Halloween is upon us once again. This is the time of the year where everything goes a little bit spooky. People dress up and go out trick or treating with there friends. People do seem to forget however that there are vulnerable people out there who may not be so keen to take part in the celebrations.
For elderly people, Halloween can be a night that they wish to forget on their calendars. For the elderly it can be a night full of scary knocks at the door and loud shouting in the streets.
Here at Careline365 – the UK’s favourite personal alarm provider – this is a huge concern. Here are some of the reasons why Halloween can become dangerous for the elderly and vulnerable, along with what you can do to help protect them from any injuries.
Being Scared & Put at risk of a fall
For the elderly, especially those who are living alone, a knock at the door can be an intimidating and worrying experience on any given day – never mind on Halloween. Having groups of people constantly knocking on your door at night could became an issue.
There have been too many examples in the news where groups of children have resorted to throwing eggs or stones at the homes of people who did not take part in Halloween.
The last thing we need is for the elderly to become frightened in their own homes. Elderly people’s health could also be at risk. Loud bangs and knocks could trigger a whole host of heart issues if he or she isn’t very well or suffers from a medical condition.
Constantly having to get up out of their chairs to answer the door means that the chances of a fall also increases. We suggest the following to help avoid any injuries or scares:
- Plan ahead if you are going trick or treating and only knock on the houses of people who you know are taking part in the celebrations. Visit people who have decorations on their homes or of younger people who can easily get to their door to play along.
- If you know that the people living at a certain house are elderly or frail then you should avoid knocking on their door.
- Only knock once. If there’s no reply then move on to the next house.
- Respect the wishes of the home owner. If they don’t want to take part don’t react by shouting or throwing objects at their home.
Advice for Parents
The majority of children out and about tonight will be accompanied by a parent or other relative. Here are a few tips to help make the night go smoothly, for your children, for yourselves and for the elderly and vulnerable:
- Plan the route and try to visit homes that will be expecting you.
- Make sure that your children don’t run off by themselves.
- Never let children enter a stranger’s house.
- Invite an elderly neighbour or relative to stay at your house.
Halloween Advice for the Elderly
There are ways that the elderly can avoid any unnecessary injuries or scares during Halloween. Here are some hints and tips for the elderly:
- Arrange for friends or family to visit your home on Halloween night.
- Visit your friends and family on the evening.
- Place sweets in a bowl outside your door at the end of your driveway so that you are disturbed or frightened by any loud knocks at the door.
- Take your time in answering the door if you are taking part in the celebrations.
- If you feel frightened or intimidated then call for a friend to visit. If the problem persists then contact the police.
Personal Alarm
A personal alarm system from Careline365 is the ideal solution if you are an elderly, frail or disabled resident – especially if you are living alone. With a pendant around your wrist, or neck, help is always just a push of a button away – day or night.
Our alarms have been designed to be as simple and easy to use as possible. Here at Careline365 you can choose to order your alarm on a Monthly or Yearly Plan – the choice is yours.
To find out more about our system please visit our website or give our team a call for free on 0808 304 4240 today.
We hope that you all enjoy your evening tonight! Let’s celebrate Halloween by having fun and eating many sweet – but whilst also taking care of our elderly and frail residents.
