Millions of Older Americans Own Guns, Leaving Caregivers to Worry About the Risk

A University of Washington (UW) study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that about a third of older adults who own guns do not store their firearms in the safest way, reports KERA News . In addition, 91 percent of firearm deaths from this demographic are caused by self-inflicted wounds. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have some type of safe storage ordinance requiring guns to be locked up. Seniors are at a higher risk of developing cognitive issues and medical conditions like dementia or depression, which means a gun presents risks for its owner and any visitors. Medical professionals recommend doctors talk with seniors often about safety risks, including firearms. UW's Ali Rowhani-Rahbar says the medical community should find more validated screening tools to identify the relationship between gun access and declining health as people age. "I think the majority of reasonable individuals would agree that if somebody has very mild, cognitive impairment, there would be some questions, such as, 'Is there access to firearms?'" he notes. "And, are their plans, that if this gets worse — then the firearm could be stored with someone else, potentially."