About
The Safety in Dementia™ website was developed through a series of interactive, participant-driven interviews with stakeholders from a number of different fields, including psychiatry, gerontology, public health, and more. Caregivers of those with dementia, assisted living organizers, caregiver organization members, firearm owners, and numerous other groups were also heavily involved in the creation and refinement of this website over the course of 2018-2019. While this website was created for use primarily by caregivers, we encourage those diagnosed with dementia to complete this website alongside those close to them.
We hope that this website can assist in clarifying some of the many concerns, issues, or fears that you might have as a caregiver. You are not alone in this stage of life - having knowledge, connections, and support can guide you towards a safer, healthier home in the future.
This decision aid was created by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus with funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (R34MH113539 - PI Betz ME).
It can be difficult to know what to do during stressful moments. This is especially true when you're responsible for taking care of someone with dementia. There can be uncertainties about how to lock up firearms, when and how to take away the car keys, and other concerns about home safety. In order to help you think about some of these challenges, we'd like for you to read through some of the questions that we pose in the three sections of this website. We know that not every solution works for everyone, so it's best for you to think about your own personal "situation" and how some of these questions impact your life and experiences as a caregiver.
For these "situation" questions, take some time to think about how they impact your life and what you personally could do about them. Some may apply to you, while others might not. These questions can lead helpful discussions at home or deep inquisitive thought - they don't provide the answer but they could help provide an answer for your own personal situation.
Once you've thought about some of these questions and your own personal situation, we provide some common, practical, and evidence-based solutions for you to consider. Some of these solutions might work for you, others might not - we want to showcase as many as we can so you can find one thats best for you, your family, and your life.
These solutions can be the first step in making the home a safer place. They can help you find a common and cheap solution to storing firearms, a simple strategy for reducing time on the road, and a number of different solutions for improving safety around the home. We provide these tips in tables found in each section of this website, as well as in the Resources tab found at the top of the page.
Think about your situation, consider some solutions, and plan today for a safer tomorrow.
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disclaimer
The contents of this website are intended to convey general information only and not to provide legal advice or opinions. The contents of this website, and the posting and viewing of the information on this website, should not be construed as, and should not be relied upon for, legal advice in any particular circumstance or fact situation. The information presented on this website may not reflect the most current legal developments. No action should be taken in reliance on the information contained on this website and we disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this site to the fullest extent permitted by law. An attorney should be contacted for advice on specific legal issues. Nothing on this website is an offer to represent you, and nothing on this website is intended to create an attorney‑client relationship. An attorney-client relationship may only be established through direct attorney‑to‑client communication that is confirmed by the execution of an engagement agreement.