Elderly Parents Not Taking Their Medications? Partner With Your Pharmacist!

Failure to take medications as prescribed is a leading cause of problems for senior citizens, and can contribute to them prematurely losing their health and independence.

A 2012 study indicates that the most pervasive reason for non-compliance is the cost of the medication, but that patients are more likely to take their medication if they receive first hand counseling by their pharmacist:

“While there are many reasons people stop taking their medications, the majority of pharmacists surveyed (62 percent) said that the high cost of drugs is currently the biggest cause of non-adherence for their patients. Despite this barrier, the vast majority of respondents (89 percent) said they believed counseling their patients is as important as filling their prescriptions and the majority agreed (88 percent) that those patients who pick up their medications and receive first-hand counseling from their pharmacist were more likely to be adherent.”

We (the geriatric care managers at Care is There) love our local pharmacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, with special affection for the very attentive staff at the Giant pharmacy on Pantops and Meadowbrook Pharmacy in the Barracks Road area.  We highly recommend that you include your pharmacist in your loved one’s care team!

For more articles like this, see: Managing Medications,  Resources for Central Virginia, Aging in Place, Care for the Caregiver, Long Distance Caregiving, Communicating with Senior Citizens.

Know someone who worries about their elderly parent in Charlottesville, Staunton, or Harrisonburg Virginia? Care is There Geriatric Care Management can help! Have them contact me, Elizabeth, for a free consultation: 434.326.5323ext 2 or Elizabeth@careisthere.com.

For more information about our services, and to read testimonials from our clients, visit our website. Also, view this short video about our care management services.

Elizabeth Swider, Certified Senior Advisor and Certified Aging in Place Specialist
President, Care is There Geriatric Care Management
Support for independent living and long distance caregiving; assisted living enhancement