How can you find out if your elderly loved one is taking their medicine consistently? In it’s report on Adherence to long term therapies, The World Health Organization concluded that: Elderly people are at increased risk. The World Health Organization report states that: “the prevalence of cognitive and functional impairments in elderly patients increases their risk of poor adherence. Multiple co-morbidities and complex medical regimens further compromise adherence. Age-related alterations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics make this population even more vulnerable to problems resulting from nonadherence.” The World Health Organization describes the difficulty in measuring medication compliance, including the fact that patients do not always accurately describe their own compliance. Many assessment tools have been developed, but the most effective way is obviously to watch your loved one take their medications to see if they are doing so according to the prescription. If your loved one does not live with you, that is a challenge! Fortunately, devices for organizing medications can also help in determining adherence. Pill organizers can show which doses were not taken, and electronic pill boxes can send alerts when doses are missed or when the boxes need to be refilled. These methods will not detect doses that were removed from the box and dropped, misplaced, or thrown away. Therefore, it’s always best if a trusted human being can visit the home and: Read our article on How to Help Your Loved One Remember to Take Their Medications. If you are concerned that your elderly loved is not taking their medications as prescribed, we can set up a system to monitor medication compliance, including:
How do You Know if Your Elderly Loved One is Taking their Medications as Prescribed?
How Can You Help Your Loved One to Take Their Medications as Prescribed?
How Care is There Can Help
Resources for Medication Adherence
Next Steps
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