Senior Tips for Safe Shopping

Smart shopping does not always just mean getting the best return on your dollar. In fact the most important aspect of "smart shopping " for seniors today is probably better described as safe shopping. Most seniors like to do shopping of any kind. But for seniors, going out shopping always presents certain security risks. For seniors who love to go to the mall or even enjoy a simple jaunt to the grocery store, these senior tips for safe shopping are worth reviewing.

1.Shop during the daylight hours Young people shop whenever they want, morning, afternoon or evening, it seems to make no difference. But the aging process has presented a few more obstacles for seniors who love to shop. Seniors no longer see as well in the dark which means driving, finding your car and simply moving about in a parking lot become more of a challenge. Darkness seems to add another dimension of disorientation for seniors who don't hear as well or react as quickly as they might have twenty years ago.

Many seniors are retired which means they clearly have the option to shop during the daylight hours. Less crowds, better visibility , less disorientation, better driving conditions are all factors pointing to the first and perhaps most important senior tip for safe shopping: shop during the daylight hours.

2. Shop with someone Whenever possible seniors should plan to shop with someone else. Whether you go with a neighbor, a relative or on a senior excursion, shopping with someone else means that now someone else is aware of your situation, where you are and what you are doing. If you should become ill, disoriented, take a fall, lose your wallet, can't find your car or suddenly become panic stricken you are not alone. Someone can help you get through whatever difficulty presents itself. You will enjoy your shopping more with this feeling of security.

If it is not possible to shop with someone else, then it is a good senior tip for safe shopping to make sure to let someone else know where you are going shopping and at approximately what time you will return. Your neighbors or children will be glad you did.

3. Park near your final shopping destination It's a good senior tip for safe shopping to remember to park your car as close to your final shopping destination as possible, especially if you are shopping at a mall. By the end of the shopping trip you will be at your most tired. Parking the car near this spot means that when you complete your shopping for the day you have only a short distance to take yourself to your car.

4.Make sure your car is easy to distinguish Perhaps when you were younger you had the experience of almost getting into the wrong car, because it looked so much like your own. When you were younger it was funny. For seniors coming out of a mall after a morning of shopping it is important to be able to find your car with ease. This may mean attaching some type of identifiable ornamentation to your car, inside or out, that will help you to be sure you are headed towards the correct vehicle.

It is also helpful when you park you car to make a note ( an actual written note that you keep in your pocket) that tells you in which section or row of the parking lot you have parked. If you have a panic button on your car or other sounding device, use it! Wandering around the parking lot looking for your car is a very dangerous thing to do. If you still have trouble finding your car, the safe thing to do is to go back into the mall and ask in the first store for directions to mall security. They will assist you in finding your car. That's why they are there.

5. Bring a cell phone For many seniors cell phones are tools of a different generation. But the truth is one of the best senior tips for safe shopping is to have a cell phone with you whenever you go. The cell keeps you in touch with anyone and everyone. Having trouble with the car, going to be late getting home, want directions to a store, the cell is your helper.

For seniors however there is absolutely no point at all to bringing a cell phone with you as a safety device when you go shopping unless you can operate the cell without difficulty. It is likely that if you need to call someone you may be slightly anxious, this can make it difficult to operate unfamiliar equipment. Practice using your cell until it becomes second nature and then make sure to bring it with you on every shopping trip.

Seniors shouldn't feel stuck at home or in their apartments. There is a great world of shopping out there for physically capable seniors. But to take the worry and anxiety out of shopping consider following these senior tips for safe shopping .