Elder and caregiver solutions to improve medication adherence

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Medication mismanagement is a significant public health issue, particularly impacting the elderly population.
• It frequently leads to emergency hospitalizations and placement in nursing homes.
• Elders and their caregivers are key stakeholders with valuable insights into improving medication adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore perceptions of barriers to medication management among elders and their caregivers.
• To identify community-based solutions for enhancing medication adherence.
• To gather insights from end-users to inform public health strategies.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing nine focus groups with 65 participants (mean age 71).
• Participants included elders and caregivers from five diverse communities.
• Snowball sampling was utilized for recruitment via key informants.

Main Results:

• Key themes for improving medication adherence included: personal management systems, addressing cost barriers, regular medication reviews by healthcare professionals, community support networks, and the use of medical advocates.
• Participants identified medication non-adherence as a widespread community problem.
• Elders and caregivers expressed a strong willingness to propose practical solutions.

Conclusions:

• Elders and caregivers offer valuable, community-tested solutions to improve medication management.
• These insights can validate and enhance existing interventions.
• The findings provide innovative recommendations for future public health strategies targeting medication adherence in older adults.