Effective Geriatric Medication Management Is Vital If Seniors Are To Receive Quality Health Care
Studies show that an average senior takes about six prescriptions per day. Also taken daily is two to three non-prescription medications. Many take even more than that. This number of drugs routinely prescribed explains why so many seniors end up in emergency rooms due mixing up their medications, taking the wrong dose, experiencing drug interactions or suffering from adverse reactions. Thus the need for geriatric medication management.
Doctors frequently prescribe new medications to seniors who have just left a rehabilitation center or hospital or received a new diagnosis. Often there is confusion between the drugs previously taken, which ones to stop and which ones to continue. Also, many elderly people see multiple specialists for their various health issues. Thus, the need for oversight of all the different medications taken is imperative. An example of this oversight is to fill all prescriptions at one pharmacy.
There are many myths about taking medication:
- If one drug does not work, take two or three
- Taking one dose makes me feel good, a larger dose will make me feel even better
- If the drug is available over the counter, it must be safe
- Since the drug helped my friend, it would also help me
One of the best ways to improve medication compliance is by education. As an example, it is important to obtain information on drug interactions, the effect of food on the medication, understanding the difference between generic and brand name drugs, as well as tips about reducing costs.
The biggest medication problems are:
- Not taking medicine correctly by not following instructions
- Forgetting to take it altogether
- Drug interactions
- Drug side effects
- Allergic reactions
- Duplication
- Wrong dosage
- Unnecessary or inappropriate usage
Most patients with chronic medical conditions tend to take multiple medications. Often, they find that one drug interacts or interferes with the effectiveness of another drug. Or, they can cause unexpected side effects. This is especially troublesome with aging patients, as many times this can cause a senior to fall, or mimic the symptoms of an unrelated health condition due to such symptoms as nausea, dizziness, heartburn, faintness, fatigue, drop in blood pressure, blurred vision, personality or cognitive issues.
Many elderly also choose to buy drugs from Internet pharmacies that may be more affordable. Experts encourage people not to purchase anything without a proper medical examination, to stay away from medications that are not FDA-approved, to avoid sites that do not require a written prescription, and to resist claims of “new cures” or “amazing results.”
The first step of effective geriatric medication management is to ensure that everyone involved is aware and informed of all current medications. Hibernian Home Care offers a way to help seniors keep track of their many medications, dosages, side effects, prescriber and pharmacy information by supplying a FREE Medication Management Chart.
Also, the owners of Hibernian Home Care are a Pharmacist and Registered Nurse. They specialize in geriatric medication management and reconciliation in the home, the best place to improve compliance. To learn more about individualized Home Care services in New Jersey’s Monmouth and Ocean Counties, contact us at 732-481-1148.
