Depending on how medications are taken, they can be crucial for good health or cause a major health setback. When doses are skipped, or too much medication is taken, the results can be deadly. Medication nonadherence is widespread among seniors. According to the Department of Health and Human Services:
Fifty-five percent of the elderly are non-compliant with their prescription drug orders, meaning they don’t take their medication according to the doctor’s instructions.
Approximately 200,000 older adults are hospitalized annually due to adverse drug reactions.
There are many reasons why seniors don’t take their medications as prescribed. Here are six common causes of medication mistakes and tips for how family caregivers can help prevent them.
Vision Problems
For elders who have vision problems, not being able to read the small print on pill bottle labels or distinguish between pills can lead to potentially dangerous medication misuse.
Memory Loss
Elders who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other related forms of dementia are prone to many medication management problems. A dementia patient may simply forget to take their meds, causing them to skip doses. They may also have trouble remembering if they’ve already taken a medication and wind up taking multiple doses, risking an overdose.
Hearing Loss
A senior who is deaf or hard of hearing may have difficulty hearing and understanding instructions that the doctor or pharmacist provides about how to take their medications.
0 Comments