Plenty of ideas to help elderly feel safe in own home

The killing of anyone in their own home creates anxiety in any community and the brutal slaying of Derek Round in his Wanganui home last week would have heightened that anxiety for many local residents, especially the elderly and those living alone. Yet, as senior reporter JOHN MASLIN explains, there are ways and means for those on their own to make their environment safer and more secure.

 

Age Concern is one of the country's biggest organisation working as an advocate for older people and as such has a raft of information about "staying safe".

But the organisation is also at pains to tell the elderly that while they can take sensible precautions to stay safe, they should not let the fear of crime disempower them.

A crime and safety survey carried out in 2006 reported that people over 60 were at very low risk of being victims of crime compared to other age groups. In fact older people surveyed said they were no more anxious about crime than anyone else. It also reported that those over 60 don't feel that fear of crime has an impact on their quality of life.

Tracy Lynn, manager of Age Concern Wanganui, said despite recent events in the city, her organisation was keen to promote this message.

But Ms Lynn said it was timely to encourage people not to be too complacent around personal safety and to remain in touch with information and advice available in the community.

"Recently, Ann Martin, chief executive of Age Concern NZ, said it was an act of cowardice to pick on anybody who was vulnerable.

"We must not become desensitised to attacks or violence of any kind on anyone least of all our vulnerable older people. It's all about respect - a simple message really," she said.

But that said, the killing of retired journalist Derek Round last week will have raised anxiety levels among some in our community.

According the last census (2006), more than 17 per cent of the Wanganui district's population of about 43,000 were aged 65 or over, compared with 12.3 per cent for the total NZ population.

And there were just shy of 5000 people - or 29.4 per cent - of our district's population living in one-person households. There is no breakdown of age of those living alone but it's reasonable to assume a good number of them will be elderly.

An increasingly aged population is putting growing pressure on aged residential care facilities in Wanganui and health providers have made it clear that this pressure is reaching a critical stage.

One option being explored is keeping the elderly in their own homes for longer and providing care for them there, rather than shifting them into residential care facilities.

That may be a workable solution but it also means more people will be living alone.

So, if you are elderly and you are living alone, what can you do to keep yourself safe?

Many suburbs in the city and in towns across the region display the Neighbourhood Support signs and for those within that orbit there is a feeling of security.

Neighbourhood Support works closely with the police and many other organisations to reduce crime, improve safety and prepare to deal with emergencies and natural disasters.

One of the key things it does is encourage neighbours to talk to each other because shared information helps reduce the risk and fear of crime. And the programme also works to identify the needs of neighbours and ways to assist each other.

And importantly for those living on their own, it lets them know when and how to contact police, or other emergency services and support agencies.

Neighbourhood Support says there are simple ways for people to organise their personal safety.

Make a list of the phone numbers of people you can call in an emergency and keep a phone by your bed. Pre-programme these numbers for speed dialling if you can.

Have at least two phones in the house, accessible from the floor so you don't have far to go in the event of a fall. Cordless phones are useful, but you should also keep a "hard wired" or conventional phone as cordless phones won't work if the power is off.

And consider a pre-paid mobile phone. These don't have any monthly charges so can be kept for emergencies.

Ask a neighbour to look out for you. That might mean asking them to phone or visit you if you have not drawn your curtains by 8am.

And consider getting a medical or personal alarm that you can activate in an emergency.

Don't be tricked and that means don't open the door to strangers. Look through a window first and always ask who it is. If you don't know them, keep the door closed.

If someone you don't know asks to use your phone, offer to make the phone call yourself. They don't need to enter your home and you don't need to open the door.

Neighbourhood Watch also urges people never to discuss their finances with strangers or give out details of bank or credit cards over the phone. And if you think someone is trying to cheat you, contact the police. You may be able to prevent someone else from being tricked.

Age Concern says elderly people living alone can make simple modifications inside and outside their homes to reduce risk of injury and foster independence.

And beware of distraction crimes - one visitor keeps you busy while the other prowls round your house. Planting and garden design can improve visibility or access and make sure the outside of your house is well lit. Install security lights that are activated by movement and fit good locks on doors and windows.

If there's one regular week day service in the city and district that helps shore up that much needed social connection, it's the midday delivery of meals-on-wheels.

This is a service the Whanganui District Health Board provides in partnership with Age Concern which organises the volunteer drivers delivering the hot meals.

Andrea Bunn, WDHB senior portfolio manager for the health of older people, said the meals, which included a hot main meal and a pudding, provided a great social connection for vulnerable elderly, many of whom were living alone.

"This service is really as much about social connection as it is about a good meal. There's no question these daily visits are important for many of these elderly" Mrs Bunn said.

More than 8500 of these meals are delivered Monday to Friday across the WDHB region.

One of the volunteer drivers delivering the meals is retiree Bill La Pouple and it's a job he's been doing for about three years now.

Mr La Pouple's run takes about three quarters of an hour to complete.

"They're great people to deal with and I know they enjoy that daily contact too," he said.

STAYING SAFE

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  Don't open the door to strangers.
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  Never admit to being alone.
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  Install a wide-angle peephole in your door.
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  Install security chains on the inside of external doors.
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  If someone asks to use your phone, say no. Keep them locked out and direct them to the nearest phone box or offer to make the call for them.
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  If you receive a wrong number phone call, don't chat and never give out your name and address.
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  Contact Neighbourhood Support.
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  A booklet entitled "Safe and Sound - advice on safety at home and in the community" is available at the Age Concern Wanganui office in St Hill St.