JWF III
Member
God bless you. My mom passed away in 2017, and had been suffering from dimension for 5 or 6 years. It’s a hard thing to watch. Prayers for you and your family.
Wyman
Wyman
Take the firing pins, not the guns. My dad went through dementia, but never fully lost his memory before passing.You better hope no one breaks in....I would be pissed if I went for my gun and it had the firing pin removed when it was needed against a push in robbery. Quite common as of late. You would never forgive yourself. If he never goes near them then just let them be. Taking out the firing pins of both is super easy.
Always better safe than sorry no matter the feedback.Very sorry for your issue.
It brings back unpleasant memories.
He was as much a friend as a parent in my adult years.
Watching a parent decline is just heart wrenching.
I miss him.
My Dad had a sawed off 12 ga.
I snuck it out of the house when he was gone.
He never asked or complained about it.
Infact I don't think he ever noticed it being missing.
@ExAgoradzo, first of all, let me say how sorry I am that you're going through this. I've been there & done that, and it downright stinks. There's no easy path through. With that said, I like this idea:
I don't know how far along into dementia your dad is, but he may or may not remember that you have them. If so, "Oh, yeah, Dad. I have those and I'll bring them by tomorrow . . . " Come tomorrow, he may or may not remember that you have them. I know you're not supposed to lie, but it may be the only way to keep peace. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck.
Amen to that brother, went though it with mom.Dealing with dementia really sucks! It's hard on everybody involved.
I feel your pain my grandparent pa was same way. I watched him pass away. He always kept firearms ready. Keep them locked up. For there safety as well as yours.When my dad had trouble recognizing us and said things like, "I sure miss your mother," when she was in the other room, we just took the guns out of the house. (Mom doesn't like guns a bit.) Dad never missed them. His decline was shockingly rapid, and hip replacement surgery sent him to a nursing home. He ended up with a blood infection, and we lost him in '99.
I understand your situation, and you have my respect and sympathy.
My mom (93) is in this journey now. This is excellent advice ^^^^Just went thru the same problem recently with my parents. I was fortunate, in that I worked at a group home with a Dementia Ward. You should simply remove the guns. When he asks, (if he asks) have an answer ready, be evasive, downright lie. Others are right, he may never notice they are gone, or he may forget he ever asked, and keep asking for them again and again. If it's Alzheimers, (the most common, by far)he will never remember things, from minute to minute, then have sudden periods, where he snaps back to total clarity.
You may want to start also removing other dangerous implements, razors, scissors, utility knives, etc. Also, be very careful to be sure he is always escorted, when going outside. Your family really needs to discuss all this with a RN or Dementia Specialist.
Example: Him-"Where's Ellie? She was just here."{actually, ten years gone}
You-"Pops, she went to visit her sister, in Ohio,(wherever whatever relative lived) for a couple of days. " (If you tell him she's gone, again, he'll relive the train wreck of her passing, every time you tell him, like it just happened; when he's having a lucid period, he'll just know) Try to be ready with evasive responses, and be patient.
The unfortunate down side is it will get worse, as it does, the firearms will probably fade, as an issue, over time. Be evasive, reassuring,
they trained us to "take the journey" with the patients, as, in a way, you are now a guide, into their not so comfortable new world.
It helps to evade bad news, distract him, when you can, reassure him, when you can't, and keep your personal expectations of any memory retention very low.
Distractions-use food, hobbies, TV, newspapers, jigsaw puzzles, and books, a cup of coffee or tea, and a sit-down many times does the trick.