Self-reported medication use in community-residing older adults: A pilot study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• Older adults face increased risks of drug therapy problems, impacting health and quality of life.
• Independent community-dwelling seniors often manage complex medication regimens.
• Eldercare programs aim to support older adults but require evaluation for medication management effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess medication use and identify drug therapy problems in older adults receiving Eldercare program support.
• To evaluate health literacy, functional capacity, and adherence in this demographic.
• To explore potential factors, including race, associated with medication-related issues.

Main Methods:

• Pilot study involving 100 community-dwelling older adults (aged >= 60) in North Carolina.
• Data collected via home visits included self-reported medication use, medical history, health literacy (Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults), and functional capacity (Functional Activities Questionnaire).
• Nonadherence was assessed using the Morisky instrument, and potentially inappropriate medications were identified using Beers criteria.

Main Results:

• The average participant used 9.6 medications daily.
• Only 35% had adequate health literacy, and 25% exhibited reduced functional capacity.
• High rates of nonadherence (53%) and use of potentially inappropriate medications (34%) were observed.
• Significant associations were found between race and medication number, adherence, health literacy, and functional capacity.

Conclusions:

• Independent older adults frequently encounter challenges in managing numerous daily medications.
• Inadequate health literacy, poor adherence, and inappropriate medication use are common issues.
• Race appears to be a significant factor influencing the risk of medication-related problems in older adults.