Home-medication monitoring among older adults: the breach in services

Available studies reveal alarming rates of substance and medication abuse among older adults. Professionals addressing the substance and medication abuse problems of seniors have argued for a move to medication monitoring in the home. At present, however, there has been only scattered evidence to support the contention that adequate medication monitoring actually occurs. The present study reports two surveys of all home care agencies in the state of Michigan. The first study reports the medication monitoring practices of home care staff. The second study examines possible medication monitoring interventions that might be implemented in home care agencies. Those medication monitoring interventions with the highest likelihood of successful implementation among home care staff are discussed.