A growing concern for older adults is what is known as polypharmacy, which is defined as the use of multiple medications at any one given time. As seniors generally have several medical conditions all needing treatment, those over the age of 65 often need to take a variety of prescription and over-the-counter drugs to manage their conditions. In fact, the average senior takes five or more prescription drugs each day, along with various medications like antacids, aspirin, antihistamines, as well as supplements and vitamins.
While taking such a wide variety of medications can help improve quality of life for seniors, improperly managing medications can result in serious consequences to their health. Dangerous drug interactions can cause negative side effects like loss of appetite, weakness that can lead to a debilitating fall, and even mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
It’s vital that seniors take all prescribed medications correctly to stay healthy and out of the hospital. However, it’s not uncommon for certain issues to arise when a senior is on so many pills at once. These types of problems include forgetting exactly how and when to take the medication, like taking them at the wrong time of day or on an empty stomach. Also, older adults tend to metabolize drugs differently, which can harm their health if they aren’t managing medications correctly.
Here are some easy ways for seniors to properly manage their medications:
The Copeland Clinic is an integral part of the community at Advent Christian Village, offering quality medical care in modern facilities. The Village Pharmacy is located right on site as an added convenience to both our members and the general public. Most prescriptions are filled on the spot, and a variety of over-the-counter medications are also available. We invite you to contact us to schedule a personal, guided tour so you can see all that ACV has to offer.
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