For many caregivers of people with dementia, taking away a person’s car keys is one of the tough conversations to have — and guns is another one that many families struggle with.
Earlier this month, an article appeared in the journal, Annals of Internal Medicineabout guns and dementia. It found that while most Americans agree that there should be some restrictions when it comes to people with certain mental illnesses or those on federal watch lists, less attention is being paid to those with dementia.
"Sometimes a family will approach us and say what do we do this person has always been a hunter or always held guns for safety and is it ok for that person to continue to keep those items and how do I have the conversation about getting rid of those things," she Lori Nisson is with Banner Alzheimer’s Institute. "But other times, the family doesn’t even realize it’s an important part of the conversation."
Here’s another consequence of guns and dementia: 91 percent of all gun deaths in older adults are suicide.
