# Firearm Deaths Impacting Older Adults

## TL;DR

This study examines firearm deaths among older adults in the U.S., highlighting that suicides are far more common than homicides or unintentional deaths.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed demographic analysis of firearm-related mortality in older adults, emphasizing the need for suicide prevention strategies.

## Key findings

- Firearm suicides were 12 times more common than homicides and 99 times more common than unintentional deaths.
- Suicides were most common in non-Hispanic white males aged 65–74 in the South.
- Over 45,000 potential years of life were lost due to firearm-related deaths in 2021.

## Abstract

Each year in the United States (U.S.) thousands of older adults die from firearm-related injuries. The purpose of this study was to characterize the similarities and differences in the three main forms of firearm mortality (homicides, suicides, and unintentional) in older adults. Using the Web-based Inquiry Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) for the year 2021 we conducted a descriptive analysis (e.g. frequencies, percents, crude rates, rank orders) by gender, race/ethnicity, age, and census region of the U.S. Older adult firearm-related homicides were most likely to occur in males (61.2%), non-Hispanic whites (61.9%), ages 65–69 (42.4%) and in the South (53.6%). Firearm-related suicides were most common in males (91.4%), non-Hispanic whites (93.5%), ages 65–69 and 70–74 (24.8 and 24.7%, respectively), and in the South (45.1%). Firearm suicides were 12 times more common than firearm homicides and 99 times more common than unintentional firearm-related deaths. Both firearm homicides and suicides decreased with age. Years of potential life lost before 80 paralleled the demographic mortality data, resulting in over 45,000 potential years of life lost in 2021. These findings underscore the need to focus primary prevention of firearm-related mortality in older adults on the role of suicides, especially in non-Hispanic white males. In addition, improving mental health care access for older adults and their social connections are essential elements of preventing firearm-related suicides.