Safety Tips for Senior Women

While the greatest number of assaults are committed against women ages 16 to 35, elderly women make a serious mistake if they believe they are immune from rape and sexual assault . Several of the women reported they followed predictable patterns of behavior that could be easily noted.

Magnets For Bad Guys

Over time we all drift into comfortable behavior patterns. It’s part of human nature to prefer a predictable routine. However, for elderly women who live alone, predictable routines can be a roadmap to danger.  Routine habits don’t require a lot of thinking and they become so routine that we fail to notice that we have fallen into a rut which is easily spotted by a criminal.

For seniors, the daily noon exercise class or the regular trip to the bank or a weekly nigh out to the play cards with friends are just a few triggers a predator will look for when seeking out  a victim.

Breaking The Cycle

It’s not easy. To be safe look for ways to change your daily and weekly schedules to make it more difficult for any criminal to pattern your daily activity.  If you cannot change your schedule easily try to be more creative in your overall comings and goings. Try having someone stop in at “unexpected times” or have someone “new” drive you to an appointment.  Leave a different car in your driveway.  If you cannot make any changes think about starting a neighborhood watch program and ask neighbors to report suspicious vehicles and persons.

Make it Hard for a Criminal

Steps that help prevent a personal attack:

• Trust your instinct and intuition – if something feels wrong – it probably is
• Carry a cane even if you don’t need one.  With a bit of training it can be used as a self defense tool
• Carry a key chain with an ear-piercing alarm
• Your car may have a built in alarm on your key fob but a honking car horn draws more attention
• Keep a defensive spray in hand when going from the car to the front door
• Upon entering your home, keep your alarm or spray in hand and check for intruders
• Bring a cell phone into your bedroom at night so you can call the police if phone lines are cut
• Don’t discuss travel plans in public places like hair salons.  You never know who is listening.
• Plant defensive shrubbery like rose bushes outside low access windows
• Lock your bedroom door when sleeping as it will give you more time to react
• Use a timer to turn on lights, or a radio when you are not home. Change the programming monthly.
• The garage door the largest door in a home — close it to keep a criminal guessing.  Always remember to lock the side access door to the garage as well.

Personal Safety Tips

You will never know if and when your daily routine is being monitored by someone planning to hurt you.  Every thief or a rapist does some planning at some level if he wants to avoid getting caught or hurt. Make it as difficult as possible for someone to track your routine as it creates doubt in the mind of the predator.

If a stranger comes to your door – including someone in uniform – don’t allow entry into the home without confirming an ID.  Thieves or attackers often pretend to be police officers, fireman or members of the clergy. The unknown florist delivering flowers may just be looking to gain access to your home . Criminals can be male or female, adults, teens, or older children.

Seniors who have a plan and make changes stand the best chance of preventing an attack or home invasion.