In Stockton the headline reads 'Bed Bugs Infest Senior Apartment'. In Las Vegas it is 'Residents Suffer Smoke Inhalation in Senior Apartment Complex Fire'. One week later, the scary situation repeated itself. This time it was determined that careless smoking may have sparked another similar fire elsewhere in the city, which resulted in the fatality of a senior apartment living resident. In Texas the headline went 'Three-Alarm Fire Prompts Evacuation at Fort Worth Senior Living Apartment Complex'. And all of these headline makers occurred over a mere two-week time period.

Of course, not all of these events were preventable, but they clearly illustrate how important it is for the elderly and their loved ones to do their due diligence when deciding on a senior apartment living situation. Part of the problem is that in almost all of the aforementioned cases, the complexes were low-income ones. And when it comes right down to it, most seniors these days are living on limited budgets.

A lack of funds, however, doesn't mean they have to put their lives at stake by living in senior housing with lax safety protocols. Seniors who think they can't afford apartment living suites that feature all the amenities of home should be aware that many such housing options are federally subsidized under the Housing and Urban Development Section 202 code. That means that seniors aged 62 years and older will not have to bear the full brunt of the cost.

Instead of fearing for their safety, the elderly can enjoy such perks as large, comfortable living spaces, full bathrooms with amenities like grab bars, comfort height toilets and slip resistant flooring to ensure they don't get hurt, and pet friendly communities. A climate-controlled thermostat, Internet, phone, cable, beauty and barber services, group outings and a full suite of kitchen appliances are also often part of the senior apartment living package.

This type of senior apartment living sounds a whole lot more palatable than one in which going to sleep at night is fraught with worry over bug bites and blazes, doesn't it? But in that respect, perhaps the most important consideration for senior apartment living shoppers is the presence of 24-hour security Seniors wellness.

It is an unfortunate fact of today's world that the vulnerable will be taken advantage of. Illness, accident and acts of god aside, seniors also need to be concerned about break-ins, theft and robberies. A round-the-clock security team is their best course of action when it comes to keeping the charlatans and thieves at bay.

If you and your loved ones have come to the conclusion that it is time for assisted or senior apartment living, you owe it to yourself to put your personal protection at the forefront of that decision. The right senior living center will make your health and safety a top priority while helping you maintain your independence. A facility that offers a safe, secure and comfortable environment every single day should weigh in as one of your leading deciding factors. Nothing else is more important.