As we age, many of us face the challenge of managing multiple chronic health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Properly treating these conditions often involves taking several medications daily. While medication is crucial for controlling symptoms and preventing complications, sticking to a medication routine can be difficult.
Studies show that nearly 50% of older adults fail to take their medications as prescribed.
Not adhering to your medication regimen, whether by forgetting doses, taking less than instructed, or stopping treatment altogether, can have serious consequences. Uncontrolled chronic conditions often worsen over time, leading to increased pain, reduced mobility, and loss of independence. Missed medications also raise the risk of medical emergencies like strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure.
Despite these risks, many barriers prevent older adults from properly following their medication plans. Complex multi-drug regimens with different timing and dosage requirements can be confusing. Failing memory and cognition due to aging or medical conditions also interfere with adhering to medication instructions. Additionally, side effects like nausea or sleep disruptions may cause people to avoid taking their prescriptions. With fixed incomes, some older adults even ration medications due to high costs.
The good news is that these challenges can be overcome with knowledge, tools, support, and motivation. This blog will explore practical strategies that older adults can use to build habits for medication adherence successfully and be a guide to them. By taking control of your medication routine, you can continue enjoying an active, independent, and healthy life.
Consequences of Non-Adherence
Skipping medications or accidental non-adherence can have severe consequences for older adults managing chronic conditions. When adherence suffers, symptoms can worsen, and new complications can arise.
Many chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and COPD are progressive. Missing medications allows these conditions to advance faster, leading to deteriorating health. Uncontrolled diabetes may result in nerve damage, kidney problems, and vision loss over time. For heart disease, inconsistent medication use raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes. With COPD, lung function can rapidly decline.
Poor adherence also increases hospitalizations and healthcare costs. When symptoms spiral out of control due to missed medications, more doctor visits, emergency room trips, and extended hospital stays become necessary.
One study found a 50% higher risk of hospitalization for Medicare patients with poor adherence across multiple chronic conditions. The financial toll is significant, with estimates of $300 billion in avoidable healthcare costs annually linked to non-adherence.
The bottom line is that staying on top of prescribed medications is critical for older adults. Maintaining adherence protects health, prevents complications, and avoids unnecessary
medical costs. Minor lapses can quickly compound into big problems. Committing to consistent adherence, even when feeling well, is vital for successful long-term disease management.
Forgetting Medications Is Common
Remembering to take medications on time can be a significant challenge for many older adults. As we age, everyday changes to memory and cognition can make it harder to recall the details of a medication schedule, especially when managing multiple prescriptions. As discussed earlier, complex regimens with varying dose timings and special instructions can quickly become confusing.
It's not a fault to sometimes blank on whether you've taken your morning pills or skipped an evening dose. Don't beat yourself up over occasional slip-ups. Instead, focus on building habits and routines that remove the need to rely on memory alone.
Link your medication-taking to existing habits you follow without much thought. For example, take your blood pressure pill while you brew your morning coffee or lay out your evening medications as part of your bedtime ritual. Over time, taking medicines becomes part of your routine. With less need to exert mental effort to remember, you'll find it easier to stick to your regimen day after day.
Using Reminders and Tools
Taking medications on time and as prescribed can be challenging, however, many helpful tools and reminders can be incorporated into your daily routine to help you stay on track.
Pill Organizers
Using a pill organizer is one of the most effective ways to simplify your medication schedule. These organizers allow you to pre-sort your pills for the entire week or month into dated compartments. This makes it easy to see whether you've taken your medications for each period. Pill organizers come in many sizes with different compartment layouts so that you can find one tailored to your specific needs. Setting aside time once per week to fill the pill organizer helps establish a manageable routine.
Companies like Coherence Health provide automatic pill dispensers that can help you with your reminders and serve as a healthcare journey assistant. Contact us now to get started.
Digital Reminders and Alarms
Technology offers many options for medication reminders. Programmable digital watches can go off when it's time to take your next dose. Smartphone apps send alerts to take medications and record dosages. Voice assistant devices like Amazon Alexa can audibly announce scheduled medication breaks throughout the day. Digital kitchen timers can be
placed in convenient locations and set to ring as a reminder. Alarms and notifications can suit your dosing schedule and lifestyle needs.
Medication Charts
For a low-tech option, try using a medication chart or log. Write out your daily medication schedule and post it visibly on the fridge or anywhere you see it. Manually check off or initial each dose when you take it. Keeping a chart makes it easy to identify any missed medications and helps reinforce the medication-taking habit. Charts can also track symptoms, side effects, or other notes to discuss with your doctor. Get into the routine of updating the chart daily.
Overcoming Side Effects
Managing side effects is crucial for medication adherence. Many older adults stop taking their prescribed medications because of uncomfortable or disruptive side effects. Don't just stop taking a medication; speak to your physician first about alternatives.
There are a few strategies for dealing with side effects:
● Communicate openly with your doctor - Tell your doctor in detail about any side effects you are having, including how severe they are and how they impact your daily life. Your doctor can adjust the dosage, switch you to an alternative medication, or help mitigate the side effects in other ways. Don't suffer in silence.
● Explore alternative medication options - If the side effects of a medication are intolerable, ask your doctor if any alternative medications are available to treat your condition. Some alternatives may have a better side effect profile. Your doctor can work with you to find the most optimal medications with the fewest side effects.
● Time medications appropriately - Take note if your side effects tend to occur after taking your medication on an empty stomach. Try taking the medication with food to minimize GI upset or nausea. Timing when you take the medication may make a big difference in reducing side effects.
Dealing with medication side effects takes some trial and error. Tracking your symptoms and being in close contact with your doctor can go a long way in finding the regimen with the fewest side effects so you can adhere to your prescribed treatment. Don't give up; with some adjustments, finding medications that work for you is often possible. Remember, being open with your doctor about the side effects you are experiencing is the key.
Simplifying the Routine
Simplifying your medication regimen is crucial to making it sustainable long-term. These strategies can streamline the process:
● Pre-sort your medications - Set aside time once a week to sort your various medications into a pill organizer or boxes for each day. Having them pre-sorted will take the hassle out of your daily routine.
● Tackle difficult packaging - If you struggle with childproof lids or tiny print labels, ask your pharmacist about alternative packaging options or devices to make opening containers easier. Transferring medications into containers that are easier for you to open and grip can save time and frustration.
● Coordinate refills - Try to sync up your refill dates so all your medications can be picked up simultaneously. You can also sign up for pharmacy auto-refill programs and mail-order deliveries. Having your medications refilled and delivered on a schedule takes out the legwork.
Streamlining your medication regimen reduces the chances of running into issues mid-routine and makes taking your medications a more manageable, quicker habit. Speak to your healthcare providers about any packaging or scheduling difficulties so you can find solutions. Taking control of the process is empowering and creates healthy lifelong habits.
Enlisting Support
Taking medication properly can be challenging, but you don't have to do it alone. Support from others can make a big difference in staying on track with your regimen.
Involve family members, friends, or caregivers: Let those closest to you know about your medication schedule to remind you if needed, gently. Have them check in on refills and your progress. If a caregiver helps administer your medications, communicate clearly how and when you need to take them.
Build relationships with healthcare providers: Your doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are excellent resources. Ask them to review your complete regimen and explain why each medication is essential. Tell them about any side effects or struggles taking your prescriptions as directed. They can suggest adjustments to make it easier. An ongoing relationship with your pharmacist is beneficial for advice and medication checks.
Consider joining a support group: Connecting with peers who face similar challenges can provide invaluable motivation and accountability. Support groups allow you to share tips, voice concerns, and encourage each other as you take steps to improve adherence. There are in-person and online groups focused on health conditions and medication management for older adults. Knowing you're not alone makes the journey easier.
The more people you have supporting you and invested in your treatment plan, the more likely you are to take medications as prescribed. Build your team of family, healthcare providers, and peers to help you form and sustain those all-important medication habits.
Staying Motivated
Maintaining motivation to take medications as prescribed is crucial for long-term success. It's normal to feel discouraged when managing multiple drugs or dealing with side effects. Here are some tips to stay motivated:
Set Achievable Goals
Suppose your medication routine feels overwhelming; set small, realistic goals to build momentum. For example, focus on taking morning medications consistently for a week. As that habit solidifies, add another milestone, like organizing your weekly pill sorter. Setting achievable goals helps build confidence.
Track Your Progress
Use a chart, calendar, or app to track your adherence. Recording successes reinforces the behavior and shows your progress over time. Seeing visible proof that you took your medications can be highly motivating.
Reward Important Achievements
Positive reinforcement goes a long way. Celebrate adherence milestones by treating yourself to something special - a relaxing bath, dinner, a new book, etc. Connect your medication adherence to rewards that bring you joy.
Remember, be patient with yourself. Focus on each day, and don't get discouraged by setbacks. Over time, consistency and routine will make medication adherence feel natural. You've got this!
Additional Resources
Many helpful resources are available to support older adults in building habits for medication adherence.
Apps, Technologies, and Tools
● Medisafe - This popular app tracks medications, sets reminders and alerts, manages prescription refills, and connects with pharmacists. Available on iOS and Android.
● MyTherapy - A medication reminder and pill tracking app with customizable reminders and dosage tracking. It can sync across devices.
● PillMonitor - An automatic pill dispenser that can remind you when to take your next dose and alert caregivers if you miss a dose. Dispenses pre-loaded medications.
● Alexa or Google Home - Voice assistants can provide medication reminders, alarms, and more through simple voice commands.
Community Organizations
● State and local health departments - Many provide resources, counseling, workshops, and more to help seniors manage medications.
● Senior centers - Social services, classes, and peer support around medication routines.
● Libraries - Librarians can assist in finding medication management resources.
Final Words
As we age, adhering to medication regimens for managing chronic health conditions becomes increasingly vital. Skipping or missing doses can lead to complications and worsening symptoms. By building healthy habits around taking medicines, older adults can take control of their health.
Link your medication-taking to daily habits you already have. Use tools like pill organizers, charts, and digital reminders to stay on track. Enlist support from loved ones and healthcare providers. Overcome side effects and simplify your regimen. And stay motivated by focusing on the positive impacts adherence has on your health and independence.
It is never too late to form new, lasting habits. You can achieve your medication goals with consistent effort and commitment to your well-being. Your health is worth the investment. Start today by taking one step, however small, to be more adherent. Add your first reminder, share your struggles with a loved one, or set a realistic adherence goal. These actions snowball into lifelong routines for taking medicines effectively. You've got this!