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October 2024

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1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

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Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

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Security When Aging (Especially If You Are Single)

By Suzi Hoge
Posted: 09/17/2024
Tags: suzi hoge, newsletter october 2024

In the course of aging, many of us may enter the situation of living alone, especially if we have opted to remain in our longtime residences. Recently, while taking the Village course Ready or Not, several single Villagers shared their concerns about living alone. It’s good to gather some strategies and information for elders living alone or in a caregiving role, and also good for couples. There are many ways to increase our safety, some that can prevent accidents and others that will keep our homes more secure.

According to AARP, the elements of home security/monitoring systems are: Video doorbells, super cameras, special alerts, useful links, door control, phone feeds and constant monitoring. 

If you are looking for a security system, three companies receive the top ratings for elders, according to Security.org:  ADT, SimplySafe, and Vivant.

According to AARP’s ratings, ADT is the best professionally installed system. The equipment runs from 4450 - $1500.  Monitoring runs from $25 and up on a monthly basis. The contract is for 36 months. Alexa and Google Home can be part of the system.

AARP rates SimplySafe as having the best professional monitoring. You install it yourself. It runs from $250 - $750. Payment is month to month. Alexa or Google can be used with it. Monitoring is less than $1 per day.

Vivant is rated best by AARP for elders with home automation. It costs $660 and up. Monitoring is $39 a month. The contract is for 42 months. You can use Alexa & Home Google. It can control temperature and lights.

Technology can provide many simple-to-use items to increase a person’s physical safety in their own home.  Examples of these are cameras, smart locks, video doorbells, motion sensors, automatic lights, motion sensor lights, smart speakers, automatic turn-offs, etc. 

Here are some examples of easy fixes:

- Put a rechargeable motion detector with a small light under the end of the bed.  It comes on to light the way for nighttime bathroom trips.

- Put extension pull chains on overhead fans, lights, etc. so they are easily within reach

- A countdown timer (about $12 on Amazon) allows you to have electrical items automatically turn themselves off – after 15 minutes to 6 hours.

- Install solar motion sensor lights in outside areas — by the car area or garbage area.

- Install a plug-in emergency flashlight wherever needed.

Additional safety tips – for security and safety – are provided by HealthinAging.org, a trusted source for up-to-date information and advice on health and aging, created by the American Geriatrics Society’s Health in Aging Foundation, at:

https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/tip-sheet-home-safety-tips-older-adults

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