Managing Medications for Seniors

Article submitted by Stephen L. Axelrod, M.D., SeniorMed, The Assisted Living Pharmacy.

People over 65 make up about 15% of the U.S. population, but consume one-third of all prescription medications. Recent studies suggest that seniors today take an average of five drugs a day. While these medications help seniors to live fuller, more independent lives, more medications increase the overall complexity of medication management and the importance of professional oversight.

While seniors living in senior housing or assisted living communities can get their prescriptions from a retail pharmacy, a specialized and comprehensive service is available from pharmacy providers that focus solely on seniors. These specialized pharmacies better understand medication management for seniors and provide extra services and support to ensure the best pharmacy care for seniors. In fact, these pharmacies can help reduce the number of medications taken, recommend alternative drugs or alert physicians to potential medication issues.

A specialty pharmacy provider can link all the details of the medication order -- delivery, dispensing, labeling, and documentation -- into a smooth, complete system.

In the short run, it can be cheaper to buy prescription drugs from a local retail pharmacy. In many ways, though, you get what you pay for. Specialized geriatric pharmacies services include:

• A licensed pharmacist, available 24/7.
• Routine and emergency medication deliveries.
• Periodic pharmacist visits to review orders and medications.
• Special packaging that makes proper dispensing of medications easier and safer.
• Educational services for senior community staff and residents.

There are ways to reduce the chance of medication problems. For example, older adults see multiple physicians, often leading to multiple prescriptions. Pharmacy experts untangle what drugs are being taken, and if one drug is counteracting another or causing an unintended side effect. In addition, specialty packaging and distribution systems reduce the risk of medication errors.

Seniors want to remain in the community where they have chosen to live. Increasingly, specialty medication management programs that promote safe and healthy living help seniors to remain in the community longer. These programs help ensure that people are taking the right dose of the right medication at the right time. Working with a pharmacy that understands geriatric medication issues can help make this possible.