IMPROVING YOUR HOME

How to help seniors living alone feel safe and secure 

19 November 2020

It’s no surprise that many seniors prefer to live at home, rather than in aged care or a retirement village. Staying close to friends, family and community can help older Australians feel a sense of autonomy. It’s natural to worry about an older relative on their own, but taking a few simple steps can offer you — and them — some peace of mind.

Make neighbours aware

You may not be able to check in all the time, but it can help having someone close by to keep an eye out. Consider reaching out to the neighbours of your loved one to let them know they’re living alone, and make them aware of emergency contacts and any medical conditions. Doing so can give you, and your loved one, that little extra peace of mind.

Have a plan in place

Having an action plan means your loved one will know what to do and who to call if anything goes wrong, so you can act swiftly. Keeping a lock box at the door, and putting a list of medications and emergency contacts on the fridge can help friends, family and emergency services to act quickly.

Take extra precautions with security

When you’re living alone, you want to know that your house is safe and secure. So, it’s important to get some things in order:

  • a security system with cameras and an alarm
  • motion sensors that turn on when movement is detected at night
  • a safe spot to place family heirlooms and other valuables
  • a peep hole for the front door
  • secure locks on doors and windows, and
  • an easily accessible emergency button.

Make sure the home is properly insured

If an older family member is living alone, you’ll want to make sure that if anything happened — say, water damage from a burst pipe — they’re not left with a financial burden. That’s why it’s best to prepare for the unexpected by getting Home & Contents Insurance. GIO Home & Contents Insurance can cover your loved one’s belongings and the home that houses them. So, they can stress less, and focus more on enjoying their later years at home.

Get a Home & Contents Insurance Quote

Make upgrades to the home for better mobility

As seniors get older, their mobility may diminish. Getting out of the shower and walking up the stairs may not be as easy as it used to be. Making adjustments can help them to feel more independent. These could include:

  • installing hand rails in the bathroom
  • replacing stairs with ramps
  • moving the bedroom downstairs if possible
  • taping all exposed cords to surfaces to avoid tripping, and
  • placing non-slip mats near the sinks in the kitchen and bathroom.

If you do decide to make some significant upgrades, you may need to increase the sum insured on your Home & Contents Insurance — the most you can claim for any one incident — to reflect how much the home would cost to rebuild, including those upgrades. Otherwise, you could run the risk of being underinsured if anything happened.

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Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as GIO. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance.

This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it.

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