This makes my blood boil.
I was a counter jockey for 4 years. Selling an object with such inherent potential dangers and safety considerations as a firearm is SUCH a serious business. Factor in the human element (both seller and end user) and there is a mind-boggling amount of possible scenarios, both positive and not so much, as we all know.
I loved it when elderly folks came in.
Firstly, a lot of them were in the very least, concerned and sometimes downright visibly frightened for their safety. Some had just had their house burglarized or the one next door had just been. There were also some pretty bad neighborhoods near the store that weren't so when they moved there years ago.
To the point, since these folks were at a tactical disadvantage because of age-related issues, I always first established what they could operate within their limitations. It was actually fun and helpful to a lot of the old ladies to learn how the different actions did their thing. That way, when you then handed over the gun in question, they knew what it was they were doing (i.e. pull this "thing" back, let it go, and the gun's now loaded.) That was also a good time to plant the seed re: The 4 Rules through the course of the interaction.
Through the process, you can notice the degree of difficulty they experience with each action and get a better idea of what's best for them, which is why they came to you to begin with.
A lot of older folks are more familiar with the revolver scenario than younger people, which I thought was great because selfishly, I'm revolver-biased myself, anyway. After we'd finished and started looking at models, if there was a used-but-serviceable S&W revolver in a reasonable caliber in the case, I went straight for that first. Saves them cash on a quality weapon that they can use.
In fact, arthritis was a consideration more often than not and I can't count how many times the store's gunsmith (a great guy and a gifted 'smith BTW) installed an 11 lb. Wolff trigger rebound spring (from a personally-owned stash that I bought and kept in the store) in a used S&W free of charge so these old folks could have a still reliable, but lighter trigger.
The thought of handling this situation any other way is, IMO, taking someone who came to you for help with a possible life-and-death situation and knowingly putting them in a position that could result in indirectly assisting in their deaths. It's elderly abuse. Reprehensible. Abusing an elderly person is no different than abusing a child.
I miss that job sometimes. But there's no way on gawd's flat earth that I'd ever do it again at a Gander Mountain.