In this day and age, with people living longer, chances are you or someone you know is helping to care for an elderly parent or family member. It is a situation that many of us here at Whitaker Brothers, myself included, are very familiar with.

  Naturally we want to do everything we can to make their days as stress-free as possible.   As one gets older it’s very easy for paperwork to accumulate. My own grandmother who lived well into her eighties, saved years and years of bank statements, tax returns, old medical documents, not to mention personal items such as cards and letters from loved ones. Sorting through all those items can be a daunting task not only for the person it belongs to but for the family as well.  It’s easy to just want to box up all of that unwanted paper and toss it out by the curb, which can make your loved ones prime targets for identity theft.  In fact, identity thieves look for just that scenario.

An added threat for seniors is the potential for medical identity theft. By stealing a person's medical ID thieves can scam insurance companies and medical providers out of money and services which in turn could deny your loved one the care that they need or even possibly alter their medical records.

A personal shredder is the best defense against having your loved one’s private information falling into the wrong hands.  At Whitaker Brothers, we offer several shredders that are perfect for home use. Here are a few that we highly recommend.

Royal HD 180MX Handles up to 18 sheets of paper at once Shreds paper clips, staples, credit cards and even CDs Large 8 gallon collection bin with basket full alarm Built in casters for easy room to room portability What we like: Sturdy and well built but still easy to use and portable. Good value for the money.

Fellowes 79ci Silent Shred TM technology provides ultra-quiet performance 100% Jam Proof System eliminates paper jams SafeSense® Technology automatically stops shredding when hands touch the paper opening Quality construction What we like: Quiet and long running and virtually jam resistant.  Stands up to years and years of accumulated paperwork. Safe and easy to use and empty.

Destroyit 2360   Lifetime warranty on cutting heads Energy Saving Sleep Mode Eco-Friendly Reusable Plastic Shred Bags Multi-Function “Easy Switch”   What we like: Easy to use, built in photocell automatically turns on machine when it senses paper. Easy to read backlit display, well built wood cabinet with casters makes it attractive and portable.