Safety and Security in the Home In order to help prevent slips and falls in the home, make sure all spills are thoroughly cleaned up, keep hallways clutter-free, and shoes with non-skid soles should be worn. Make sure stove burners are turned off after every use and do not use the oven to heat your home. At a minimum, the residence should have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor and should be equipped with ABC multipurpose fire extinguishers. Have your smoke detectors tested once a month and replace the detector batteries once a year. Eliminate fire hazards, such as piles of paper and smoking in bed. Sturdy locks should be installed on all doors and windows and should be used. Peepholes can be very helpful in screening visitors. Ask for photo identification from service or delivery people before letting them in. Persons claiming to be from the public utilities, such as Water Company meter readers, should be in an appropriate and distinctive company uniform, but a company photo ID should be asked of them, also. If you are in doubt, call the company to verify the identity of its representative and the purpose of the visit. If you are still uneasy, ask to postpone the service, delivery or meter reading until you can arrange for a trusted family member or friend to be home with you. Keep telephone numbers for the local police and fire departments, as well as water / gas / and telephone companies near your phone for easy access. If budgeting permits, consider a home alarm system that provides monitoring for burglary, fire, and medical emergencies. Have all prescription medications reviewed by your primary care doctor annually to help ensure that each medication and its dosage are still appropriate and that the combination of medications is safe. Be sure that all medications are out of reach of children. Dispose of expired medications properly by flushing them down a toilet. During the rest of this winter, there are additional safety precautions that senior citizens should take in their homes. Specifically, they should stock additional food, bottled water, and medications, and there should be a sufficient supply of home heating oil, if appropriate. If a space heater is used in the home, a space of at least three-feet around the heater should be free of all combustible materials. A space heater must be shut off when unattended. Preparing for, and Responding to, Wintertime Emergencies If you know of any elderly persons in your neighborhood, or relatives who live alone and may be unable to make such preparations on their own, make it a habit to check on them frequently, but especially before, during, and after winter storms. Before a storm hits, ask if they have sufficient food and medications to weather the storm and offer to purchase these items for them. Be sure that they have important telephone numbers clearly displayed near their telephones in case of an emergency. During and after a major winter storm, many of the elderly who live alone will need help clearing the accumulating snow and ice from their steps, walkways, and vents. Be a good neighbor and extend a helping hand to those in need! Dealing with Telemarketers and Avoiding Their Scams According to a recent study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), consumers lose more than $40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud and 56% of the victims are over 50 years old. The following security and safety guidelines are provided so that your loved ones and all those with whom you share this information do not become victims of telemarketing fraud. Under federal law, it is illegal for a telemarketer to call you if you have asked not to be called. To stop telephone sales calls, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Direct Marketing Association Telephone Preference Service P.O. Box 9014 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014 If you choose not to stop the telemarketing calls, the best protection against telemarketing fraud is to screen your calls or hang up the phone whenever a telemarketing call is received. Be aware that telemarketing calling times are restricted to the hours between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM. There are some “catch phrases” or “buzz words” that are often part of a fraudulent telemarketing sales pitch. They should serve as warnings of possible scams and some examples include: Ø “Act now or the offer will expire!” Ø “You can’t afford to miss this high-profit, no-risk offer!” Ø “You don’t need written information about the company or its references.” Ø “You’ve won a free prize, but you must pay for postage and handling. Don’t fall for any offer that seems too good to be true and don’t let anyone rush you into signing any document! Additionally, beware of offers requiring that cashier’s checks be sent by over-night carriers, high-pressure sales pitches, and the need for quick decisions. Before you buy any product or service, or donate any money as a result of an unsolicited phone call, check out the company calling you with your state and local consumer protection office. If you suspect a scam, call your state attorney general. Helping to Protect Your Identity Never give your credit card number, Social Security number, or bank account number to anyone over the phone. Legitimate bank representatives do not ask for sensitive / private customer information, such as account numbers, your Social Security number and personal identification numbers (PINs) over the telephone. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on your personal checks. Whenever possible, establish another identifier other than your Social Security number. For example, your driver’s license number should not be your Social Security number.