Aug. 7: Calcutta's support system for the elderly misses the safety mechanisms that a growing population of senior citizens living alone needs.

In a city that continues to lose its young to better career opportunities outside, many elderly people don't have their children around when an emergency strikes. This means they are dependent almost entirely on domestic workers or neighbours and sometimes even strangers, leaving them vulnerable to crime.

Metro draws up a checklist for senior citizens to include in their survival kit.

Don't forget the police helpline

Dialling the police helpline 100 in an emergency will connect you to the nearest police headquarters.

Save emergency contacts on speed dial

• Make sure you have a few numbers on speed dial. If you need immediate help and do not have time to share your address and/or give directions, speed dial could be the saviour. Unlike normal calls where a contact has to be fetched from your saved list, speed dial will get you connected to the person in one click. It could be a relative or a neighbour - anyone who is able to reach you at the earliest.

• It is advisable to save the local police station's number on your phone.

Connect with groups for the elderly

Senior citizens can register themselves with different projects initiated by the police. Pronam (Calcutta police), Sajhbati (Bidhannagar police) and Shroddha (Howrah police) provide assistance and companionship to elderly citizens in areas under their jurisdiction.

You can enrol for these programmes over the phone -

• Pronam (Calcutta jurisdiction): Dial 2419-0740 or go through the Bondhu App (available for Android on Google Play)

• Sajhbati (Bidhannagar): Call 9748898933

• Shroddha (Howrah): Call 9073673838 (8am to 8pm)/ 9073343247 (8pm onwards)

Know your domestic help

• While hiring a domestic help or a nurse from a nurse centre, ask the person to deposit a photocopy of his/her identity document.

• Tell the recruit that you will get identity details verified by the local police station.

• Click a photograph of the person and convey the message that you can easily track him/her.

Share details with police

• If your area is within Calcutta police's jurisdiction, you can seek their help to verify the personal particulars of your domestic help.

• Calcutta police will also do a background check if you register online through its website and click on the "Police Clearance Certificate" option. But the service is not free.

Prepare for medical emergency

Keep the ambulance helpline of the nearest hospital at hand.

Install a burglar alarm

• Burglar alarms are easily available in the market.

• Burglar-proof locks can also be used to secure entry and exit points. If tampered with, the alarm embedded in the lock goes off.

Get CCTV cameras

• A CCTV system no longer costs a fortune; so use one along the perimeter of your house.

• Get infrared cameras that can "see" at night.

Ensure proper illumination

• For standalone houses, try and install high-power overhead lights to keep all four corners illuminated.