Home Security

Your home should be a place of safety,

When a caregiver is inside your loved one’s home, strong security measures aren’t optional.

We thought her home was safe, until we learned the neighbor had a set of keys and a garage opener.

He could come and go anytime, and we had no idea. Find out what happened in For All She’s Worth.

Access is power - manage it carefully.
- Know exactly who is walking through the door by tracking every visit and every person who enters the home.
- Limit who can enter and to what spaces they can access.
- Never hand out a key without a plan. Every key or code opens your loved one’s entire world—treat it like a lifeline.
- Use a lockbox with a code you can change instantly so no former caregiver ever has lingering access.
- Assign each person their own code to monitor who entered when.
- Never give a caregiver a garage door opener.
- Cut off access the moment a caregiver’s job ends—don’t assume they won’t return.
- Keep doors locked at all times so your loved one is never exposed to unexpected visitors or unsafe situations.

Monitoring isn’t spying—it’s protecting.
- Put cameras where care actually happens so you can see the truth—not the version someone wants you to believe.
  - Cameras (install interior and exterior cameras preferable with 2-way auditory).
  - Doorbell or entry cameras.
  - Use real-time alerts so you know immediately if something looks wrong or out of routine.
- Choose cameras with secure cloud storage so no one can erase, edit, or tamper with the footage.
- Review videos often—early warning signs can prevent serious harm.
- Logging caregiver arrival/departure.
  - Place a sign-in book at main entrance.
- Install panic button or emergency alert systems.
- Make monitoring known from the start to set clear boundaries and discourage unsafe behavior.

Medication safety is home safety - lock, label, and monitor.
- Keep all medications locked up or out of reach from caregivers, visitors, and vulnerable adults.
- Use a weekly pill organizer only if the person managing medications is trustworthy and consistent.
- Store pills in original labeled containers to avoid mix-ups or tampering.
- Provide a written medication schedule.
  - Have a log book to log who administered the meds and what time.
  - Set strict schedules for administering and refilling medications to prevent overdoses or missed doses.
- Complete routine inventory tracking so misuse can be detected.
- Maintain a current medication list and review it regularly for accuracy.
- Track pill counts and monitor for missing doses or unexplained changes.
- Dispose of expired or unused medications immediately and safely.

Keep money secured—prevent caregiver misuse.
- Caregiver has zero access to wallets, cards, bank accounts or passwords.
- Lock up all wallets, cash, cards in a secure drawer, safe box, or lockable cabinet.
- Keep only the essentials accessible—remove extra credit cards, checkbooks, or large amounts of cash from the home.
- Do regular quick checks to make sure items are still there and nothing has been disturbed.
- Set spending limits for outtings/meals/deliveries.
- Receipts for any shopping or errands should be supplied routinely.
- Conduct routine oversight of all transactions.

Locked valuables mean fewer chances for caregiver theft.
- Document what’s stored and where (a simple list helps you quickly notice if something goes missing).
- Limit who knows the location of valuables—only one or two trusted family members should manage access.
- Store all jewelry and heirlooms in a locked, hard-to-access location (locked box, safe, or off-site storage).
- Remove high-value or sentimental pieces from the home.
- Photograph each item so you have proof of ownership and a record of what should be there.
- Keep an inventory list with descriptions, estimated value, and where each item is stored.
- Limit access completely—no caregiver should ever handle, clean, or “put away” jewelry.
- Do regular quick checks to make sure items are still there and nothing has been disturbed.

Document everything—protect everyone.
- Keep a communications log accessible to family and caregivers with clear expectations for what to report
  - Record of daily care tasks (meals, hygiene, mobility).
  - Track medication times, doses, and any side effects.
  - Note changes in health, behavior, or symptoms.
  - Track pain levels, sleep patterns, or mood.
  - Document falls, incidents, or safety concerns.
  - Caregiver time sheet
  - Log expenses (medical, meals, supplies, groceries etc)
- Review records regularly to spot trends or changes in condition.
- Store logs in a consistent, easy-to-find place (binder, app, clipboard).

Rules regarding what the caregiver can and cannot do:
- Phone use (set boundaries and time limits)
- Visitors (allowing others in the home or on outtings)
- Social media (prohibit photos or posts about your loved one)
- Gift acceptance (set a limit or prohibit)
- Borrowing (money, car, clothes, tools etc.)
- Deliveries (are food or Amazon deliveries allowed)
- Television programs (what is not acceptable, time limits)
- Drinking/smoking/drugs (do not make assumptions that the caregiver is not partaking when they step outside for a break)
- Personal storage (do not allow them to store anything personal items in your home)

Consistently keep an eye on caregiver behavior and watch for early warning signs of potential problems.
- Family check-ins (in-person or virtual)
- Unannounced visits
- Watch for Red Flags of change:
  - Sudden isolation (loved one is receiving fewer visitors, turning away visitors, not accepting phone calls etc.)
  - Mood changes (fear, sadness, lethargy)
  - Weight loss/gain (weigh regularly, note change in clothes fitting)
  - Money missing (check cash locations regularly
  - Medication discrepancies
  - Caregiver discouraging family involvement
  - Caregiver interfering with access