Older Adults Need Help with Medications - Caregivers Should Be Aware Meds are Taken Correctly

Medication management is a critical aspect of providing care to older adults. As we age, most people start taking more medications. Keeping track of these medications, when and how to take them can be challenging for anyone, much more challenging when you are older. 

The FDA says as someone ages, physical changes can affect the way medicines are handled by a person's body, leading to potential complications.

One study showed that 87% of adults aged 62 and older took at least one medication, and 36% took five or more prescription medications! Proper medication administration is critical for treating an older adult's medical conditions and managing symptoms.

Be Aware of Meds Being Taken

Family caregivers or professional caregivers need to be very aware of all the prescription drugs being taken, the reasons they are being used, and any over-the-counter medications that are also used by the care recipient. Professional home care providers play an important role in making sure medications are used correctly.

Chuck Fowler operates Amada Senior Care's St. Louis, Columbia, and Jefferson City, Missouri, locations. Amada is one of the country's leading in-home health care franchises. Fowler says in-home caregivers must be even more keenly observant and proactive in managing medications, especially if family members are not actively involved because of their other responsibilities or don't live close by.

Fowler says the use of a medication planner with a daily chart is an easy and effective way for care recipients to check off the day and time after taking medications. The caregiver can review the planner to check for medication compliance.

Professionally trained caregivers understand that reminding the care recipient to take their prescription medication on time and in the correct dosage will improve and ensure continuity of care.

Jessica Merrey, Pharm.D., lead ambulatory clinical pharmacy specialist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and certified geriatric pharmacist, says that it is essential for older adults to take medications exactly as directed by the doctor. This includes getting refills on time and staying alert to side effects and interactions.

She suggests the use of a weekly or daily pill organizer — especially when taking several medicines — to help make sure the care recipient gets the right dose at the right time.

A pillbox with compartments for each day of the week — and for morning, noon and night if you take medications several times a day — lets you know at a glance whether you've taken your medicines yet.

Not Everyone Takes Their Meds Correctly

According to research, non-adherence to taking medication correctly can have a drastic impact on overall health and quality of life. According to estimates, 50% of patients in the United States do not take their medications correctly. An estimated 700,000 people have adverse drug reactions that require them to visit the emergency room.

Another concern is polypharmacy. Most experts suggest that if someone is getting prescriptions from multiple doctors that they get filled by the same pharmacy. Since many older adults are taking multiple medications, it is important to double-check to make sure none of them will cause negative drug interactions. The pharmacist may catch a problem before it becomes a problem. 

Older adults are often taking additional medications unbeknown to their doctor. If a caregiver or family member goes to doctor appointments with the care recipient, encourage them to disclose all the medications they are taking, the reasons they are being used, and from which doctor.

Many of these medicines will be critical in assisting older people in managing their conditions and living well for longer periods of time. But older adults, their families, and caregivers should not be concerned about taking a large number of medicines if they are properly prescribed and managed.

Some Prescriptions May Not Be Appropriate

However, approximately one in every five prescriptions for older people living at home may be inappropriate, with older people who are already on multiple medications being the most vulnerable.

Adults in their 50s and older are more vulnerable to serious drug side effects and interactions, notes Korey Kennelty, PharmD, Ph.D.

As we get older, the risk of medication side effects goes up. So dry mouth, constipation, dizziness — those are all things that increase as you get older.

For example, she notes that Benadryl, which can make a 20-year-old sleepy, can make an 80-year-old delirious. It takes a team effort to make sure the right medications are being prescribed and taken correctly.

For those needing long-term health care, families find it overwhelming to provide care, deal with their emotions, and pay attention to detail which is essential to providing quality care.

Professional care can be costly but will provide the quality care an older adult deserves. If they have a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, the benefits will pay for their choice of quality care options since health insurance, including Medicare, pay little or nothing toward long-term care services. 

Without LTC Insurance, personal income and assets must be used to pay for care, either at home or in a facility. For those with little or no income or assets, Medicaid will pay for long-term care services.

Planning for the costs and burdens of aging has become a vital part of retirement planning. Long-Term Care Insurance is a big part of retirement planning. Most people get coverage when they are in their 50s to take advantage of better health and lower premiums.