Richmond Alarm News Blog

Home Security Companies

It is almost Spring in Central Virginia and we are looking forward to the nice, longer days. With the longer days, also come a few hassles, like door knockers. A common scheme of less reputable security companies is for door knockers to pressure you to switch to their home alarm service. The door knockers are also known as “poachers” because they often see a security sign in a yard and use pushy sales tactics to convince home owners that their home security company has gone out of business, so the home owner should now use a new security company. In most cases this is false.

Richmond Alarm Company President, Wayne Boggs received a call from a customer last spring. An elderly woman was a victim of such a scam. Wayne learned that the door knocker convinced the customer RAC had gone out of business, removed her perfectly good alarm system and then smashed it on the floor, rendering it useless. He proceeded to install a new, less functional system and wanted to charge her for services. Thankfully the woman’s adult son got involved and called us to help resolve the matter. The State Department of Consumer Affairs was contacted and Wayne helped find the contact information for the other company. The customer was eventually reimbursed for the cost to have Richmond Alarm replace her system.

Two lessons can be taken from her experience:

1. Do not allow solicitors into your house. All solicitors should have proper identification and a license, but even if they do, we strongly advise residents to keep them out of the home. Allowing a stranger into your home significantly increases the risk you could be a victim of a much more serious crime than fraud. In today’s world it is simply too dangerous to be opening the door to strangers.

2. Don’t believe news delivered to you by a door to door sales person. If they are authentic, they will understand that you want to confirm their information. Ask the sales person to leave a business card and call them back if you are still interested later.  Your alarm company will not just show up at the door without an appointment.

Your local police are always available to help if you are unsure. Contact them immediately if you see suspicious behavior or if you feel threatened.

Caring for elderly parents can be a challenge, but Richmond Alarm Company has a simple solution to help you care for the ones you love without the pain and trouble of relocation. Utilizing the Total Connect system from Honeywell, combined with personal monitoring devices, Richmond Alarm can help you keep a watchful eye on aging or disabled family members, even when you are away from home.

How It Works

Remote Security Monitoring

This system can alert you when someone enters the home. Upon entering, a picture can be taken and sent to your mobile web-enabled devices such as your smartphone, iPad®, or laptop immediately. You can also receive images from cameras placed anywhere in the home at any time. This feature is especially helpful if your loved one is receiving in-home care, as you'll be notified immediately when they arrive. The remote monitoring features can also be integrated into existing security systems.

Personal Home Monitoring

Falls within the home, particularly involving stairs and showers, are a major concern when caring for an aging family member. Richmond Alarm's personal monitoring device allows the individual to simply press a button on a pendant worn around their neck, wrist, or clipped onto a waistband to call emergency services as well as alert you and, if necessary, your neighbors. Monitoring centers are local to help insure the quickest response to any emergency need.

The Benefits

The elderly tend to do better, have a better standard of living and are happier, in their own homes. While it is not possible for everyone to grow old in their own homes, for those who can, it is a comfort and a blessing. The biggest concerns for family members are typically issues of safety. These systems, especially when combined, can help family members, however distant, keep a watchful eye on their aging parents or loved ones. More information about helping the elderly age in place can be found on the AARP website.

Monitor Your Home or Business from Anywhere

When you are away from home, wouldn’t it be nice to instantly see what is going on there? Total Connect Services gives you access. Through your web enabled mobile device you can see in real time:

• When someone arrives at your home or business
• Employee performance
• Child, parent or pet activities
• Caregiver attention
• Activity that triggers motion sensors

Using an app for your mobile device, you can control your Honeywell security system from anywhere, and receive text messages of notifying you of important events in and around your home or business. Contact Richmond Alarm and we'll get you started.

The risk of accidental falls increases for seniors over 65

Do you remember the commercial, with the lady who fell and couldn’t get up? Those of us who grew up in the 1980’s have laughed at it over and over.  But now, we have older parents who live alone and we worry about them, and that commercial isn’t so funny anymore.  We need something to let us know if mom or dad has fallen, but more importantly have someone call if medical help if needed.  A study on the National Institute of Health (NIH) website says, “In the United States one in three people aged 65 or older, living in the community, fall at least once a year. This proportion increases to one in two for those over 80 years old.”

Shelly from Mechanicsville Virginia shared this with us:

Recently, my aunt fell. She is 80, and lives alone. She has family nearby and they check on her regularly but unfortunately she fell when there were not scheduled to visit.  She was stuck on the floor - hurting, cold, and unable to move - for an entire weekend.  Despite the family’s best efforts to keep in contact with her, we missed the opportunity to help her when she needed it. We couldn’t have prevented the fall, nor the heart condition at the root of the problem, but we could have prevented her discomfort and loneliness.

Why didn’t we give her a personal emergency monitor?  No one wanted to TELL her she was getting old, her health was failing and that we worry about her.  As it turns out, she knew it and had been thinking about getting a monitoring device.

Monitoring Solutions from Richmond Alarm

Does your elderly loved-one live alone?  A personal emergency response system (PERS) could be the peace of mind you need.  Necklace pendant, belt clip, or wristwatch style transmitters can signal the need for assistance from anywhere in the home. Systems start at $175 installed and $40 per month.  The necklace pendant can even be worn in the shower where many falls occur.

Contact Richmond Alarm for more information on the Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) solutions we offer, and give yourself and your elderly relative’s peace of mind.