In designing senior living communities, it’s important to ensure the safety and security of residents. These communities provide a home for seniors who may have specific needs, which makes it critical to implement comprehensive safety measures and security guidelines.
By prioritizing safety and security during the design and construction process, senior living communities can create an environment that promotes the well-being and peace of mind of their residents. Creating a safe and secure senior living community involves addressing various aspects of safety, emergency preparedness, and risk mitigation.
Top Essential Safety and Security Guidelines
The following describes the top essential safety and security guidelines to consider when growing and supporting these senior living communities. By applying these guidelines, property managers can ensure that senior residents are provided with an environment that minimizes risks, prevents accidents, and enhances overall security.
1. Access control systems
Access control systems help maintain the security of a senior living community. Implementing secure entry points and controlled access areas helps prevent unauthorized people from entering the building. An access control system manages who can and cannot enter the building and gated entrances, as well as use the elevators.
By restricting access and monitoring entry points, the community can help protect its residents and lower the risk of intruders and unwanted visitors.
2. Emergency preparedness and response
Senior living communities must be well-prepared to handle emergencies effectively. A comprehensive emergency evacuation plan is essential to prepare for disasters and outbreaks. It outlines how to respond to keep the residents safe in the event of a fire, natural disaster, or medical emergency.
To help residents learn how to evacuate safely and the protocols for any kind of emergency, hold regular drills and training sessions. Additionally, add reliable communication systems to ensure a quick response and coordination during emergencies. Communication options include intercoms, emergency call buttons, and alarm systems.
Smoke and fire alarms are standard for buildings. However, people in senior living communities may have disabilities. The emergency plans should list residents who may need extra help. Another valuable tool is to have accessible emergency systems. For example, if the alarm goes off, it should be audible and visual as well as automatically send text and phone messages to residents.
In addition to fire and smoke alarms, integrate fire suppression systems, such as sprinklers and fire extinguishers. Post evacuation routes and clear instructions throughout the building to help residents know where to go during an emergency.
3. Effective lighting
Well-lit pathways, parking areas, common spaces, and around the outside of the building enhance visibility and help deter criminal activity. The same goes for indoor lighting, especially in hallways, stairwells, and common areas, to help prevent accidents.
Brighter lighting isn’t always better. Work with a security specialist to make sure residents have the lighting they require to feel safe moving around the building.
4. Video surveillance with remote monitoring
Many of the senior living community security gaps can be closed with remote video surveillance. A video surveillance system with monitoring can help deter criminal activities and catch safety hazards early before anything happens. Strategically placed security cameras make it possible to monitor the entire property.
For the highest level of security, you should consider utilizing a combination of human monitoring operators and advanced video analytics.
Video analytics takes a load off of the human with its many preprogrammed scenarios. When it encounters a match to one of the scenarios, the system notifies the trained security professional who can assess the real-time situation and take action.
Along with checking for safety hazards, monitoring operators can watch for lighting problems. This is more effective than having to walk the entire property every day to check the lights. All it takes is one broken light to put the property at risk for problems.
They can also help verify that the landscaping remains well-maintained. When landscaping isn’t maintained, it creates hiding spots for criminals.
Video surveillance with monitoring can also include onsite speakers that can be used to warn an intruder they are being watched. This often works to scare unwanted visitors away.
With people coming and going, it could give unauthorized individuals the opportunity to walk in by tailgating or piggybacking. These require educating residents, which would be part of the training. However, they may not always remember.
Video footage from the security cameras can also be used to help protect against liability claims since you will have recordings from any incidents that may occur.
5. Fall prevention and mobility support
It’s standard practice to install handrails and grab bars in bathrooms, hallways, and other areas of senior living communities. These reduce the risk of falls. Use non-slip flooring materials in areas where the floor is likely to get wet, such as bathrooms and kitchens. The property needs a regular review to verify all the mobility supports are in place and identify opportunities for improvements.
6. Personal emergency response systems (PERS)
Personal emergency response systems like wearable alert devices in the form of necklaces or bracelets allow residents to call for help when they fall, have a medical emergency, or encounter an urgent situation. This ensures help is just a button press away. These devices tend to connect to a 24/7 monitoring system that promptly responds to alerts.
7. Secured medication storage
It goes without saying that medications must be secure to prevent unauthorized access and medication errors. Medication management systems like automated dispensers and reminders can help assure residents receive their prescribed medication on schedule.
8. Staff training and background checks
All new employees must undergo thorough background checks and be in the clear before they start working in the facility. Once they’re cleared, they will receive safety and security training. These training sessions cover emergency response procedures, resident safety protocols, and security measures. All employees need to take comprehensive safety and security training at least once a year to prevent complacency and as a refresher.
Ensuring the Safety of Senior Living Communities
Safety and security guidelines are crucial for the well-being and peace of mind of senior living residents. You have options to fortify your senior living community’s safety and security. These eight things will have the biggest impact.
Applying these top security guidelines will help create a safe and secure place for seniors. These provide peace of mind for residents and their loved ones. Considering seniors have unique needs and vulnerabilities, it’s paramount to put in multiple layers of security and safety procedures to cut risks and help prevent accidents.
Creating secure entry points and controlled access areas helps prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the building. Emergency preparedness plans and reliable communication systems lead to swift response and improved coordination during emergencies. Secure medication storage and management systems safeguard residents’ medications, preventing unauthorized access and reducing the likelihood of medication errors.
Effective lighting for indoors and outdoors enhances visibility while discouraging criminal activity. Fall prevention measures, such as handrails, grab bars, and non-slip flooring, lower the risk of accidents and promote resident safety and mobility.
Conducting background checks reassures you that individuals have a clean background that won’t put residents at risk. Providing comprehensive security and safety training helps employees deliver the best quality of care that prioritizes safety and security.
The Value of Integrated Security Systems
Personal emergency response systems coupled with video surveillance monitoring increase the likelihood of catching emergencies early. Video surveillance combined with an access control system can add more layers of security. An integrated security system helps enhance security, mitigate risks, and save on costs.
This is because security systems communicate with each other and work together. Everything is centralized making it possible to stay on top of all security functions in one place. You don’t have to use one system for security cameras and another system for access control. Instead, you combine them as the access control system will add a time stamp to the video for easier tracking of what happened and when it happened.
An integrated security system may contain some or all of the following:
- Security cameras
- Video monitoring
- Video analytics
- Video review and analysis
- Access control
- Audio speaker
What a senior living community needs in an integrated security system depends on its property layout as well as its security and access requirements. When it comes to investing in security solutions for a senior living community, you want a solution that has a positive impact on risk mitigation, revenue growth, and expense management.
To learn more about security for senior living communities, check out this free guide on monetizing security while balancing access, safety and profitability. It will answer your questions about security. To learn more about remote video surveillance and access control, please contact us.
Texas Private Security License Number: B14187.
