Managing medications safely is crucial in the elderly population from "summary" of Geriatric Nursing by Priscilla Ebersole, RN, PhD, FAAN,Theris A. Touhy, ND, APRN, BC
The safety of managing medications in the elderly population is of utmost importance. As individuals age, they often experience changes in their body composition, metabolism, and organ function, which can impact how medications are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted. These physiological changes can increase the risk of adverse drug reactions and drug interactions in older adults. Furthermore, older adults are more likely to be taking multiple medications for various chronic conditions, which can increase the complexity of their medication regimen. Polypharmacy, or the use of multiple medications, can lead to a higher risk of medication errors, nonadherence, and negative health outcomes in the elderly population. In addition to physiological changes and polypharmacy, older adults may also face other challenges that can impact their ability to manage medications safely. These challenges may include cognitive impairment, visual or hearing deficits, limited dexterity,...
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