Alarming Facts about Medication Management
Effective medication management continues to be one of the greatest
challenges facing assisted living providers. Statistics show
that the elderly spend approximately $10 billion each year on drugs
and nearly 25% of elderly residents take eight or more drugs. “The
broad spectrum of residents, coupled with their varying levels
of medication use and now [varying regulatory requirements] can
make managing medication in the assisted living environment a very
confusing and conflicting task,” said Carla Saxton, assistant
director of policy and advocacy for American Society of Consultant
Pharmacists, Alexandria, Virginia. These challenges are not
going away, but instead may worsen as sicker, more frail residents
move into the assisted living environment. Improved drug
packaging may have a positive impact on medication management. Source:
Strong Medicine from Assisted Living, April, 2006.