Feeling safe and secure is a basic human need. If we don’t feel safe, we can’t feel comfortable and relaxed in our home, enjoy the company of others or feel confident to go out and about in our community.
Whether you are a disabled adult, have a long-term illness or condition, or you are an older person, it’s important you feel safe at home, in your local area and with the people around you.
There are things you can do to improve your safety immediately. For example, Wales’s three fire services provide free home safety visits and you may be eligible for free smoke alarms. You might also consider getting a carbon monoxide alarm fitted.
If you’re worried about falling at home or you sometimes forget to turn off the taps, there is now technology to help you stay safe. For example, a community alarm system lets you call for help if you fall and there are sensors that will tell someone if you have left your taps running (flooding risk) or there is smoke in your home (fire risk).
The people around us play a big part in whether we feel safe or not. Healthy relationships and friendships have a beneficial effect on our well-being and our safety.
You need to feel safe with the people around you. If someone is hurting you or frightening you or making you do things you don't want to do, you should tell someone you trust so they can stop them.
Some adults are more at risk of abuse than others, for example, older people or someone with learning difficulties. If you need help to speak out and make your concerns known, you might want to find someone to speak out on your behalf.
Finally, if you’re worried about safety in your local area, find out if there’s a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme. You’ll feel much safer if you are doing something to help improve matters.