Holbrook and Amanda DuPont knew they needed to tent their house for termites. But they were also aware of the rash of burglaries that had afflicted Manoa Valley and their own community, St. Louis Heights, in recent months, not to mention the case in which a Makiki home was burglarized while being tented.

And so the DuPonts, both in their late 70s, reconciled the dilemma in the most pragmatic way they knew how: They had the house tented but slept in their van — fully armed — to make sure their possessions were safe.

"We can take care of ourselves," said Holbrook DuPont. "We’re not worried about these sorts of things."

That’s easy for DuPont to say. He’s an expert marksman with some 25 years of Air Force service under his belt. He served during the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts and, for good measure, successfully repelled three kidnapping attempts while stationed in Colombia.

Yet, Captain America credentials aside, Holbrook and his wife are typical of many their age in their resolve to continue living at home, on their own terms, as they grow old.

According to a 2010 AARP survey, some 90 percent of American seniors desire to "age in place." That disposition could have significant consequences as the 80 million-strong baby boomer generation continues to move through seniority. In Hawaii, which already boasts one of the oldest populations in the nation, people age 65 and older are projected to account for 20 percent of the population by 2020 and up to 23 percent by 2030.

The desire on the part of seniors to remain at home as they age appears to be reflected in an awareness of what they will need for that to happen. An AARP survey of 400 Hawaii residents age 50 and older found that 84 percent of respondents considered access to home and community-based services like home health care, personal care, adult day health services and transportation to be either "very important" (45 percent) or "extremely important" (39 percent).

THE DUPONTS SETTLED in their current home in 1977. And home it truly has been, both for the DuPonts and many of the 34 youths they have adopted or fostered over the years. Holbrook DuPont still enjoys the panoramic view from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor, still loves the solitude that allows him and his wife to play piano at all hours of the night without disturbing anyone.

"We will never sell," he says. "I think it’s a good idea for people to move someplace where they can live safely and peacefully when they get older. But this is our home and we’re going to stay here forever and ever."

Still, as police, fire and emergency medical services officials attest, aging in place can be a hazardous proposition without the proper precautions.

"Anybody can be a victim of crime, but seniors are sometimes targeted for things like purse snatching robbery and ID theft because they seem to be more vulnerable," said Fabian Mata, a 24-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department and former coordinator of the department’s Community Policing Team. "Compared to the rest of the population, seniors may be weak and frail, and they will not fight back most of the time. Criminals are smart and they will go after who they think is most vulnerable."

Mata said his own grandmother was once a victim of identity theft after providing personal information over the phone.

Mata said there is much that seniors living alone can do to make it harder for criminals to target them.

"Criminals today are educated, so you have to think like them," he said. "Burglars will do surveillance to learn your habits — who you live with, when you leave home, if you have a dog."

Mata advises seniors to use different routes to and from home. He also said it’s worth the time to park down the street and watch if anyone follows them or tries to approach the home.

Frequent traffic in and out of the home is also a powerful deterrent, Mata said, so it is worthwhile for friends and relatives to visit often.

Mata said home security measures, like trimming back tall hedges or installing sensor lights, can be effective but should not be considered foolproof.

"There is no such thing as a burglar-proof home," he said. "If they really want in, they’ll get in. But you can make it difficult with deadbolts, alarms or a barking dog. It’s also good to advertise your security system or neighborhood watch if you have one."

In addition, Mata encourages seniors to get to know their beat officers and to document any strange occurrences in their neighborhood.

"We have to be vigilant because it’s us against them," he said.

FIRE SAFETY IS ANOTHER significant issue for seniors who choose to live independently.

On July 11, 91-year-old Julia Rezentes and companion Bobby Souza, 70, died in a fast-moving fire that consumed their Palolo Valley home. They were the seventh and eighth Hawaii residents — all either elderly or disabled — to die in house fires in the past two years.

"(Seniors) are a special-risk population for us because they may have impairments, may not be as mobile as others may be, or may not be able to sense things as clearly or immediately as others," said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig. "These things make this group a lot more vulnerable."

In addition, seniors may be more severely impacted by fire-related injuries, Seelig said.

"Because of natural changes with age, they may not have the same ability to withstand stressors," he said. "Their skin may be more delicate and therefore burns may be more impactful. Their respiratory system may not be as strong and their eyes and skin may be more sensitive to heat or chemicals."

Thus, Seelig said, the need for safety precautions is high.

Seelig said installing a smoke alarm system that is equipped with flashing lights and establishing and practicing an escape plan can buy seniors the extra minutes or seconds that could be the difference between exiting a burning home safely and being trapped in fire or overcome by smoke.

Seelig also said that younger family members can help seniors reduce the risk of fire by helping with housekeeping, checking cords and outlets, inspecting the home’s wiring and removing obstacles along escape routes.

"Children can’t just assume that their parents are safe and can take care of things on their own," Seelig said. "They should call and visit regularly, help with planning and watch for signs of slowing down. You don’t want to embarrass them or they won’t tell you when something is important. But a little help can help them to adapt to changes."

As Seelig noted, one of the most important checks family members can perform is for worn carpet, uneven floorboards, low-lying obstacles and other potential tripping hazards.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of death by injury and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma for those age 65 and older. And the likelihood of serious injury due to a fall increases with age. In 2009, adults age 85 and older were injured in falls at a rate four times that of people age 65 to 74.

Falls can have particularly serious consequences for older people. According to the CDC, as many as 30 percent of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries such as lacerations, hip fractures or head trauma, injuries that "can make it hard to get around or live independently, and increase the risk of early death." Most fractures suffered by seniors result from falls.

To reduce the risk of falling, seniors, particularly those who live alone, are advised to exercise regularly for leg strength and balance, be aware of medications that cause dizziness or drowsiness, get regular eye exams, and install grab bars, railings and other walking or rising aids as needed.

To be sure, the potential dangers associated with aging in place extend beyond immediate physical safety.

Bruce Bottorff, AARP Hawaii associate director, said seniors today are more aware of Internet scams, identity theft and similar information- or technology-based crimes than previous generations. Still, criminals continue to target seniors who may be vulnerable due to unfamiliarity with specific technologies or who are socially isolated.

Based on a 2010 survey, the nonprofit Investor Protection Trust estimated that 7.3 million senior citizens nationally had been taken advantage of financially through "inappropriate investment, unreasonably high fees for financial services or outright fraud."

The Hawaii Better Business Bureau last year issued a warning regarding five of the most common scams targeting senior citizens: sweepstakes and lottery scams, Medicare scams, bereavement scams, deceptive professionals, and investment and work-at-home opportunities. The advisory is available at the Hawaii BBB website (hawaii.bbb.org).