“Get trained with pepper spray, taser, whatever is legal...”
As a senior citizen, who has had to use a cane on occasion for some time, I strongly recommend carrying a walking stick at all times, and studying any of the many schools of stick fighting. In fact, study more than one of them. Unlike the self defense weapons mentioned above, one’s cane is always to hand, instead of having to be reached for and deployed. Moreover, since a cane is an aid for disability before it is a weapon, you don’t have to ‘escalate’ at all, you would just be using what is legally at hand to protect yourself.
Training to use a cane for self-defense as you suggested is a good idea if you must carry one anyway for health reasons. I’d only add that if you can deal with the extra weight, a heavy-duty steel “bariatric” cane costs little and will give you a heftier stick with which to beat thugs about the head and deprive them of breath and consciousness.
The one I bought myself, the Medline Bariatric Cane Model MDS86420XW, ran about $20 from Walmart. The latter source no longer has it in stock, but you can apparently find these canes without difficulty on eBay and at stores like Home Depot. If you acquire this cane, you’ll probably want to find a more comfortable alternative to or supplemental cover for the hard synthetic handle.
Thanks. A cane is a great option, especially for anyone wanting to do defensive exercises.
>> I strongly recommend carrying a walking stick at all times, and studying any of the many schools of stick fighting.<<
Personally I feel much safer relying on my gun.