The national conversation around gun safety rarely focuses on those aged 65 and older—the
population with the highest rates of gun ownership, says Katherine Galluzzi, DO, (right) professor and chair of geriatrics at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). To that end, she and Ilene Warner-Maron, PhD, (below) clinical assistant professor,
psychology, recently co-authored an article in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) that explores gun safety among Baby Boomers and older adults.
Existing research shows that roughly 27 percent of people 65 and older own one or more firearms, and 37 percent live in a home with a firearm present. In addition to high rates of gun ownership, this group is also at increased risk for age-related dementia, and Drs. Galluzzi and Warner-Maron say this combination could be deadly for an elderly person or their loved one.
They lay out two case studies in the JAOA article to illustrate their point: in the first, an 80-year-old man with Alzheimer’s shot and killed his caretaker in a state of heightened confusion. In the second, a 72-year-old cancer patient rejected treatment options and committed suicide with his gun.
The authors warn that a lack of policy or mechanisms to address gun safety among the elderly could lead to an increase in suicide and accidental shootings.
“If you suspect that your elderly parent or loved one is in danger of harming themselves or others while driving, you can file a report with the Department of Motor Vehicles, because it’s not reasonable to think they can still operate a car,” said Dr. Galluzzi. “But there’s no counterpart for having weapons in the home.”
Red flag laws—which allow families and law enforcement to petition a judge for temporary
removal of firearms from a person deemed a danger to themselves or others—are one
area to explore, said Dr. Galluzzi, but that those laws should be expanded to include
patients with dementia.
In the meantime, Drs. Galluzzi and Warner-Maron say that physicians, particularly primary care doctors, need to be empowered to have the hard conversations about gun ownership with elderly patients and their families.
“Primary care physicians are truly the front line of this problem, and I would absolutely categorize these conversations as preventive care,” said Dr. Galluzzi.
She noted that conversations can occur during a patient’s “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam, which occurs during the first 12 months a patient is enrolled in Medicare Part B, or during the routine Annual Wellness Visit. In the article, the authors cite a checklist that physicians can use when having those conversations.
Dr. Galluzzi added that families and loved ones also need to start the conversation with their loved one as soon as possible, and to make a plan to ensure the safety of their loved ones is secured.
“These are hard conversations to have—whether it’s taking the car keys away or taking a gun away,” she said. “But having a plan in place sooner rather than later makes it easier to act in a loved one’s best interest when he or she is no longer able to do it themselves.”
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) represents more than 137,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and osteopathic medical students; promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; and is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools.
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