The Importance of Medication Compliance in the Elderly

In laymen’s terms, medication compliance is whether or not a patient takes a medication as prescribed. It is incredibly important for the effective implementation of a treatment plan, but sometimes there are major barriers associated with medication compliance. This is especially profound in the elderly population, who are the population most likely to have multiple chronic illnesses. Most of these can be related to two major issues: complicated instructions and a lack of investment in the treatment plan.

For the elderly, taking medication can be complicated because of the sheer number of medications that are prescribed for them. In 2010, it was reported that the average elderly individual was on 8-13 different medications. Furthermore, each medication has a unique set of instructions. For example, some drugs need to be taken with food, while some other drugs need to be taken without food. Certain medications can’t be taken after eating a grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice. Other medications require you to monitor your potassium intake. Remembering the instructions surrounding one medication can be difficult enough, but trying to accommodate each of the different requirements of multiple medications can be too much for elderly patients. This will lead them to take the medication incorrectly, rendering it ineffective, or it can lead them to not take the medication at all.

A second barrier can be found in understanding the treatment plan. Most of the time, elderly patients aren’t entirely informed about their treatment plan, and, a lot of the time, it is because they don’t know what questions to ask their doctor. They sometimes will not know why they are on a medication, and they are not informed of what to expect while taking the medication. As a result of this, they will take a medication and experience unexpected side effects. The side effects of the medications give them more reason to not take their medication as prescribed. This can be compounded by a lack of education as to why they are on the medication. If an elderly individual isn’t sure why they are taking a medication that makes them feel nauseous as a result then they most likely won’t continue to take that medication as prescribed.

Unfortunately, these aren’t the only two barriers to medication compliance, and there are numerous barriers that we will have to overcome in order to achieve complete medication compliance. There are several reasons that this happens, including inadequate patient education, a lack of interest in treatment plan, issues surrounding dementia and confusion, and more. Fortunately, there are a lot of resources for seniors and caregivers that help to resolve a lot of these issues. In our next post we will go over different tips for medication compliance.

Traveling With Your Elderly Loved Ones

With winter winding down, a lot of individuals are deciding to take a vacation. There is some extra planning necessary for individuals traveling with elderly loved ones, and this this can sometimes be difficult. The planning is crucial because it will ensure that the traveling goes smoothly. Over the past couple of years we’ve covered this topic, so we’ve put together some highlights and the best possible plan for traveling with your elderly loved one.

While choosing a vacation destination, make it easier for yourself. 

When you’re looking at different cities to visit, take into account how accessible the city is for the elderly. Are there cobblestone roads? These can make walking difficult and increase fall risk. Are there clear sidewalks? This will help prevent any difficulties for you while you are sight-seeing with your elderly loved one. How crowded is the city? How much travel is involved in getting to this location? Take some time to research elderly friendly cities. There are thousands of sights you can see with your elderly loved one, and choosing one that is more accessible will make it easier for you and your elderly loved one.

After you have chosen a location, start planning.

We can’t reiterate this more. Plan your trip! Over-planning is never a problem, but, while traveling, under planning can pose some serious risks, especially for your elderly loved ones. Make an itinerary and figure out which locations you’re going to go, and which sites you want to see. Most importantly, figure out how you can make it easier on yourself.  Take some time to call different tourist attractions and sites ahead of time to ask them about what accommodations they have for the elderly. If they don’t have that many accommodations or are being somewhat unhelpful, ask them for examples of what other elderly individuals have done. Do they have rest areas? Do they have wheelchair options for the elderly? How many stairs are there? Are there elevators? All of this information should be easily accessible and readily available for you. If your elderly loved one has special needs you can request help from the place you are visiting. There is no harm in asking!

Pack everything and pack for all scenarios.

First, plan your packing. Make a list of all necessary medications and items that your elderly loved one will need. If you’re traveling on a plane, you may need a doctor’s note for some prescriptions. Call your doctor and the airport ahead of time to ensure that you have all of the proper documentation. If you’re traveling by train or another mode of transportation, contact them ahead of time to see what is allowed and what is not allowed. Also, go through what is going to happen while going through security. That way your elderly loved one is not startled and knows what to expect.

Lastly, have fun and enjoy yourself. That’s what vacation is for!