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Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing

Published on: January 24, 2020

Current considerations about the elderly and firearms.

Brian Mertens¹, Susan B Sorenson

¹Health and Societies program, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

American Journal of Public Health

|March 7, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Older adults own firearms at high rates and have the highest firearm suicide rates. Cognitive and physical changes in seniors can impact safe gun handling, posing risks, especially for those with dementia.

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Area of Science:

Public Health
Gerontology
Firearm Safety

Background:

Over 17 million adults aged 65+ in the US own firearms.
This demographic exhibits the highest rates of firearm suicide.
New firearms are marketed towards older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the public health implications of firearm ownership among older adults.
To highlight risks associated with firearm access in the elderly population.
To consider the impact of cognitive and physical changes on firearm safety in seniors.

Main Methods:

Review of existing data on firearm ownership among older adults.
Analysis of suicide rates by firearm in the elderly population.
Discussion of cognitive and physical factors affecting safe firearm use.

Main Results:

Older adults have the highest firearm suicide rates.
Cognitive decline (e.g., dementia) increases risks for individuals and caregivers.
Market trends show new firearms designed for the elderly.

Conclusions:

Firearm access for older adults presents significant public health concerns.
Cognitive and physical changes necessitate careful consideration of firearm safety in this demographic.
The growing elderly population warrants attention to firearm policies and safe storage practices.