Managing medications safely for the elderly

Managing medications safely for the elderly

As we grow older, very likely our list of medications we take will grow too.  Advancing age often means developing one or more chronic illnesses which means more prescription or over-the-counter medications (OTC) to keep track of.  These medications can help seniors live longer and lead more active lives.  However, medication use among the elderly is also associated with safety concerns. 

Older adults use more medications –prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) and supplements – than any other age group in the United States.  As a person ages, the likelihood of receiving a prescription increases. People 65 and over make up 15% of the population but account for 40% of all prescriptions medication use and 35% of all OTC drug use.  Add to this, most older adults live with at least one chronic health condition and are taking multiple medications. 

Caregivers for the elderly who often have to help manage daily medications can find it to be very challenging.  According to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, individuals 65-69 on average, take nearly 14 prescriptions per year while individuals aged 80 to 84 take an average of 18 prescriptions per year.  Combine this with some elderly experiencing adverse drug reactions and being noncompliant on taking their medications, results in up to 28% of the reason for hospitalizations of senior citizens.

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found another challenge when it comes to older adults taking their medications – missed pills rises with age and failing memory particularly among men.

The research looked at over 4,100 North Carolina residents aged 65 and older who all had various health conditions from poor vision and hearing, to diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

What was found was many older adults are failing in the proper use of their prescription medications which can lead to their health conditions worsening.  Problems included:

·      Taking the medications at the wrong time and using the wrong dosage

·      Forgetting to take their medications

·      Men were 1.5 to 2 times more likely to need help with taking medications than women

·      People aged 80 and older were 1.5 to 3 times more likely to require help taking medications than those aged 65-69. 

This study highlights an important issue for all older adults and for those who take care of them – the need for better and improved medication management. Both the elderly and their caregivers should view medications as just one piece of a health and wellness plan.  The medications may or may not be a cure for a health condition but they should help reduce or alleviate symptoms and give a person a better quality of life helping them to incorporate more healthy behavioral changes.

Here are simple strategies for taking medication.  Remember, always discuss with your doctor or pharmacist regarding any questions or concerns over your medications:

·      Use a pillbox – Placing medications in a weekly pillbox that is subdivided into different times of the day can be a very easy solution visually reminding a person to take their medication and to prevent double dosing.  Place all prescriptions medications, supplements or vitamins in the same pillbox.

·      Be sure to understand what your medications are for – Whenever a doctor prescribes a medication, ask the following: what is the name of the medication (trade and generic), what is it intended for, how, when, and for how long should you take it, are there any precautions or warnings about the medicine, side effects to watch out for, and what to do if they occur. 

·      Take advantage of technology – Use your smartphone to remind you of when to take medications.  Create email or text alerts to signal it’s time to take your medicine.

·      Use daily cues as a reminder – Certain routine activities can remind a person to take their medications. Such as brushing your teeth or making coffee can be a cue to also take their medicine.

·      Practice self-care routines – Another way to remember to take medications is to take them when you are practicing self-care.  As an example, take your medication in conjunction with reading a book, taking a walk, meditating, or during a morning stretch.

·      Keep medication visible – Place your pillbox in a visible location that you easily see throughout the day.

·      Repeat to yourself when taking medication – For some people, they need to break out of auto-pilot, looking at the pills in their hand and actually say out loud, “I’m taking Monday’s medication now,” can help a person remember that they did indeed take the day’s dose.

·      Request a “brown bag review” – Bring all medications you take to your next doctor’s visit for them to review to see which are necessary and which are not.

·      Enlist help from others – Have your significant other, a hired caregiver or a family member help remind you of taking your medications.  They can either be there physically present to help with this or call, send an email or text to trigger that reminder.