Trick or Treat – Keeping Senior Citizens Safe On Halloween

HAMPTON ROADS

While seniors may love to see children in costumes on Halloween night, the constant door knocking, masked visitors and unfamiliar faces can be intimidating. After all, 1/3 of seniors who live at home, live alone – and most are women. 

Visiting Angels, one of the largest in-home care companies for seniors in the nation, offers the following Halloween safety tips for seniors.

Halloween Safety Tips For Seniors

• Keep guests outside – never let an unknown trick-or-treater inside to use the bathroom or make a phone call.

• Turn on interior and exterior lights during trick-or-treating hours even if no one is home or if the senior chooses not to answer the door.

• Stay inside while handing out candy.  

• Post a sign on the door that says “Sorry, No More Candy” when the goodies run out.

• Make sure all floors, entry ways and porches are free from decorations

• Remove any Halloween décor that involves flames, such as a lit pumpkin, from outside stairs and footpaths. This is a fire hazard for the dozens of kids stopping by with tails and capes.

• Place carved pumpkins outside to keep the smell out and bugs away.

• Add night lights to hallways, walkways and rooms.

• Avoid window decorations that block light or the view of the front entry.

• Don’t play music outside for Halloween guests – be aware of your surroundings.