Caregivers of Older Adults Blog | Medications

The number of seniors in the US taking three or more psychiatric drugs more than doubled in the nine-year period between 2004 and 2013, according to a recent study as reported by The New York Times. While this figure is troubling in itself, even more so is that fact that nearly half seniors taking these medications have no mental health diagnoses on record. What does this mean for seniors and caregivers? Here’s a closer look at the issue.

"Med pass" is a complex process, but well worth investing the time and effort to get it right. Not only does an efficient, well-executed med pass help prevent dangerous medication errors, but it also frees up staff to devote more time to other aspects of patient care. This piece takes a closer look at the topic of administering medication in care settings while highlighting several best practices for before, during and after medication distribution. 

Many older Americans are turning to a surprising source for alleviating for their age-related aches and pains, according to a recent report from The San Diego Union-Tribune: medical marijuana. However, this can be tricky territory for caregivers given that the drug is banned by federal law, and has only been approved for medical use in 29 states. Here’s a closer look at the issue. 

If you are caring for someone with dementia, you've probably wondered if there are medications that can ease the symptoms or halt the progression of the condition. Unfortunately, there is no magic pharmaceutical bullet, but there are some dementia medications that can help some patients.

Medication errors harm approximately 1.3 million people in the U.S. every year, according to the FDA. They also result in at least one death every day!

Unfortunately, seniors are particularly vulnerable to this potentially deadly phenomenon. There are some things caregivers of seniors can do, however, to minimize the risk of medication errors. Let's take a closer look at this important subject, along with highlighting five of the most common medication errors which occur in both inpatient settings and in home care.

Medication mistakes cause at least one death every day in this country and injure roughly 1.3 million every year, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Topping the list in terms of vulnerability to medication errors? People aged 65 and older. In fact, research indicates that drug non-compliance and non-adherence rates may spike as high as 55 percent in older patient populations.

Nearly a third of the U.S. population will develop shingles, and almost half of all cases occur in people over the age of 60, according to the CDC. Let's take a closer look at this common disease, from signs and symptoms to prevention and treatment.

Shingles is one of the most common conditions affecting seniors today.

Most people hear the word "vaccines" and immediately think of children. It's true, childhood immunizations are a critical public health measure. However, many people fail to realize the equal importance of vaccines for seniors, as well.

While stem cells are a hot topic, not everyone understands what they are and their potential when it comes to regenerative medicine. Many researchers and medical experts believe that stem cells hold great promise for the future in  treating and curing disease, but there are some obstacles along the way. Let's take a closer look at the science behind stem cells, what they do, and what this means for patients and caregivers.

As many as 71 percent of nursing home residents who are receiving Medicaid are also taking a psychoactive medication, according to one University of South Florida study. While these drugs can serve a very real purpose in treating certain medical conditions, they can also be misused and/or lead to dangerous interactions with other drugs. Let's take a closer look at psychoactive medications, along with what caregivers need to know to help safeguard the health and wellness of aging loved ones.