I do some volunteer work in the community, and am a meals-on-wheels driver, which puts me in contact with older members of my community and various organizations that serve them.
When I deliver meals I often find that the homes I am delivering to have a front screen door that is locked, and beyond that door is a porch door, also locked. Beyond the porch door is the interior door to the home, and it usually has multiple locks on it. They are always locked. It is very unusual for me to find even an outside screen door unlocked when I deliver the food.
Seniors seem to be security conscious when it comes to their homes. In spite of their best efforts I have gotten calls in the last few months from seniors who are about to lose their homes.
Fewer violent crimes are committed against older Americans than against any other group but they are more susceptible to certain types of crime than any other group and it isn’t the types of crimes that may be committed because a door is left unlocked.
They are crimes like credit card fraud, mortgage fraud and identity theft. I recently met with a senior who just last year only owed $2000 on her home, and her payments were less than $100 a month. This year her payments are up over $500 a month and she doesn’t know how much she owes on it. It seems that she refinanced and signed a bunch of papers while she was in the nursing home.
I know of another older American in my community who just could not say no to the charities that called asking for money. One of those charities was a scam and he is also losing his home, which he did keep
locked at all times.
There is some consumer information about crimes against seniors on the MN department of commerce web site, and I found some information on the FBI’s web site, but I don’t know how many older Americans are getting this information. I know my 80 something parents are all over the internet, have blogs and even use twitter. They keep their doors and windows locked too but I also know that there are criminals who prey on seniors and that they are more likely to be the victims of fraud than I am.
If you have friends, parents or neighbors who are older Americans, read up on crimes against seniors and don’t be afraid to talk with them about it. Educate yourself and teach someone else. It may be a challenge to get past their spam blockers, caller I.D.’s and locks, but they need to know that there are people out there who can trick them out of their home, no matter how many locks they have.
. . . by the way, we always need more meals on wheels drivers. . . If you don’t have time to deliver food, I am sure they would accept a donation . . did you know that many meals on wheels drivers are seniors themselves? OK, I am off my soap box now.
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You are so right. My mother-in-law invited a few ladies in for a religion talk the other day. While it was most harmless, they were strangers that she let easily into her home.
Great article! Thanks! I want to pass this on to seniors in my area. In seniors only, active adult communities like Sun City in Georgetown, Texas, I think seniors feel safer and open up a bit more with a few less locks. I feel your blog applies more to those seniors living isolated and alone. Thanks for taking the time to provide warnings to the wonderful folks who led the way for us to be where we are today.
By the way- my husband is an Austin, Texas 3Mer who travels to St. Paul some. We have had the opportunity to move there but we are both Native Texans and don’t know if we could handle the winters.