Medication Management for Seniors – The Impact on Society of Med Noncompliance

According to PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America), more than 75% of adult Americans who take three or more medicines daily are non-compliant with taking their medications properly. More than half of our seniors who take multiple medications (and one in four of them take 10-19 mediations each day) either forget to take the correct dose or fail in some other manner to take the right medication. While we can see for ourselves the impact this can have on our loved ones, did you know that the economic impact to our society is in excess of $100 billion each year?

Medication non-compliance puts even more stress on an already over-burdened healthcare system, adding to the costs of healthcare and contributing to steadily rising insurance costs. It stretches our Medicare and Medicaid resources, and the demand causes even more shortages of healthcare professionals.

Wow. And it’s not just the dollars and cents – medication non-compliance kills more of our seniors every year than accidents, flu and pneumonia combined – it’s the leading cause of death of senior citizens in America.

Reasons from forgetfulness to fear of drugs and the high cost of prescriptions all lend to seniors not taking medications correctly.
What can we do? First, if we have an elderly family member, we should take extra precautions to make sure that they fill the right prescriptions and take both over-the-counter and prescription meds as directed. We may need to accompany them to doctor’s visits, engage a caregiver, or purchase medical alert systems that help with reminders and dosages.

We should also get involved with our neighbors – a simple welfare check every now and then on an elderly neighbor could mean a world of difference in making sure their loved ones or physicians are aware of any problems they are having with medications.

With such a systemic problem, we all have a certain responsibility to make sure that family members, friends and neighbors are educated in where to find help for taking medications properly. Many studies show that people who live alone are more likely to have problems with taking their medications as they should. We should all take more notice of our elderly neighbors who are by themselves.

Medication non-compliance is so widespread that it will take all of us to help solve the issues involved – not just the medical or care-giving communities. A study by PhRMA found that patients who regularly took their medications as prescribed significantly reduced their total health care spending and lowered the number of emergency room visits and the number of days a patient spent in the hospital.

If you have concerns about an older adult’s willingness or ability to take the right medications, speak up and let the people who care for them know. If your own family member is having a hard time taking their medications, take steps through technology or the family doctor to create a routine that will help your loved ones stay compliant with the doctor’s orders. It helps each and every one of us!

Get Smart About Senior Care Costs

There are a variety of options available for any budget.

It's never too early to plan care for an aging loved one.
Before their health begins to decline, you and your family
need to agree on the kind of care they need, and how it will
be paid for.

To get an idea of the average costs of popular senior care
options, see below. And keep in mind that while your loved
one may be fine with occasional care now, they could need
more serious and expensive care in the future.

So, How much does it cost?

In-Home Technology
Personal Emergency Response (Medical Alarm)
Allows your loved one to age in place while having the ability to summon help 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency.
Cost:$37 per month.

Medication Management via a monitored medication dispenser
Dispenses medication up to 4 times per day. In the event of a missed dosage the unit notifies a live operator who then notifies family members or caregivers of the missed dosage.
Cost :47 per month.

In-Home Care
Enables your loved one to stay at home throughout every stage
of aging.
Cost: $29 per hour on average, but costs vary. (Source: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services).

Assisted Living
Offers your loved one an independent lifestyle, with trained
personnel on the premises to attend to their needs.
Cost: $36,372 per year (Source: MetLife Market Survey of
Nursing Home and Assisted Living Costs).

Nursing Homes
For elders who cannot care for themselves or have
significant medical issues that require round-the-clock
care.
Cost: Private room, $77,380; semi-private room, $69,715
(Source: MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home and
Assisted Living Cost).

Occasional Care
Periodic assistance with lawn care, transportation, and
grocery shopping. Cost varies according to need.

Thank you ElderCarelink