Cognitive impairment doesn\u0027t necessarily preclude safe gun ownership — but doctors aren\u0027t trained to discuss these issues with families.
in the international literature has conclusively shown that access to firearms increases the risk of suicide and that a reduction in such access reduces that risk.. Among people who made near lethal suicide attempts, 24 per cent took less than five minutes between the decision to kill themselves and the actual attempt, and 70 per cent took less than one hour. Using a gun to attempt suicide is particularly lethal with at least a 90-per-cent success rate as compared to other methods.
There are, potentially, a lot of homes in Canada faced with the difficult situation of caring for a loved one with dementia, and in which firearms are readily accessible. This places the loved one, the family and the community at risk.
A diagnosis of cognitive impairment or dementia does not necessarily preclude the safe ownership of a firearm, but in cases where a person with dementia experiences significant behavioural changes such as aggression or paranoia, then it probably is time for the firearms to be removed from the home. Health professionals are of little help in this regard as they are not generally taught to incorporate discussions around firearm ownership as part of a health promotion strategy.