Do you live alone?

This is something that concerns me too. DH has had a spell in hospital recently, and for the first time I have been 'home alone'. We always set our alarm at night, lock the door and use the security chain. Our house is like Fort Knox. If someone like the emergency services needed to get in, they would find it extremely difficult. However, I don't feel safe without the security measures. I don't know what the answer is.

After I broke my ankle and had surgery in 2009, social services fitted what is called a "keysafe" beside my front door on the wall. It needs a 4 digit security code to open and certain people know the code. There is a house key inside.

When I broke my ankle the security chain was on the door and the key in the lock. I could not reach any of them and the ambulance team obviously needed to gain admittance.

I had to struggle to get the key out etc and then passed the key through the cat flap. Since then I never leave a key in the door.

If keysafe is googled they are easy to find and also fit, not costing a fortune.

When my mother still lived in her own flat we put a 'key safe' on the outside wall. We gave everyone the code - carers, police, doctor, emergency services etc and it nearly always worked well. The biggest problem was if someone forgot to put the key back. We did have to remove her security chain as she had vascular dementia and sometimes did odd things ! On the few occasions when she fell and was unable to get up she used her 'medal' (what she called her alarm pendant) and the paramedics were able to get in quickly.
If you were in need of a paramedic you may not be able to throw a key down to them.
If you do decide on an alarm pendant it is important that you wear it ALL the time. An elderly neighbour of mine had one but just put it 'within reach'. It was totally useless and consequently as I was her first responder I was never called even when I should have been. We never did persuade her to wear it.

Crossed posts - great minds think alike Charleygirl !

Do get a key safe Elrel

Getting a key safe and a pendant alarm is definitely the way to go. If you press the alarm the responder will call 999 if necessary and you don't need to worry about keys etc.

Many thanks, everyone!
Pendant - definitely.

I hesitate slightly about the key safe because a couple of nights ago I, and at least half a dozen near neighbours, had an odd form of vandalism. Another nearby area has apparently had a similar incident? The tops of our doorbells were broken off so the bells are useless. These are simple plastic doorbells, nothing with metal worth selling, a mindless act of annoyance! I'll check out key safes but need to be sure that, should these idiots return, they would not be able to access my key.

Again, thank you all, how very supportive Gransnet can be!

You can always site the key safe on a side wall that is nit directly visible from the front - as long as all the relevant people know where it is. It might be less of an invitation to vandals.

Nit??

Some key safes are much better than others. I wonder if you might need to clear it with your insurance company as well; I know a lot of people use key safes but insurances companies are far too happy to invalidate policies for the slightest thing.

Elrelsimilar happened here. The local delinquent aged around 9 went around our houses apparently with a screw driver trying to remove doorbells. Unfortunately I have a video entry system so it cost me money to repair. He also had a go at the keysafe but I told him he could be electrocuted if he interfered with it and so far that has worked. I appreciate you do not know your vandals, I know mine!

Funny you should mention this, because I've been worrying about it recently. So, I have told my neighbours where the spare key is hidden, and given my son's phone numbers to them also. It has begun to occur to me that I could be very ill, or even dead, in here for ages before anyone would realise.
I'm not really happy about key-safes as I know someone who had theirs vandalised.

I worry about this too. I've felt unwell a few times on the night and wondered what would happen if I die. Now I pull the back door key back so that it only just stays in the keyhole, which enable door to be opened from the outside, but the only person with a key is my sister who lives 8 miles away. I think I'll have to get a keysafe but I have reservations, I'm sure I've heard some poking around outside at night, but it could have been a cat. I only have a small back yard and both my neighbours have security lights which illumine my garden as soon as I step outside, so it should be safe.

There are a number if types of key safes, some are remarkably robust so I would imagine they're pretty difficult to vandalise.
Do you have a Bobbyvan service where you live? The police run it and provide free advice on safety and security at home. It might be worth booking a visit?

Age Concern fitted a keysafe for free several years ago for my mum. Its outside and although not in plain sight its easily accessible when pointed out. Of course that requires someone to be around to point it out but let's hope your emergencies aren't that serious.

Again, many thanks, I appreciate all your thoughts and suggestions and sympathise with everyone who has concerns for themselves or their family members.

Luckygirl - sadly, no side wall as I live in a terrace.
Loopylou - will check Bobbyvan
Tegan - will ask insurance , especially as it's soon due for renewal.
Charley girl - not, I would have thought, a very satisfying form of vandalism!
As he's so young I wonder whether it's possible to appeal to his parents. I'm impressed by your 'electrocution' line - long may he believe it!

As for the doorbell vandalism - it is classified as criminal damage and is worth reporting on 101.

I don't live alone, but if I did, would always leave the keys out of the doors,
Keep the phone by the bed, and have a neighbour I trusted with a key.

When I was newly widowed I worried about this sort of thing but my confidence has grown. However, my closest friend, who lives in my village, and my son and his partner have keys. I pull my front door key almost out but still resting in place so that they can get in.

A nearby phone either landline or mobile makes one feel secure.

peaches47 you should really remove your key from the lock because somebody with a stick could dislodge it via your letter box and gain entry. The key should not be left in the hall either.

Rosesarered - my neighbour who keeps my key is very kind, takes in deliveries, let's in workmen and picks up my post from the floor when I'm away. He's older than I am and I was aghast at the thought that the paramedic would have to disturb him to get in. I also wasn't aware that he puts drops in his eyes at night which didn't help whendisturbed in the early morning! He's got over it now and has regained his sense of humour I'm delighted to say!

Sorry to burst the key "safe" bubble but there are dozens of YouTube videos on how to "jimmy" them.

This one is for a padlock but the same applies to keysafes:

m.youtube.com/?gl=GB&hl=en-GB#/watch?v=PFMLD6SonZg:

Instead of a key safe why not have a keypad entry system?

That way you can give the 4-digit code to neighbour/relatives and the emergency services if you call them.

Yes, you would have to choose your neighbour with care! I don't fancy the keysafe option though.

Feeling insecure in a large house, I moved to a retirement complex where all the apartment have a safety system to alert a central control. Paramedics can be summoned by them and given the code to enter the main front door and key safe code for the master key. I sleep securely and I like living here.