Safety Vs. Independence Essay Sample

Elderly people are the victims of many crimes. While it is important for people to remain safe from criminals, it is sometimes difficult to do this without taking away some of their independence. Depending on the type of crime and the health conditions of the elderly person(s) involved, this may not be a problem. However, this could be more challenging for those who are older and have more health issues.
When a person has been a victim of crime, there are many times in which they are able to take the necessary precautions to ensure that similar acts do not occur to them again. For example, if a person’s house is robbed, they may simply need to start locking their door to keep this from happening again. This should not be a problem for many. But for the elderly, they may not remember to do things as simple as locking their door every night.
In cases where it seems as if there is a possibility of victimization from crime, it would be better for the elderly to lose a little of independence, instead of this. Although it is not desirable, it is a necessary step to take to ensure that they are safe and do not get hurt. While people should try to work out ways to enable their elders to keep their freedom, if they are not secure, other techniques need to be created.
For some, it may be determined that they would be better off if another family member could move into their home with them. For others, the best decision may be to have them move into the home of another family member. In other cases, an elderly person could be placed in a retirement home where sometimes, a huge amount of independence can be lost.
There are many issues that need to be taken into consideration to ensure that if possible, the elderly are able to retain their independence. However, their safety is the first thing that needs to be guaranteed.