5 Reasons Why Medication Management is Important for Aging Adults

In a given year, there are more than four billion prescriptions filled at pharmacies in the U.S- not including over-the-counter drugs and other medicines. With such high volume, there is a great need for medication management. Medication management is the monitoring of medications being taken by confirming directions are being following and making sure that dangerous drug interactions are avoided. This is especially important for those taking large numbers of medications to address chronic illnesses and multiple diseases, which is more prevalent among seniors. To understand why managing your medication is important, review the list below.

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Why Medication Management is Important

  1. A large percentage of seniors are taking prescription drugs: Approximately 70% of Americans are on at least one prescription drug with seniors making up more than 40% of those prescriptions.
  2. A large percentage of seniors are taking multiple prescription drugs: According to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, on average, individuals that are 65 to 69 years old take nearly 14 prescriptions per year and individuals aged 80 to 84 take an average of 18 prescriptions per year.
  3. The more prescriptions needed, the more difficult they are to keep track of: The high volume of prescription medications, as well as over-the-counter medicines used, increases the likelihood of potential mistakes. Taking the appropriate medication on time and routinely is extremely important and necessary.
  4. Improper Medication Management can lead to adverse reactions and hospitalizations: Adverse drug reactions and noncompliance are significantly higher among older adults aged 65+, which results in frequent emergency room visits. The risk of not following the proper medication regimen after surgery or for chronic pain/illnesses, or to mix with over-the-counter medicines can result in serious complications, re-hospitalization, and a greater cost of recovery (both financial and physical).
  5. Proper medication adherence and management can lead to a successful recovery of a short-term illness or control of a chronic illness.

Using Caring Village for Medication Management

There are many different types of devices and mobile apps designed to make managing your medications easier. The free Caring Village app is uniquely designed to help you keep an accurate list of current and past medications at all times. In addition, the app allows you to store photos of medications and track refills. See just how easy it can be by creating your free village today.

Other Helpful Products

Be sure to check out our Best Tools for Medication Management article for more great products including EllieGrid.

Best Medication Management Tools - Ellie GridEllieGrid is a smart pill organizer that combined a beautiful design with strong technology in order to create a fashionable health accessory. In addition to the features above, EllieGrid also offers "smart alarms" in order to prevent alarm fatigue. If you enable the "smart alarms" feature, EllieGrid's software will track your activity and trigger alarms at more convenient times. Thanks to EllieGrid's unique features and design, it is the only medication management system that has shown it can increase medication adherence in 80% of users. Free shipping, free returns, and a 20% discount with promo code "CaringVillage".

Additional Thoughts

Always consult a physician if you are unsure of what medicines to take, if instructions are unclear, or if you are uncomfortable taking your medications.

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