Polypharmacy in older adults at home: what it is and what to do about it-implications for home healthcare and hospice, part 2.

Polypharmacy-the use of more medications than are clinically indicated-is a problem that affects many older adults. Adults aged 65 years and older make up approximately 13% of the population, but they consume nearly one third of all prescriptions dispensed. Older adults are more prone to adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions because of physiological changes and multiple comorbidities. It can be difficult to address the problem because there are many contributing factors, including multiple prescribers and specialists, the use of multiple pharmacies, and gaps in communication. The initial step is to avoid the problem. However, when this does not work, it must be identified and then treated by carefully changing medication regimens to improve the quality of care to patients. The home healthcare nurse has an essential role in this process, which will be reviewed in this article. Some of the barriers that may be encountered and examples of communication with providers are included.

Polypharmacy in older adults at home: what it is and what to do about it--implications for home healthcare and hospice.

Polypharmacy--the use of more medications than are clinically indicated--is a problem that affects many older adults. Adults aged 65 years and older make up approximately 13% of the population, but they consume nearly one third of all prescriptions dispensed. Older adults are more prone to adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions due to physiological changes and multiple comorbidities. The harmful effects that may be caused by the inappropriate use of medications include but are not limited to: side effects, drug interactions, and high drug costs. Polypharmacy may lead to a decrease in quality of life. With an increase in specialization across medicine, many patients see multiple prescribers and may fill medications at multiple pharmacies. This can contribute to the problem of polypharmacy. Periodic medication reviews and effective and constant communication between healthcare providers and patients can help to identify potentially inappropriate medications, which is essential in aiding to reduce polypharmacy.