Citation

Pinholt EM, Mitchell JD, Butler JH, Kumar H. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 2014; 62(6): 1142-1146.

Affiliation

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jgs.12836

PMID

24898055

Abstract

An important ethical and safety concern that geriatricians, primary care providers, and home health professionals need to address is gun ownership by elderly adults. Those aged 65 and older now have the highest rate of gun ownership in America, and they also have a high prevalence of depression and suicide. Dementia can add additional layers of risk. Even older gun owners who are otherwise intellectually intact may benefit from information about gun safety with the increasing numbers of children being cared for by grandparents. Health professionals should ask patients, "Is there a gun in the home?" in the clinic and during home visits. Healthcare professionals must have knowledge and skills to address safe gun ownership in elderly adults. The 5 L's (Locked, Loaded, Little children, feeling Low, Learned owner) will assist professionals in addressing all aspects of safe ownership.

Language: en