Often families are much concerned about how to manage medication of the elderly. This issue, thus, becomes a point of contention between the elders and their family members. We need to know when a family should intervene in this matter.

Statistics observes that due to medication non-compliance i.

e. either over-medication or under-medication, thirty five percent of the elderly is admitted to hospitals.

Mismanagement in medication leads to the death of 125,000 elderly each year.

Two-thirds of the aging population at 65 years suffer from two or more chronic conditions and require medication.

70% of elders have several chronic conditions by the age of eighty. These include:

Eye Disorders

Thyroid Disease
High Blood Pressure
Diabetes
Arthritis
Depression

Heart Disease
Acid Reflux
Osteoporosis
 Lung Disease
Kidney Disease

An additional medication or two is prescribed for each chronic condition that is being diagnosed. Without a proper support system, it becomes a hard task for the elderly to handle such a critical period in their lives.

Along with vitamins, herbs, pain remedies and minerals, laxatives, many elderly also use other types of over-the-counter medicines. These may lead to potential drug interactions and side effects and can be hazardous to health.

Intervention of the family is required when the elderly is forgetful or confused in taking medicines. You can help them taking medicines and making them aware of the purposes and reasons for such medication.

You can assist them in many ways.

• Buy bottles that are user-friendly.

   

• Bottles must have labels with easily readable letters.

   

• Buy different color bottles for different medicines.

   

• Organize a course of intakes for medicines

   

• Supervise the arrangement of pills in the box

   

• Fill the medicine box on a regular basis.

   

• Draw a chart showing what and when to take respective pills

   

• Set daily reminder phone calls.

   

Whatever may be the method of medication, you need to consult doctors on regular intervals. Make sure that someone accompanies the frail elder to the doctor and if you can’t go, a local private duty agent can be hired for the same.  Assign a specific nurse for your elderly. The person will be responsible to do jobs like accompanying your elder, informing you about the report, getting new prescriptions, making follow-ups, and filling in the med box. Everything that you need would be taken care of by the nurse.