New Resource for Dementia and Firearm Safety to Prevent Injuries

The new Safety in Dementia website from the University of Colorado School of Medicine's Anschutz Medical Campus is the first comprehensive online resource to help caregivers manage issues related to firearm access and dementia, reports Medical Xpress . "This issue is a big deal for the families and caregivers trying to navigate the best solution for their loved one," said University of Colorado School of Medicine Professor Emmy Betz. The site covers the issues of firearms, along with driving and general home safety. The website walks caregivers through things to consider in deciding how to limit firearm access for persons with dementia, and offers common solutions for safe firearm storage, including at-home and out-of-home options. The tool's driving access resource suggests approaches and solutions for steering conversations and decisions that are difficult for people with dementia. The site also offers general home safety tips and guidance on what caregivers can do in the house to create a safer and more accessible environment for dementia sufferers. Clinicians, psychiatrists, caregivers, assisted living community managers, and others contributed to the site's content. "By developing a public resource, we hope that families and caregivers can have discussions and make decisions before potentially dangerous events occur," said University of Colorado School of Medicine Professor Daniel Matlock.