Seniors and safety

Are you a senior community member? Here are some tips on staying safe at home, online or while you are out and about in the community.

Know your neighbours

Try to get to know your neighbours and have their contact details listed somewhere easy to find, such as on your fridge. Good neighbours can help to create safer, more enjoyable and more connected communities.

A trusted neighbour could become a friend, and someone to keep a spare key to your home, collect your mail if you are away and could be close by to help you in an emergency situation.

Keep yourself safe at home

You can keep your home safer by having security screens, doors and alarm systems installed. If you have mobility issues, be aware of the risk of falls and consider a personal alarm.

Keep your doors and windows locked, even when you are at home. If you are only popping next door for a minute or doing some gardening, it is still important to keep your doors locked while you are outside. This could help to keep the risk of an intruder to a minimum by making it harder to enter your home.

Keep your valuables out of sight, so somebody looking into your home from the outside cannot see where you keep your handbag, wallet or car keys.

WA State Government's Safety and Security rebate

If you hold a WA Seniors Card, you can apply for up to $400 through the WA State Government's Safety and Security rebate scheme. Visit the WA Government's website for more details, including how to apply for the rebate.

Learn more about the Safety and Security rebate scheme

Be careful of who you let into your home

If someone knocks on your door, you can choose whether you would like to open it. If you do open your door, speak to whoever is there through your locked security screen.

Do not let anybody into your house unless you trust them and have specifically asked them to be there at a certain time and in a certain capacity, such as a care provider or licensed plumber. You can ask them to show identification to confirm they are the person you are expecting. If you are even slightly unsure about anybody, do not let them in.

Door-to-door scams can involve people who may try to earn your trust and either enter your home or receive some kind of payment from you. They might pretend to be from a utility company (and could even have a copy of your bill or account details) or be a contractor or salesperson offering discounted products or services. Do not let anybody you know into your home or give your personal details to doorknockers.

Keep yourself safe in the community

When you are out and about in the community, it is important that you feel safe.

If you are driving somewhere, be sure to park in a well-lit area and be aware of your surroundings. Do not leave valuables in sight in your car, even for a short time.

If you are catching public transport, try to plan your journey so you do not need to wait for a long time at bus or train stations. If you feel unsafe, speak with the driver or transport security staff.

When you are walking around, watch your footing and keep your valuables close by. Stick to main pedestrian areas where other people are more likely to be available to help you if you need.

Keep yourself safe online

Using the internet can be a great way to find information, buy things you need and stay connected to your friends and family. It is important to keep yourself safe online.

Do not give out payment or personal details by email or through any website you do not trust. Look for the padlock symbol near the web address when you are making online payments, as this is a sign the site is secure.

If you make new friends online, do not be tempted to give them money or help them financially in any way. Some scammers work over time to earn someone’s trust before asking for money or a donation of some kind.

Watch out for scam emails

Be aware of scammers who might email you with threats or requests for money, ask you to confirm any payment details or make any offer which seems too good to be true.

Some scammers are very good at making their emails or websites look legitimate and could even use a logo, signature or promotion from an official company.

Some signs that an email could be a scam include:

Offers of prizes for competitions you did not enter or inheritance claims;
An invoice for services you have not requested or postage costs for a package you have not ordered;
Claims there is an issue with your payment details or account;
Claims that suspicious activity or incorrect log-in attempts have been noted;
The email includes a password you have used in the past in the subject line;
The email asks that you pay money, confirm your log-in or share payment details.

What to do if you have received a scam email

Do not click on any links, open any attachments or reply to an email you think may be a scam.

You can check the name of the person or company sending you the email by hovering your mouse over or tapping the ‘from’ address. Look for misspelled company names or numbers or letters added to an email address. These are signs it is probably a scam email.

If you think you may have received a scam email, you can report this to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission through ScamWatch.