Medication adherence in the elderly

Publication date: Available online 12 June 2015 Source:Journal of Clinical Gerontology and Geriatrics Author(s): Angela Frances Yap , Thiru Thirumoorthy , Yu Heng Kwan Medication adherence is a crucial component in the treatment of chronic diseases. In the elderly, clinicians are faced with a unique set of problems associated with adherence that they may not have been adequately trained for. In this paper, we demonstrate the importance of medication adherence in the elderly through a case study. The different factors affecting medication adherence in the elderly are highlighted: patient, medication, health care providers, health care system, and socioeconomic factors. Lastly, we have proposed various ways to address these factors. In doing so, clinicians can better understand the problems that the elderly face, thus achieving better therapeutic outcomes.
Source: Journal of Clinical Gerontology and Geriatrics - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research