Managing medication for older adults
Report says 40 percent of patients take five or more medications

Growing older means taking on new responsibilities and confronting new challenges to building a healthy lifestyle. For Americans age 65 and above, it may also include taking multiple medications to manage a variety of health conditions. A survey of 17,000 Medicare recipients found that 40 percent of patients reported taking five or more prescription medications.

The prevalence of chronic illness in an aging population underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, diet and prescribed medication regimen for managing these conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 80 percent of seniors are living with one chronic condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis or cancer, and about half have at least two. Still, studies have shown that many older Americans- between 40 and 75 percent- do not take their medications at the right time or in the right amount.

People may not get maximum benefit from their therapeutic plan unless they use medications as prescribed by, or as agreed upon with, the healthcare professional. Lack of medication adherence or not taking medication as prescribed may contribute to worsening of disease, preventable death, unnecessary hospitalizations, and increased healthcare costs. These consequences can be serious but, fortunately, following a treatment regimen may reduce these risks.

Here are some tips to help seniors stay on track with their medication regimen.

•Write it down. Ask the doctor to write down specific directions for taking medicine. One study found that more than 60 percent of patients did not understand what their physicians told them about medication use immediately after receiving the information.

•Bring someone to the doctor's office. Having a friend or family member in the doctor's office to listen, ask questions and lend support may be helpful.

•On the way home, don't wait. Fill prescriptions immediately after leaving the doctor's office.

•Ask the pharmacist any questions about the medication.

•At home, organize. Use pillboxes or other special medication holders to organize medications by hour, day and week. This lets one easily see if a day or a dose was missed.

Link taking medications with a routine event, such as brushing teeth, shaving or calling the grandchildren.

Keep medications in a familiar place, such as on a dresser or nightstand, so they are the first thing seen in the morning. When taking medicine with meals, keep them in a safe location in the kitchen.

•Make use of •reminder tools. Special "reminder" devices such as a vibrating watch, an automatic pill dispenser or a pager can help one remember when to take medications.

•Keep a checklist. Use a checklist to make sure that medicines are taken each day, as directed.

•Plan ahead. To decrease the chance of missing a dose, allow enough time to refill a prescription before the current one runs out.

Remember that healthcare professionals, family, caregivers and friends are there to help, so don't be afraid, ashamed or embarrassed to ask questions or to ask for help.

This story is provided by North American Precis Syndication Inc.