Medication management is the process of keeping track of the drugs that are being taken, ensuring that the instructions are being followed, and ensuring that harmful drug interactions are avoided. This is especially critical for people who are taking a high number of drugs to treat chronic illnesses and numerous ailments, which is more common among seniors than younger people.

What do seniors need to know about medications?

Seniors must be aware of the medications they take and how they are affected by them in order to assist prevent any complications with medications. Keep track of any adverse effects to assist your doctor in determining how your body is responding to a particular medication.

Is there any research on medication management and the elderly?

There has been a significant amount of study conducted on drug management in the elderly. Medication management is a difficult procedure that must be approached from a multidisciplinary perspective. Many of the evidence-based strategies that are mentioned are not limited to a particular field. In order to offer safe and effective drug management, a team of professionals is required.

Why are drug interactions more common in older adults?

Because of the changes that occur in our bodies as we grow older, older persons are at an increased risk of experiencing medication interactions. The majority of older Americans (48 percent) use at least one medicine each day, with many older persons taking three or more medications each day on average.

Why do older adults not follow medication plans?

Long-term illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis are increasingly frequent in older persons and require a complicated medication regimen to be managed effectively and efficiently.Because of forgetfulness, side symptoms, a belief that the drug isn’t working, or the expense of the prescription, older persons may fail to follow their medication regimens.Non-adherence refers to the failure to comply to medication recommendations.

Why is it important to reduce medication-related problems in older adults?

Furthermore, older persons are more likely than younger adults to take drugs for an extended period of time, increasing their risk of bodily and mental damage. 3 It is an essential, straightforward, and successful method to prevent medication-related difficulties and adverse drug events in older persons. Avoiding the use of high-risk medications is one such strategy. 4

What should prescribers know about drug interactions in older adults?

Prescribers should constantly evaluate the likelihood that a new symptom or sign in an older patient is caused by an existing pharmacological therapy while treating them.Drug-drug interactions are particularly dangerous for older persons, who frequently take a number of different medications at the same time.Older folks are also more likely than younger adults to take medicinal herbs and other nutritional supplements.

Does age affect adherence to medication in ambulatory older adults?

Patient non-adherence, particularly among ambulatory older persons, has been shown to significantly reduce drug efficacy. Adherence is influenced by a variety of circumstances, but not by age in and of itself. Up to half of older persons do not take their medications as recommended, and in most cases, they take less than what is advised (underadherence).

How can medication-container modification help older adults?

One area of intervention for elderly persons who have trouble opening or reading medication packages is medication container modification. For elderly folks, one alternative is to store their belongings in containers that are not childproof.