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Blog archive

March 2025

February 2025

Commemorating Black History Month 2025
02/28/2025

Transportation at the Pasadena Village
02/28/2025

A Look at Proposition 19
02/27/2025

Behind the Scenes: Understanding the Pasadena Village Board and Its Role
02/27/2025

Beyond and Within the Village: The Power of One
02/27/2025

Celebrating Black Voices
02/27/2025

Creatively Supporting Our Village Community
02/27/2025

Decluttering: More Than The Name Implies
02/27/2025

Hidden Gems of Forest Lawn Museum
02/27/2025

LA River Walk
02/27/2025

Message from the President
02/27/2025

Phoenix Rising
02/27/2025

1619 Conversations with West African Art
02/25/2025

The Party Line
02/24/2025

Bluebird by Charles Bukowski
02/17/2025

Dreams by Langston Hughes
02/17/2025

Haiku - Four by Fritzie
02/17/2025

Haikus - Nine by Virginia
02/17/2025

Wind and Fire
02/17/2025

Partnerships Amplify Relief Efforts
02/07/2025

Another Community Giving Back
02/05/2025

Diary of Disaster Response
02/05/2025

Eaton Fire: A Community United in Loss and Recovery
02/05/2025

Healing Powers of Creative Energy
02/05/2025

Living the Mission
02/05/2025

Message from the President: Honoring Black History Month
02/05/2025

Surviving and Thriving: Elder Health Considerations After the Fires
02/05/2025

Treasure Hunting in The Ashes
02/05/2025

Villager's Stories
02/05/2025

A Beginning of Healing
02/03/2025

Hectic Evacuation From Eaton Canyon Fire
02/02/2025

Hurricanes and Fires are Different Monsters
02/02/2025

January 2025

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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