What Is Elderly Medication Management?
Seniors today live longer, healthier lives thanks to medication and a better understanding of the importance of healthy eating and a physically and socially active lifestyle. Because there are so many different types of medications, some senior adults can end up needing to take four or five pills a day. The more medications you take, the bigger the risk of making mistakes or having negative drug interactions. Elderly medication management is a beneficial program for seniors who are taking multiple prescriptions and cannot manage all of their pills and treatments properly. Medical staff will administer medications on time, ensure prescriptions are refilled, and check for any food or medical adverse reactions to new medications. At Baptist Retirement Community, we are well aware of the common medication problems with the elderly and take care of administering medications on time and in the correct dosage. Seniors can stop worrying about when to take their next pill and concentrate on making the most of their golden years.Common Medication Problems with the Elderly
Several medication issues with seniors can reduce their health and vitality. Adverse drug reactions are fairly common when seniors have multiple doctors prescribing medications. It is often up to senior adults or their families to check if certain drugs don’t mix well with others. Here are some of the other common medication problems the elderly can face when managing their prescriptions:- Wrong dosage – Medications come in different forms and dosage requirements. As seniors begin struggling with remembering what pills they need to take, they can take too much of one pill or completely forget to take another. This can lead to severe consequences, a rapid return of their symptoms, and a decline in their health.
- Adverse drug interactions – In some cases, certain drugs can negatively react with others, causing painful and sometimes dangerous side effects. Seniors who have multiple doctors prescribing medications run the risk of adverse drug interactions. These can include:
- A decrease in the effectiveness of the medication or an increase in the effects of the drug can cause a dangerous health condition
- Food interactions with medications – Most people do not think about what they eat or drink while taking prescribed medications. Certain foods can prevent the medicine from working. They can also alter the way it affects you and lead to a host of mild to serious issues.
- Taking the wrong prescription – One of the most common problems seniors face when taking multiple medications is taking the wrong pill. This can cause a double dose of one prescription. It can also result in missed medication.
