Keeping our elderly relatives safe

www.myageingparent.com has some very interesting articles on this topic http://www.myageingparent.com/elderly-at-risk-from-scams/

I suppose I am an elderly relative! However, there are advantages to living in a second floor flat in an isolated place. The only people who have ever knocked at my door in two years were the water meter reader and the census taker. They were both accompanied by the caretaker.

My old aunt was burgled 11 times. She never learned the lesson that when there's a knock on the door it might not always be a friend. We only found out after she was taken into care. It beggars belief that she would be taken in so many times, bless her.

Any way I think maniac takes a different hat size!

Noway.
I always take a sun hat but never wear it! I have very thick hair and skull, so never find the need

You're kidding, Maniac, she'll probably borrow it!

Just bought a straw trilby from local dress shop for my hols/cruise .
I thought it was a bit more dashing than usual sunhats.

I wonder if jeni will approve?

I don't!

I suppose that central locking systems make driving a lot safer for lone women? Always thought that wearing a trilby hat was a good idea when driving alon, but everyone wears trilby hats now.

Only once I could have done with one of those blow up blokes. On a long drive on the A470 from S to N Wales (ah those were the business-travel-days) a chap overtook and signalled that he was pulling into a lay-by. Did the same manoeuvre a few times before I twigged! Now why would I want to do such a thing? I pulled into a petrol station instead and he got the hint. Should have had a pop up poppa, not a frock hanging up, evidently. There are some weird people about aren't there.

Remember those pop-up passenger seat 'companions' for lone women drivers? One was called 'Justin Case' - an inflated head and torso of a male, supposed to deter car thieves, would-be rapists and the like...
You never see them advertised now, wonder why?

I agree Gmagen It is not only the elderly who need to protect themselves At the end of a course training for working from home alone we were advised to have a man's hat/coat visible in hall,and maybe also have recording of barking dog or male conversation audible from another room.It sounds a bit drastic but worth thinking about.

Ella

Gmajen The other day a young man rang my doorbell. He was holding a delivery of clothes from Next for the girl next door. He was wearing black sunglasses and had a miserable expression. When I opened the door he said "Are you the grumpy old woman?", I said "I certainly am!". Then we both fell about laughing

I have a dog! She would show burglars round if they got in but her deep baying rumble of a bark would put anyone off approaching my house

(I posted before I had finished) - we are no different from other age groups - the vulnerable of any age will always need protection but increased age does not automatically mean increased vulnerability.The world is full of good people, lets all enjoy being a part of it.

Oh thank youElla46 for bringing a bit of light relief. Please, everyone, stop worrying so much. One of the worst things about getting older is the increasing level of suspicion that others are out to get us.

I have a sign on my front door saying "Beware.. Grumpy Old Woman!"


It works!

After four break ins between 1980 and 1997 knowing the house is protected by an alarm system is immensely re-assuring.

I have a good (but expensive) burglar alarm/panic button. I haveit on string round my neck. It's really for when I fall, but if I press it the police come round.

Gosh - this is depressing. I can't bear to think that people have to take such steps against unscrupulous people. How can you feel comfortable on your own home under these conditions?

good ideas

Dosen't work if the elderly person has also got some form of dememtia though. My mum would still let them in !

My Grandmother, who was widowed in WW1, always had a man's hat, coat and umbrella hanging prominently on the coat stand by the front door so that any chance caller would assume that there was a man in the household.