Dealing With Medication Issues

By Frances H. Traver
Manager, Clinical Services

There are more than three million older adults in the United States. Many need to take medication every day in order to stay healthy. A majority of these older adults take an average of three-to-five different medications daily. It is often difficult for these older adults to take these medications as ordered. I have difficulty remembering to take my vitamins, I don’t know how they remember to take all their medications.

Studies show that up to 59 percent of the elderly have difficulty with taking medications correctly. The consequence of not doing so can be devastating and may lead to falls, hospitalization and/or nursing home placement.

There are many reasons an elderly person may have difficulty taking all their medications. The first may be the number or type of medical conditions, such as heart problems or depression. These conditions may cause the elderly person to be more forgetful. Other medical conditions may affect a person’s vision.

How can a caregiver be assured their elderly family member is taking all their needed medications? I have found it best to ask how they take their medications in a non-threatening manner and not “if they take their medications.” They will often say they are taking their medications but really having difficulties.

Our goal at Saint Francis Home Care is to help our patients help themselves. Home care nurses will ask the elderly patient to read the medication bottle label to them, assuring that the elderly can read the label correctly and understand what it means. In order to help these patients, the nurses and/or occupational therapists at Saint Francis Home Health services can work with you and your elderly family member who may be having trouble. Our agency has been able to improve the majority of our patient’s ability to manage their own medications.

When you compare our outcomes in medication management to other agencies throughout the country, we are about 20 percent higher.