which makes them an easy target for thieves.

What is most frightening about this trend in crime is that elderly people, unlike younger people are most often home when these crimes occur. This means that not only is their property vulnerable to criminal activity, but they are also prone to personal injury during the crime.

According to AARP, criminals have been taking advantage of the fact that the elderly may be fearful in their own homes. A recent report showed that criminals were actually casing homes of elderly people and masquerading as home security system sales people, in order to gain access to the homes of the elderly. Not only did this give them a glimpse of what was inside the home but also determined whether or not the home was armed with a security system in the first place.

Today’s home security and alarm systems offer the elderly much more than just an extra layer of protection and security against burglary and theft. Many systems are fully customizable so that the elderly can use them to double as medical alerts in the case of falls or accidents. Some are even so advanced that the elderly can count on home monitoring to include reminders of when to take important medications. There are even home security packages that can also install carbon monoxide monitoring along with traditional fire alarms. For seniors living in remote areas, installing deterrent packages that include outdoor lights and motion detectors can be the first step in protecting the home. And pricing packages vary per company, and can be much more affordable than you might imagine.

Seniors today often thrive on their independence and live apart from family members, which increases their vulnerability to be victimized by crimes. Not only can a home security system make the elderly feel safer in their homes, but it can also be a beneficial way for family members to keep tabs on their elderly loved ones and be confident that they are safe and secure.