| You try not to think about your loved ones | | | | although most come with key override as well. |
| valuables and belongings being at risk for theft | | | | The disadvantages to using electronic keypad |
| while they are residing in an assisted living facility. | | | | safes would be that the resident might not be |
| The harsh reality is that theft is a common | | | | able to remember the code or have the physical |
| occurrence at nursing homes and assisted care | | | | ability to actually push the buttons on the safe. |
| facilities. With staff and visitors frequently coming | | | | Staff could also see the code being entered into |
| and going and having access to resident's rooms, | | | | the safe and therefore gain access as well. |
| it is easy to understand how theft can occur. But | | | | Safes that use only a key to unlock will also aid in |
| how can we prevent theft? Purchasing a safe for | | | | the prevention of nursing home theft. The |
| your loved one can give you the comfort of | | | | advantage would be that there is no code to |
| knowing that their valuables will be safe and | | | | remember and only one way to access the lock. |
| secure. | | | | The disadvantage to this is if the resident were |
| What kind of safe should you look for? There are | | | | to lose the key. The keys could also be stolen or |
| a few options available that would be beneficial in | | | | possibly copied. Two keys are usually issued with |
| an assisted living situation. Biometric safes, or | | | | safes and it would be a good idea to have the |
| fingerprint safes, offer the advantage that there | | | | resident keep one key and you keep the other |
| is no code that the resident will have to | | | | so you will always have a backup if one is lost. |
| remember. Biometric safes also allow greater | | | | Plus, it will diminish the possibility that someone |
| security because only the resident will be able to | | | | else could get a hold of the other key. |
| access the safe, limiting staff issues with theft. | | | | The type of safe you invest in is purely a matter |
| The main disadvantage of biometric safes is that | | | | of preference as there are advantages and |
| these types of safes sometimes have difficulty | | | | disadvantages to each type of safe as previously |
| reading the fingerprints of the elderly, but all | | | | discussed. The situation or conditions that you are |
| biometric safes come with a key override to | | | | faced with will also determine what type of safe |
| avoid being locked out of your safe. | | | | would suite your loved one best. Knowing that |
| Electronic keypad safes would also be | | | | belongings and valuables are safe and secure from |
| advantageous in a nursing home situation. | | | | theft can ease at least some of the worries that |
| Electronic keypad safes offer simple access and | | | | go along with having a loved one in an assisted |
| since you use a code, there is no key to lose, | | | | living facility. |