Planning can help gun owners age safely

The Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center (HIPRC) has created a new online resource to help older adults with cognitive impairment draw up a plan for safekeeping of firearms.

Older adults with dementia and other cognitive conditions are at increased risk of unintentional injury and suicide by firearm, says Laura Prater, an acting assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

“A lot of people in this country enjoy using firearms. They value them (and) they use them to create a social connection with their peers,” she said. “Being a responsible firearm owner means storing your firearms safely so that you, your loved ones and anyone visiting your home are safe."

[Download video soundbites of Dr. Laura Prater discussing the issue.]

Nearly 40% of adults in Washington state age 65 and older live with a firearm in the home, comprising about 410,000 individuals, according to a study published in 2019 by the center’s researchers. Of these adults, only about 1 in 3 reported that they stored all their firearms locked and unloaded, and 1 in 4 said they kept at least one firearm in the home loaded and unlocked. 

At HIPRC, the Firearm Injury & Policy Research team has created a website focused on firearm safety for older adults with early cognitive changes.  It provides information about dementia, early warning signs of cognitive impairment, and links to guidance on how to start the conversation about firearm safety. There's also information about safe firearm storage and public policies aimed at preventing firearm injuries.

Firearm safety is particularly important among older adults because depression and cognitive impairment are common in this population, Prater said. The conditions increase risk for unintentional injury and suicide. Nationally, 91% of firearm deaths among older adults are caused by self-inflicted wounds.

It is possible to reduce firearm risk by openly discussing safety with the older adult and drawing up a plan for guns' safe management, Prater said. Planning can start early, ideally before the onset of cognitive impairment.

This project received funding from the state of Washington and the National Institute on Aging (1R21AG076362-01).

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