Risk Reporter for Senior Living Communities

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Protection (public spaces)

Outdoor security 101: 5 upgrades every senior living center should consider

Here are five simple, but important, upgrades you can make to help ensure the safety of your staff, residents, visitors and volunteers.

1. Consider your foliage. Keep all bushes around your buildings trimmed so people cannot hide behind them.
    
2. Locks. Eliminate easy access into your buildings by locking all doors and windows when not in use, and any roof hatch access points. Have people enter and leave through one main entrance door that can be monitored. Require all visitors and vendors to check in at the main reception area.
    
3. Keep track of your keys. Keep a record of who has keys and keycard access and review it regularly. Rekey your locks if a key is lost or not returned when there is a turnover in staff.
    
4. Lighting. Keep interior lights on in the common areas throughout the night, for residents’ safety and to deter outside threats.
   
   Also consider your facility’s outdoor lighting. It’s an essential part of adding security around your building and grounds. Ample lighting in the right places makes intruders less likely to choose your building. The parking lot and street entrances should also be well lit.
    
5. Invite the community to get involved. If possible, start a Neighborhood Watch program within your local community. Neighbors look out for one another. Ask your local police or sheriff’s department about how to get started.

Did You Know?

PROPERTY PROTECTION RESOURCES

Church Mutual recommends our partner Insight Worldwide for pre-employment hiring assessments to help ensure the safety and security of your senior living communities. Log on to www.insightww.com or call 888-314-8908 for more information. Tell them you’re a Church Mutual customer to enjoy special discounts.
 

"In the common areas, the greatest lighting concern is often the aesthetic appearance of the fixture. However, in the apartments (in an independent living senior facility), it’s important to understand residents’ sight issues and to design and provide proper light levels to help elderly residents see better with less glare."

— Jay Massa
Kenall Manufacturing, which produces impact- and vandal-resistant lighting products, www.kenall.com

Editor: Amy M. Kimmes akimmes@churchmutual.com

Risk Control Advisor: Edward A. Steele, CSP, ARM esteele@churchmutual.com