HOW SENIOR CITIZENS CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR HOMESWritten by Rick Etheredge
There is no doubt that crime affects all of us in one way or another. Crime statistics show that all ages will face possibility of violence, burglary, assault or something similar at some time in their lives.Personal protection and self-defense are stressed in media. There are numerous personal safety products and videos on market; opportunity to protect yourself exists. We market these products and ideas to young adults, families and especially to women. However, there is one group whom we seem to have forgotten. These people perhaps need self-defense products as much as or more than above groups. I’m referring to grandparents, senior citizens and widows. This group faces same dangers as rest of us. Too, many of them are caregivers and/or guardians for their grandchildren. When their adult children stay at home or move back to parents’ home, possibility exists that there will be a clash between two generations. Some form of violence or abuse could occur. Many senior citizens live alone. They all deserve same protection as anyone else. Yet they have not adequately been made aware of what is available for personal and home protection. I can make these observations because I am a member of that group. I am a grandparent and a senior at 60 years young. Yes, I market self protection products, so I quickly saw that demographics were targeted to 19-45 year olds. I believe we need to rethink this because too many senior citizens simply don’t know what is available to protect them and their peace of mind. I also feel that I can speak from experience about issue. My mother was sexually assaulted and beaten in her own home by 2 guys who were high on dope and alcohol. She was 85 at time and had nothing to protect her—no mace, no pepper spray, no stun gun. She lived eight months after that incident. My late mother-in-law was a widow and lived by herself in her own home. She was constantly fearful of sounds at night, her neighborhood and bad element that cruised up and down her street. She knew nothing about self-defense products; her peace of mind was always affected.
| | HELP YOUR CHILD HELP YOUR COMMUNITYWritten by Rachel Goldstein
As a parent, you probably want to guide your child to become a healthy and ethical adult. How can you lead your child to a healthy future? What kind of activities can you do together as a family that will steer your child towards becoming a compassionate adult? Community service and Volunteerism are your answer. Not only will you show your child that it is “cool” to care for others, but it will also be a wonderful way to meet new people and possibly land scholarship money for college.How do I get my child involved? Below are some ways to get your children motivated to want to help. Avoid bribing and coercion, mission is to get your child enthusiastic about helping others. 1.What do my parents do? – Children learn by example. If your child sees you volunteer, they will be more likely to want to volunteer as well. It is also a great idea to involve your child in your own volunteering experience. 2.Find a meaningful activity – Each child has interests that can be converted in a great volunteering experience. If your child is interested in art, match them up with an art charity (http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org). If your child is interested in homelessness, match your child up with a homeless shelter. Once your child is matched with right project, your child will encounter a rewarding experience that he or she will always remember. 3.Involve friends and family – It might be easier to involve your child if a friend is also involved. Some children might be shy and will want a peer to help soften experience. Also, with a friend, project becomes more special and enjoyable. 4.Meaningful conversation first – It might be a good idea to watch news together and see what sparks your child interest. Sometimes seeing less fortunate people and suffrage can spark a child into wanting to volunteer. Also, bring up social issues and discuss them with your child.
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