Senior Safety and Security

This page contains tips on personal safety and security for seniors at home and away from home in various situations. They are simple, common sense suggestions that will help keep you from being an easy target for a criminal. Also included are tips on protecting your assets, reporting crimes, elder and dependant adult abuse, and reporting a lost person with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Inside Your Home
Answering the Door
Answering the Phone and Talking to Strangers
Returning Home
On the Street and Other Places
On Elevators
When Meeting Someone New
At Night Clubs and Social Functions
When Traveling
In a Hotel/Motel Room
While Driving
In Parking Lots and Garages
While Riding a Bus or Trolley
When Carrying a Purse or Wallet
When Using an ATM
On a Cruise
Protecting Your Assets
If You Are a Crime Victim
Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse
Lost Person with Alzheimer’s Disease

Inside Your Home

Keep all doors and windows locked, even if you are at home or are just going out “for a minute.”
Install dead-bolt locks on all doors.
Don’t give maids or others working in your home access to your home keys or alarm codes.
Re-key or change all locks when moving into a new home.
List only your last name and initials on your mailbox or in a phone directory.
Don’t give your name, phone number, or whereabouts on your answering machine message. Never say you aren’t home. Just ask the caller to leave a message.
Consider installing a home alarm system that provides monitoring for burglary, fire, and medical emergencies.
Leave outside lights on after dark or have outside lights controlled by a motion detector. Keep porches and all entrances well lighted. Check bulbs regularly.
Keep drapes or blinds closed at night but leave some lights on.
Leave drapes or blinds partially open during the day.
Never dress in front of windows. Always close the drapes or blinds.
Know your neighbors and keep their phone numbers handy.
Have a friend or neighbor check on you daily if you are home alone.
Try never to be alone in the laundry room or any other common area in an apartment building.
Have government and other regular checks deposited directly in your bank.
Call the SDPD CRO (Community Relations Officer) in your area to arrange for a free home security survey. And ask about starting or joining a Neighborhood Watch program in your area. SDPD division addresses and phone numbers are listed under IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD on this website along with the addresses and phone numbers of the SDPD storefronts or satellite offices in your area.
Call 911 if you hear or see something suspicious. Examples of suspicious activities are listed on the page entitled Reporting and Providing Information about Crimes and Suspicious Activities in the Community Resources and Responsibilities section of this website. Don’t take direct action yourself. An officer will be dispatched to your address even if you cannot speak or hang up.
Plan an escape route from each room in your residence to use in a fire, earthquake, break-in, or other emergency situation.
Designate a safe room in your home that your family can retreat to and escape potential violence by home invasion robbers. Develop a home security plan for this contingency and make sure all family members know what to do.
Arm your security system even when you are at home. And have panic alarm buttons installed around your home so they can be used in the event of a home invasion.
Make sure your street address number is clearly visible from the street and is well lighted at night so the police and other emergency personnel can locate your home easily. Numbers should be at least 4 inches high must be used on individual dwellings and duplexes, and 12 inches high on multiple-unit residential buildings.
Make sure your unit number (in a multifamily housing development) is clearly visible from paths in the development. A directory or map that shows paths and unit locations should be placed at the main entrance of the development.
Call your local SDPD Area Station to request YANA (You Are Not Alone) visits if you want to be checked on periodically.

Answering the Door

Don’t open your door at the sound or a knock or bell. Know who’s at your door before opening it. Install a wide-angle peephole in your front door so you can look out without being seen yourself.
Don’t rely on chain locks for security. They’re only good for privacy.
Don’t open the door to a delivery or service person unless you are expecting a package or a call. Ask for the person’s name and the name and phone number of the company. Call it to confirm the visit. Keep the door closed and locked in the meantime.
Check photo registration card before dealing with any solicitors, peddlers, interviewers, etc. These persons are required to obtain a card from the SDPD and display it on the front of their clothing. They are allowed to solicit only between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. except by appointment. Call their agency to verify their identity.
Call the SDPD if a solicitor does not have a registration card. Use the non-emergency numbers, (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154. And provide the dispatcher with a good description of the person.
Post a NO SOLICITING sign if you don’t want any solicitor to ring your door bell, knock on your door, or make any other sound to attract your attention.
Ask for photo identification before letting in anyone you don’t know. Check out the identification with the company or agency if you are suspicious.
Never let a stranger enter your home to use the telephone. Offer to make the call yourself in an emergency.
Consider getting a dog that will bark when someone is at the door.
Call 911 if the person at the door is aggressive in knocking or ringing the doorbell, or is otherwise threatening.
If you don’t want to answer the door and don’t want the person there to think that no one is home, say something like “We can’t come to the door now,” or “We don’t open the door to strangers.”

Answering the Phone and Talking to Strangers

Never give your name or number to a person making a wrong-number phone call or to anyone you don’t know.
Hang up if you receive a threatening or harassing phone call. Call the police if these calls are repeated. Use the non-emergency number, (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154.
Don’t indicate you are home alone to anyone you don’t know.
Be suspicious of all solicitors, especially if the caller says you have won a prize but asks you to send money first, says you have to act right away, fails to identify the sponsor, uses a variation of an official or nationally-recognized name, e.g., Salvation League instead of Salvation Army, offers to have someone pick up a cash payment from your home, says he or she is a law enforcement officer who will help you for a fee, requires you to attend a sales meeting, directs you to dial a pay-per-call 900 number, delays the delivery or a product or prize, etc.
Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry. Call (888) 382-1222 from the phone or phones you want to register. If you have an e-mail address you can register online at www.donotcall.gov. Telemarketers check the registry every 31 days so it may take that long before your number is removed from their call lists. This should stop calls from all but nonprofit groups, charities, political organizations, survey companies, and companies you have dealt with recently or signed a contract with that includes permission to call you. If telemarketers ignore the fact that your number is on the registry you can report them at the above number or website and sue them for violating your rights. For this you’ll need to keep a record of their names and the dates of the calls.
Never give your credit card, checking account, Social Security number, or any personal information to an unknown caller. Just say “no” and hang up on anyone who asks for personal information. Don’t ever assume a friendly voice belongs to a friend.
Only give your personal information when you have initiated the call and are sure the other party is legitimate.
Ask a charity to send written information about its finances and programs before making any commitments.
Call the Better Business Bureau of San Diego County at (858) 496-2131 to check on any unsolicited offers. Or visit its website at www.sandiego.bbb.org for general consumer information and tips on avoiding various types of fraud.
For additional information contact the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center at (877) 382-4357 and www.ftc.gov, Federal Communications Commission Consumer Center at (888) 225-5322 and http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumers_contacts.html, and California Department of Consumer Affairs Consumer Information Center at (800) 952-5210 and www.dca.ca.gov/consumer/cic.

Returning Home

Have the person driving you home wait until you are safely inside.
Leave outside lights on if you’ll return after dark.
Don’t overburden yourself with packages that obstruct your view and make it difficult to react in an emergency.
Have your key in hand so you can open the door immediately.
Don’t go in or call out if you suspect someone has broken into your home, e.g., if a window or screen is broken, a door is ajar, or a strange vehicle is parked in the driveway. Go to a neighbor’s home and call the 911.
Keep your headlights on until you are in your garage at night.
Go to a neighbor’s house and call 911 if someone is following you on foot or in a vehicle. Or use your cell phone to call, but don’t go home while the threat exists.
Be aware of any people around your home when you return. Go to a neighbor’s house if you have any concerns about your safety when opening the garage or other door.
Close the garage door before getting out of your vehicle.

On the Street and Other Places

Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
Walk with a friend or family member.
Walk with confidence and know where you are going. Be alert. Make eye contact with people you pass.
Watch your surroundings. Leave any places in which you are uncomfortable. Be especially alert for suspicious persons around banks, ATMs (Automated Teller Machines), stores, your home, etc.
Cross the street if you see someone suspicious following you.
Walk into an open business and call 911 if you see anyone acting suspicious or following you. Don’t go home.
Don’t go out alone at night, venture into unfamiliar or dark places, take shortcuts, talk to or accept rides with strangers, or hitch rides. Don’t walk in or near alleys, on deserted streets, near dark doorways or shrubbery.
Don’t approach vehicles even if the occupants say they need directions or assistance.
Consider your options in the event you are confronted, e.g., scream or blow a whistle to attract attention, flee to a safe area, etc. Decide what you plan to do and practice your responses so you can recall them in a real situation.
Learn self-defense. Take classes only from licensed instructors. But don’t substitute self-defense training for common sense, alertness, and caution.
Know where telephones are along your route.
Carry cash and credit cards in a pocket.
Carry change for emergency telephone and transportation. 911 calls are free.
Carry identification, medical information, names and phone numbers of people to call in emergencies.
Carry a card of communications symbols if you have a speech or hearing impairment.
Carry only necessities.
Avoid verbal confrontations. They may lead to physical altercations.
Don’t leave notes on your door when you are away from home.
Don’t leave keys in mailboxes or planters, under doormats, or in other obvious hiding spots. Leave an extra key with a neighbor.
Don’t carry a gun, knife, club, chemical spray, or other weapon. Some are illegal to carry and all could be used against you.

In general, follow the four As of self-defense:

Be AWARE of your surroundings and who or what is nearby.
ASSESS the situation and possible threat.
ACT quickly and decisively. Change your route, go into a store, use your voice, etc.
Maintain a confident ATTITUDE. Don’t appear to be an easy target.

And try to attend one of the self-defense seminars coordinated by the County of San Diego Aging & Independence Services. They are held at various times and places. Call (800) 510-2020 and press 4 for the Protect Yourself and Your Wallet program. Leave your name, phone number, and city or neighborhood, and request to be called when a seminar is scheduled in your area.

On Elevators

Don’t get on an elevator with a stranger. If you do, stand near the control panel and be ready to press the alarm button and other controls if you are attacked.

When Meeting Someone New

Exchange phone numbers only, not addresses.
Let a friend or family member know where you are going on a first date.
Consider a daytime meeting for a first date.
Be assertive and honest, not passive or coy.

At Night Clubs and Social Functions

Go with and stay close to a friend.
Use prearranged signals to indicate that you need help or want to leave.
Don’t allow alcohol or drugs impair your judgment.
Watch your drinks and don’t give anyone an opportunity to spike them.
State your personal social standards and limits. Stick to them and don’t let anyone change your mind.
Avoid people who make you nervous or uncomfortable.
Provide your own transportation when you go out alone. Take enough money for a cab fare if you are going to be out late.

When Traveling

Travel with a friend or in a group when possible. There is safety in numbers.
Plan your touring. Don’t discuss your plans with strangers. Beware of strangers who seem overly anxious to help you. Select guides carefully.
Get good directions to avoid getting lost.
Find an open business to get directions if you get lost. Don’t appear to be lost by stopping and looking at addresses or street signs.
Stick to well-lighted main streets and public areas. Ask about areas to avoid.
Carry a minimum amount of cash. Use credit cards or traveler’s checks whenever possible.
Keep a record of your credit card and traveler’s check numbers in a safe place. Also have the phone numbers to call if your cards or checks are lost or stolen.
Leave your itinerary with a friend or relative and check in with them periodically.
Store photocopies of your passport, tickets, and other important papers in a hotel safe.
Keep track of time and don’t be late for appointments or meetings.

In a Hotel/Motel Room

If the desk clerk says your room number aloud when you check in, ask for a different room and have the number written on your keycard sleeve and discreetly handed to you.
If you feel uncomfortable walking to your room alone, ask the desk clerk to provide an escort.
Determine the most direct route to and from your room, to fire escapes, stairs, elevators, and phones.
Keep your door locked when you are in your room. Use both the deadbolt lock and the security bar/chain.
Keep your windows locked, and blinds and drapes closed for privacy.
Be sure that sliding glass doors and doors to connecting rooms are locked.
Safeguard your room key or card at all times.
Use the peephole in the door to identify anyone requesting entry. Open the door only if you are certain it is safe to do so.
If you are worried about being spied on through the peephole in the door cover it with a piece of opaque tape.
If you haven’t requested room service or housekeeping and someone knocks on your door claiming to be a staff member, call the front desk to verify the claim before opening the door.
If you receive a call about an emergency that requires you to leave your room, hang up and call the front desk to verify it.
Report any suspicious persons or activities to the front desk.
Don’t stay in a ground-floor room, especially if you are a woman and traveling alone.

While Driving

Keep your doors locked and your windows closed.
Know where you are going. Stop and get directions before you get lost.
Avoid driving alone, especially at night and in dangerous areas.
Never pick up hitchhikers.
Drive to the nearest open business and call 911 if anyone is following you. Don’t go home.
Keep your vehicle in gear when stopped for traffic signals or signs. Try to leave room to drive away if threatened. Be alert for anyone approaching your vehicle.
Keep purses and other valuables out of view when driving alone. Put them in the trunk or on the floor.
Honk your horn or flash your emergency lights to attract attention if you are threatened while in your vehicle.
Stay in your vehicle if you stop to aid others. Find out what the problem is and offer to call or drive to the nearest phone and report the situation.
Keep your vehicle in good mechanical condition so it won’t break down and leave you stranded on the road. Also keep enough gas in the tank so you won’t run out.
If your vehicle breaks down or runs out of gas, pull over to the right as far as possible, raise the hood, and call or wait for help. Remain in your vehicle with the doors and windows locked until you can identify any person who comes to help.
Be wary of minor rear-end collisions, especially at night on dark freeway off-ramps. Remain in your vehicle with the doors and windows locked if you are uneasy or suspicious. Drive to the nearest open business to check the damage and exchange insurance information.
Control your gestures and other reactions to keep “road-rage” incidents from escalating to violence.

In Parking Lots and Garages

Park in open, well-lighted, and populated areas near your destination.
Avoid parking near trucks, vans, dumpsters, and other objects that obstruct visibility and provide hiding places. Avoid parking or walking near strangers loitering or sitting in vehicles. Check that no one is hiding around your vehicle before you get out.
Report any lights that are out to the facility operator.
Lock your vehicle and take your keys with you.
Never leave any valuables in plain sight.
Conceal maps or travel brochures that might indicate you are a tourist.
Remember where you parked so you can return directly to your vehicle. Be alert and walk purposefully.
Have your key in hand so you can open the door immediately when you return to your vehicle.
Check that no one is hiding in or around your vehicle before you get in.
Ask a co-worker or security guard to escort you to your vehicle if your work late.
Don’t leave your home keys on a chain with your vehicle keys when you use valet parking. Also, don’t leave your garage door opener where it is easily accessible. Keep your vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and any other papers with your home address on them where a criminal is not likely to find them.
Don’t resist or argue with a carjacker. Your life is much more valuable than your vehicle. Be especially alert when parking at fast food places, gas stations, ATMs, and shopping areas along suburban highways.

While Riding a Bus or Trolley

Wait in a central area near other passengers.
Have your fare or pass ready when boarding.
Sit near the operator.
Keep your handbag and packages on your lap instead of on the floor or seat next to you.
Change seats and tell the operator if anyone bothers you.
Avoid using dark or isolated stops at night.
Stay alert for any possible dangers when exiting.

When Carrying a Purse or Wallet

Avoid carrying a purse when possible. Wear a money pouch instead.
Carry a purse with a shoulder strap if you must. Keep the strap over your shoulder, the flap next to your body, and your hand on the strap. When wearing a coat, keep the strap and purse under the coat.
Keep a tight grip on your purse. Don’t let it hang loose or leave it on a counter in a store.
Carry your wallet, keys, and other valuables in an inside or front pants pocket, a fanny pack, or other safe place. Don’t carry a wallet in a back pocket.
Never put you purse or wallet on a counter while shopping.
Carry checks or credit cards instead of cash. Don’t display any cash you do carry.
Leave credit cards you don’t expect to use at home.
Keep a record at home of check and credit card numbers, and phone numbers to call in case of theft or loss. Carry this information separately or store it in a hotel/motel safe if you are on a trip or otherwise unable to get home promptly to report a loss.
Shop with a friend when possible.
Don’t fight for your purse if someone tries to take it by force.

When Using an ATM

Select an ATM with clear lines of sight in all directions, i.e., at locations with no building corners, shrubs, signs, etc. that provide possible hiding places for an attacker.
Be aware of your surroundings before and during your transaction, especially between dusk and dawn. Return later or use an ATM in a supermarket or convenience store if you notice anything suspicious, e.g., a person loitering nearby.
Avoid using poorly lighted or isolated ATMs. Complete your transaction as fast as possible and leave the facility.
Don’t go alone.
Park in a well-lighted area as close to the ATM as possible.
Keep your doors locked and passenger and rear windows rolled up when using a drive-through ATM.
Shield the keypad when using your PIN so it can’t be seen.
Memorize your PIN and keep it secret. Don’t write it down or keep it in your wallet or purse.
Put your cash, receipt, and ATM care away promptly. Count your cash later in private. Do not leave your receipt at the ATM site.
Avoid being too regular. Don’t use the same ATM at the same time of day and day of the week.
Make sure you are not being followed when you leave an ATM location. Drive immediately to a police or fire station, or any well-lighted and crowed location or open business and get help if you are being followed. Flash your lights and sound your horn to attract attention.
Give up your money or valuables if you are confronted by an armed robber. Any delay can make a robber more nervous and increases the likelihood of violence.

On a Cruise

Be skeptical. Don’t assume you can trust other passengers. Criminals take vacations too.
Stay sober. Don’t let alcohol impair your judgment. Only drink beverages you have seen prepared. Ask that bottled drinks be served unopened.
Set rules for your children and keep an eye on them. Make sure they don’t drink. Report any crew members who serve alcohol to minors.
Meet fellow passengers in public areas, not cabins.
Use all locks on your cabin door. Never open it to a stranger.
When you enter your cabin check the bathroom and closet before closing the door.
Don’t socialize with the crew. Make sure your children know that crew areas are off limits.
Dress down. Leave expensive jewelry and watches at home. They only make you a target for thieves.
Lock all valuables in a safe and guard your key card as you would a credit card.
Don’t stand or sit on the ship’s railing.
Never go to any isolated areas of the ship alone, especially in the evening and early morning.
Know where the members of your party are at all times. Report a missing person immediately.
Attend the ship safety drills and learn its emergency procedures.
Bring phone numbers of U.S. embassies or consulates in the cities on your itinerary so you can contact them if a problem arises. You can get them online at www.usembassy.gov.
If you are a victim of a crime at sea call the FBI at (202) 324-3000 from the ship to report the crime. Call the U.S. embassy or consulate if you are a victim of a crime on shore. Take photos of the crime scene and any injuries you suffered. Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of possible witnesses. Take statements. Don’t expect the cruise line to take physical evidence. Also notify your family, doctors, lawyers, insurance companies, etc. as appropriate.

Protecting Your Assets

Criminals often view seniors as targets of opportunity not only for street robberies and purse snatches but for various frauds and confidence schemes. The following tips will help you protect your assets. Additional tips on preventing telemarketing and email fraud and identity theft are provided on the page entitled Fraud and Identity Theft.

Make sure that any private professional fiduciary who handles your assets or arranges for your daily care, housing, and medical needs has a valid license from the California Department of Consumer Affairs Professional Fiduciaries Bureau. This licensing requirement goes into effect on July 1, 2008.
Don’t discuss your assets or finances with strangers.
Execute a springing power of attorney (POA) in which you designate an agent to manage your assets if you lose the mental capacity to do so. The springing POA is preferred over an immediate POA in that it ensures that you remain in control of your assets until two doctors declare that you lack the mental capacity to manage them. Things get very complicated if you become incapacitated without either type of POA because a conservatorship may then be required. Any San Diego resident over the age of 60 can obtain a springing POA and an Advanced Health Care Directive by calling Elder Law & Advocacy at (858) 565-1392. This state- and county-funded nonprofit corporation provides no-cost routine legal services of seniors and caregivers of seniors. This state- and county-funded nonprofit corporation provides no-cost routine legal services to seniors and caregivers of seniors.
In executing a trust the successor trustee should be a person you know well and trust totally to act in your best interests. The trustee should be financially independent and able to pay his or her own bills. Think very carefully about naming a trustee. If a problem arises you can remove the trustee as long as you have mental capacity. But there is not much that can be done if you lose mental capacity. Then the power of the trustee is irrevocable. This caution also applies to a POA agent.
Elder Law & Advocacy can also provide legal advice regarding domestic violence, elder abuse, suspected fraud, and various scams.
Don’t keep large sums of money at home. Keep stocks, bonds, expensive jewelry, coin collections, etc. in a bank safe deposit box.
Read contracts carefully and understand the terms before signing. Get help from someone you trust if you are not comfortable with the terms.
Don’t pay for work in your home in advance.
Call the Better Business Bureau of San Diego County at (858) 496-2131 if you have any doubts about the reliability of a person or company you are going to hire.
Be careful in writing checks. Print out the full name of the payee. Never use abbreviations like SDGE. Print the amount of the check. Longhand writing is easier to alter. Fill in any remaining space on the amount line with double lines. Sign with a clear, readable signature. An illegible one is easy to forge. And never sign a blank check.
Consider having new checks mailed directly to your bank for collection to avoid possible theft from your mailbox.
Never get involved with and provide or show money to strangers. Some common confidence schemes involve phony bank examiners who ask you to help trap a crooked teller, strangers who want to share found money, strangers who want to donate money to a charity of your choice, and strangers who want you to help prove that banks can be trusted. Note that all these schemes involve strangers and stories that sound too good to be true.
Never give out credit card, bank account, or other personal information unless you have initiated the contact or know and trust the person you are dealing with. Beware of mail, telephone, and email promotions designed to obtain personal information. In an email scam know as “phishing” identity thieves fish for personal information by sending realistic-looking email that asks recipients to go to a bogus website and provide personal information such as credit card and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs). Don’t click on website addresses in emails you get even if they look real. Legitimate banks and financial institutions don’t send emails asking you to verify your account information. They already have it.
Have your Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and VA Compensation and Pension checks deposited directly into you bank account. You can do this online at www.GoDirect.gov or by phone at (800) 333-1795. Go Direct is a campaign sponsored by the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Banks.
If you don’t have a bank account you should get a free prepaid MasterCard debit card instead of federal benefit checks. With it you can get cash from ATMs, pay bills, and make purchases anywhere these cards are used. There are no sign-up fees and bank accounts or credit checks are not required. With the card you will not have to use expensive check-cashing facilities, carry around large amounts of cash, or risk lost or stolen checks. You can enroll online at www.usdirectexpress.com or by phone at (877) 212-9991.

If You Are a Crime Victim

For reporting purposes, crimes and suspicious activities are considered as either emergencies or non-emergencies. Situations in which you, a member of your family, or a person in your care are attacked or threatened are considered as emergencies and should be reported by calling 911. Be sure to tell the dispatcher about your current medical condition and the need for immediate medical assistance.

Crimes in which: (1) there is no serious personal injury, property damage, or property loss; (2) there is no possibility that the suspect is still at the scene or is likely to return to the scene; and (3) an immediate response is not needed are considered as non-emergencies. These situations and suspicious activities should be reported to the SDPD by calling (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154. The details of reporting crimes and suspicious activities are presented on this website in the section entitled Community Resources and Responsibilities. Also included there are the names and phone numbers of those SDPD units and other law enforcement and government agencies that deal with special situations and problems.

Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse

Call San Diego County Aging & Independence Services at (800) 510-2020 to report suspected instances of neglect and psychological, physical, financial, or sexual abuse of elders and dependent adults. This agency carries out investigations and provides assistance and case management where appropriate. The SDPD will be informed if abuse is involved. If you know that abuse has occurred, you should call SDPD directly at (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154. If the abuse is in progress, you should call 911. The police will investigate, take steps to protect the victim, prosecute the perpetrator, and inform the appropriate County office.

The following are some signs of various types of elder and dependent adult abuse:

Neglect. Inadequate clothing, missed medical appointments, dirty and unkempt appearance, malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores, home that smells of urine or feces, utilities turned off, no food in home, or lack of necessary medications, eyeglasses, hearing aid, etc.
Psychological abuse. Unreasonable or excessive fears, withdrawal, loss of appetite, agitation, isolation from family and friends, unexplained bouts of crying, or confusion.
Physical abuse. Bites, burns, and unexplained broken bones, welts, or bruises.
Financial abuse. Transfers of large amounts of money, inability to pay bills or buy basic necessities, lack of knowledge or confusion about own finances, vanishing personal property, frequent ATM withdrawals, increased credit card activity, refinanced home mortgage, newly authorized account signers, and changes in bank account activity, account beneficiaries, property titles, trusts, will, etc.
Sexual abuse. Unexplained venereal diseases or genital infections, bruising or bleeding in the genital area, unexplained pain or itching in the genital area, or torn, stained, or bloody underwear.

Self-neglect is also a serious problem for older persons. Suspicions of it should also be reported to San Diego County Aging & Independence Services. Signs include a worsening of medical conditions or a sudden change in weight or hygiene.

Many kinds of elder abuse can be prevented by the careful selection of a nursing home or long-term care facility, home health or home care agency, or home caregiver. You should visit any home, facility, or agency you are considering.

Ask the following questions about a nursing home or long-term care facility:

Are you Medicare and Medi-Cal certified?
Are you licensed?
Can I see the latest California Department of Public Health inspection report.
Do you conduct criminal background checks on all employees? What else is done to screen prospective employees?
Is your staff trained to recognize resident abuse and neglect?
Are there clear procedures to identify events or trends that might lead to abuse and neglect?
Are there clear procedures to investigate, report, and resolve complaints?
Are there policies and procedures to safeguard residents’ possessions?

Even if the home or facility has policies and procedures to safeguard residents’ possessions, a resident or a family member should do the following:

Keep valuables and cash out of plain sight.
Keep a minimal amount of cash in your room.
Keep valuables in a safe and make sure a responsible family member also has access to it. Or leave them with a family member.
Lock your door when you leave your room.
Report a missing item to the administration. If it is not found report it to the SDPD.
Consider installing a camera in your room if you suspect a staff member is stealing.

Home health agencies are hired when the elder’s doctor orders services requiring the skill of a medical professional. These agencies are licensed and regulated by the California Department of Health Services. Their staff members, i.e., nurses, nurse assistants, and home health aides, are also licensed. Make sure all these licenses are current and the agency is Medicare and Medi-Cal certified.

Ask the following questions about a home care agency. Note that unlike home health agencies, home care agencies are not required to be licensed.

Are your caregivers bonded and insured? Ask to see a copy of the bond to make sure it’s current and the amount of the bond is at least $10,000.
Do you conduct criminal background checks on all caregivers? What else is done to screen them?
What training is provided to caregivers? How are they supervised?
Do you have a written policy against caregivers accepting loans, gifts, or any gratuities from an employer?
What are the names and phone numbers of a few former employers of the caregiver being considered for employment?

The following tips deal with relations with a caregiver:

Fire any caregiver provided by an agency who offers to work independently for less.
Notify the agency immediately if you have any concerns about the caregiver it provided.
Do not let the caregiver deal with financial matters. Have a trusted relative or friend, licensed professional fiduciary, or bank handle all accounts, pay bills, etc.
Lock up or remove from the home all financial records, checkbooks, credit cards, personal ID information, etc.
Do not allow the caregiver to have access to the elder’s computer.
Do not lend money to the caregiver.
Supply a limited amount of cash for necessities and require receipts and an itemized accounting of all expenditures. Do not allow the caregiver to use the elder’s credit card.

In hiring a caregiver privately seek referrals from a trusted source first. If possible avoid using a “help wanted” ad. And do not respond to an ad by a person seeking employment as a caregiver. Interview all prospective caregivers. For your safety, do it in a public place, e.g., a coffee shop, not at your home. And don’t give out your home address. Ask the applicant to do the following:

Fill out an employment application that asks for personal information, education, employment history, applicable licenses and certificates, personal references, etc.
Provide proof of citizenship or legal residency, a state-issued photo ID, and a Social Security card.
Provide his or her driver’s license number and automobile insurance policy information if driving is involved.
Sign an authorization for a background investigation if you plan to check on personal information that it not a matter of public record, e.g., education, credit, and medical records. For the investigation you can hire a private investigator or do it yourself. You can find an investigator in San Diego on the California Association of Licensed Investigators’ website at www.cali-pi.org. The authorization form will be provided by the investigative agency. The investigator would check criminal, civil, and credit records, the applicant’s driving history, the applicant’s Social Security number, etc.

If you decide to do the investigation yourself you should first check the applicant’s employment history and personal references. Then you should check the public records of criminal and civil court cases in San Diego County in the past 10 years. They are available at the following four locations:

Central District - 330 W. Broadway, San Diego 92101 (619) 615-6358
East County Dist. - 250 E. Main St., El Cajon 92020 (619) 441-4461
North County Dist. - 325 S. Melrose Dr., Vista 92083 (760) 726-9595
South County Dist. - 500 3rd Ave., Chula Vista 91910 (619) 691-4439

You should also call the San Diego County Courthouse at (619) 544-6401 to find out whether there are any outstanding San Diego County warrants on the applicant. All you need is his or her first and last name and birth date. Warrant information is available to the public and it's free. A search of outstanding San Diego County warrants can also be made on the County Sheriff's web site at www.sdsheriff.net. Just click on Warrant for Arrest. For records of cases and warrants in other counties you must contact the court clerks and sheriffs in those counties.

As an employer of an unlicensed person providing non-medical home care to an aged adult you can also get a California criminal history of the applicant from the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information by asking the applicant to submit fingerprints to the California Department of Justice. This can be done electronically at any Live Scan site in the state. The locations of these sites are listed on the Office of the Attorney General’s website at www.ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/publications/contact.php.

For more information on these and other tips for hiring a home care worker go to the AARP website at http://assets.aarp.org/external_sites/caregiving/homeCare/hiring_home_care-help.html. This page also has links to checklists for selecting an in-home care agency and a nursing home.

For current information on preventing elder abuse in San Diego County go to the Aging & Independence Services website at www.ais-sd.org, click on View All Services, select AIS Publications under Staying Informed - AIS, and then select the Safe Seniors newsletter. Its articles include features about related programs and services, items of general interest regarding elder abuse prevention, and a listing of current legislation related to elder abuse. The newsletter is a combined effort of Aging & Independence Services and the District Attorney's office.

At the federal level the National Center on Elder Abuse serves as a resource center dedicated to the prevention of elder abuse. On its website at www.ncea.aoa.gov you will find information on:

How to find help if you are worried about a senior in your community
Definitions, signs, and risks of elder abuse
Resources for caregivers

Lost Person with Alzheimer’s Disease

After calling 911 to report a lost or found person, call the Alzheimer's Association's Safe Return Program 24-hour Hotline at (800) 572-1122. Your call will activate a community response team that will:
(1) notify other law enforcement agencies, hospitals, transportation modes, the media, and other organizations, as appropriate; (2) provide support to the family; (3) provide new information to law enforcement agencies as available; and (4) notify all agencies when the person is found. You can also call Safe Return or visit your local SDPD Storefront or Satellite Office to enroll a person in the program and obtain identification for the person to wear.