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Medications

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  1. Unique Challenges of Medication Management in Older Adults
  2. Age-Related Changes in Metabolizing Medications
  3. Common Medication-Related Problems
  4. Polypharmacy (Many Medications)
  5. Adverse Drug Reactions
  6. Medication Interactions
  7. Improving Medication Adherence
  8. Role of Healthcare Professionals in Preventing Medication Issues
  9. Discussing Medication Issues
  10. Comprehensive Medication Reviews
  11. Medication Issues - Key Points & Action Plan
  1. Medications
  2. Medication Issues – Key Points & Action Plan
Lesson 11 of 11
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Medication Issues – Key Points & Action Plan

Key Points

  1. Challenges of Medication Management in Older Adults: Age-related physiological changes, polypharmacy, cognitive decline, sensory impairments, swallowing difficulties, and medication adherence issues are significant challenges in managing medications for older adults.
  2. Polypharmacy Implications: Polypharmacy increases the risk of medication interactions, adverse drug reactions, non-adherence, cognitive impairment, medication duplication, financial burden, increased fall risk, and management complexity.
  3. Common Medication-Related Problems: These include adverse drug reactions, drug-drug interactions, non-adherence, medication duplication, inappropriate prescribing, overuse, underuse, affordability issues, inadequate monitoring, complex dosage regimens, cognitive impairment, inadequate medication education, and risk of falls.
  4. Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) Impact: ADRs are more severe in older adults due to altered drug metabolism and clearance, polypharmacy, cognitive impairment, functional decline, increased healthcare utilization, and quality of life impairment.
  5. Strategies for Medication Adherence: Simplifying regimens, using organizers, clear instructions, caregiver involvement, medication education, reminder systems, regular reviews, addressing costs, improving health literacy, monitoring adherence, and shared decision-making.

3-Step Action Plan

  1. Comprehensive Medication Reviews: Regularly conduct comprehensive reviews of all medications, including OTC drugs and supplements, considering the older adult’s medical history, cognitive function, and potential drug interactions.
  2. Education and Communication: Provide clear, comprehensive medication education and use effective communication strategies to discuss medication issues with older adults and their caregivers. Focus on simple language, visual aids, repetition, active listening, and respecting autonomy.
  3. Collaborative and Individualized Approach: Collaborate with healthcare professionals, caregivers, and the older adults themselves to develop individualized treatment plans that consider age-related changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Implement strategies to improve medication adherence and prevent medication-related issues, including medication reconciliation, deprescribing where necessary, and regular follow-up and monitoring.