My mom, who has dementia, has a couple of guns in her home. Concerned about this, a few weeks ago I went in her house while she was away and moved the guns to a different location where I don't think she would think to look for them, tucked under a few rarely used blankets in a closet. It didn't take too long before she discovered that the guns were missing. She lives alone and apparently when she hears any questionable sounds outside she gets one of the guns out. She told me they were missing and was upset that she no longer had anything for protection. She had a scam call the other night with someone trying to scare her into sending them $500. She was understandably upset about it which ramped up her concern about where her guns were and also whether or not someone had gotten in and taken them. She is talking about buying another gun if she can't find these! I looked up the laws in our state for gun ownership and apparently even if you have a dementia diagnosis you can still buy a gun as long as you don't have any type of court order that doesn't allow it, such as guardianship! That is terrifying! I don't want to give the hidden guns back to her but also don't want her to buy another one. Advice is much appreciated.
People are saying to just lock the gun or remove ammo but that still leaves a problem which is the police will not know that the gun isn't loaded or is unable to be shot. If she is pointing a gun at them she could be killed. Another good guy with a gun could come running out after seeing commotion and hearing "gun" and get killed by the police who will arrive with information about an elderly woman trying to chase a man with a gun away. Lots of options in the land of the well armed.
There are lots of people who will tell you it is essential for elderly folks with dementia to have a gun so they can protect themselves from robbers or bears. They will defend the person's right to a gun until the end, no matter how demented the person is. There are people who are legally blind who have been able to get concealed carry permits. There is always someone who wants everyone to have a gun. But this is, imo, very dangerous for the demented elders. They can't make good decisions and the cops and other people can't tell who is the good sane guy with the gun and who is demented. There are just too many variables and it is not safe.
It is not safe for mom to live alone, she is scared so often she is regularly grabbing guns at night. Others have mentioned that she may start a fire by leaving food on the stove, putting something in the microwave for an hour instead of a minute, leaving the water running until it floods the whole house, wandering off into traffic or falling into a ravine. She may invite dangerous people into her home. I would find a way to stop this asap. I hope you have POA.
Disable her car. Literally. Slash the tires.
Then get mother placed in managed care because an elder with dementia should not be living alone.
Because they may have guns in the home.
Or believe they can drive.
Next thing you know, they'll burn the house down thinking they can cook and leaving a pot on the stove.
Or setting the microwave to 60 minutes instead of 60 seconds.
Or flood the house forgetting to turn the water off.
Or 1000 other things you cannot even imagine.
#Truth
But you can get gun locks. I think in many cases you can get them for free.
I will say though inoperable or with a lock if there is a problem and the police come and she has a weapon it would not end well.
Now I have to ask...Is mom living alone?
If so that should come to an end ASAP.
I think you should also get her FOID card revoked. With a diagnosis of dementia her card should not be valid anyway.
Her brother qualified for free home caregivers through the VA but no firearms are allowed in the house if caregivers are sent out.
Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
And she should not be driving. For god's sake take the keys away.
She should not be driving . Take her car away.
I hid my father’s hunting rifle in the attic under things, until I got my mother placed in assisted living after Dad died . Maybe your Mom should not be living alone anymore.
Take the bullets out of the house in the meantime.