The house keys were on another bunch – some of them were marked with Dymo. FSD meant ‘front screen door’, FD was the front door, and BD was the back door. As well there was a number of other keys for which we have not found doors or locks.
At the front door there was a security screen door (FSD), and a timber door with two locks. One was the one for FD, but the other did not have a key, and pity help anyone who accidentally turned the knob at the back of the door locking it. Which is what either he or mum did at one stage, and one can see the scratches where he tried to cut the glass window to get in. (I’ve never understood why he didn’t just smash the window – if he was going to break it anyway.....)
Also there are keys to each window, and each door. Some keys are ‘hidden’ on tops of wardrobes – and yes, he locked his wardrobe, though to be fair it was the only way the doors remained shut. It had no other device to keep the door closed.
In a way it indicates to me the concern for their own security that my parents had. But they were ‘over the top’ – and it did in the end, risk their own security.
Mum, as her dementia progressed, became increasingly confused – and agitated by it all. Dad on the other hand focussed on their security with a passion and determination that was worrying. When there was a murder (and I think still unsolved) just a few streets away, he was especially concerned. There are bolts on gates, padlocks, and yes, of course more keys.
Dad was also ‘tight’ with his money. The idea of having some locks ‘keyed alike’ would have been a challenge to him. It cost less to copy a key or keys, than to have some ‘keyed alike’, so that was his choice.
My sister and I, and I am sure others, were concerned should there be a fire. It would not be easy to unlock all the doors to escape – and I am aware that this has been an issue with other people in such emergencies.
Perhaps we need a government program to assist families, especially older or at risk families or individuals with security.
Another issue I am aware of is the smoke alarm issue. Certainly I agree that we should all have them – but I know there are issues, especially as the batteries run down. So many older or frail people have challenges with them, especially changing the batteries. You need someone with a ladder, and the ability to climb the ladder to change the battery if it is correctly placed on the ceiling!!!! So, sometimes, people make bad choices about these alarms – either disconnecting them permanently or not putting new batteries in correctly. I know Dad changed all the batteries in February this year, as all have labels on them, written in his favourite red ink, giving the date the batteries were changed. I am not sure if this 91 year old was the one that changed the batteries, climbing on a ladder to access the alarms on the ceiling!
So sad. Can someone invent an easier way to keep these alarms fully operational without risking life and limb? Can we have a program to assist families to be secure at home, without having bunches of keys? I would guess that in all there are at least 30 keys in use in my parents unit. Bizarre!!!
(I must say that in 2008, when my husband was mowing the lawn, someone sneaked into the house, which was not locked, and took phone, wallet, camera etc, he went overboard with security, and I needed two keys to get out of the house!!! I was not happy!!!)
I am finding it interesting looking closer inside cupboards, and inside the life that my parents lived in this unit for so many years. They refused to accept much advice from their daughters – quite touchy really as the place was really in need of some extra TLC!
No comments:
Post a Comment