In this article, we will be looking at how you can health educate the elderly on drug use.
Elderly people may be at a grater risk for adverse drug reaction arising from different factors like drug interaction, incorrect dosage and much more.
Due to the changes in the conditions of the elderly, adjustment are frequently made to their regular drug regimen either by altering the dose or adding one or more new drugs. Adverse effect may go unnoticed or unreported especially when they are cared for at home.
The nurse caring for the elderly both at home and in institutions must be carefully review the drug upon discharge, informing the care taker of any potential adverse drug effect to be aware of and to let the nurse know if the effect becomes bothersome.
Read Also: All You Need To Know About Drug Therapy in The Elderly
Guidelines For Administering Drugs in The Elderly – Elderly
The following general guidelines will help to ensure that an elderly person receives the maximum therapeutic benefit and avoid adverse reactions, accidental overdose and harmful changes in effectiveness;
- Instruct the elderly to learn the brand and genetic names of all drugs they are taking and the actions of the drugs. The elderly should be instructed to report unusual reactions experienced in the past, allergies to foods and other substances, special medical problems and drugs taken over the last few weeks before given then the new drugs.
- Advise the elderly to always read the label before taking a drug, to take it exactly as prescribed and never to share prescribed drugs.
- Advise the elderly not to change brands of a drug without consulting his/her doctor to avoid harmful changes in effectiveness. Certain generic preparations are not equivalent in effect to brand-name preparations of the same drugs.
- Tell the elderly to check expiration date before taking a drug.
- Advise the elderly to safely discard drugs that are outdated or no longer needed and to keep discarded drugs out of the reach of children.
- Tell the elderly to store each drug in its original container at room temperature and in places that are not accessible to children or exposed to sunlight.
- Advise the elderly not to mix different drugs in single container. They should know that relaying memory to identify a drug and specific direction for its use is to dangerous.
- If the elderly must remove the tablets from its original container to use, a daily or weekly medication planner as a reminder, instruct him/her to keep an index card with the planner that includes the drug name, strength, dosage instructions and physical description written in the card. This is particularly important as the elderly are usually on multiple drug therapy.
- Advise the elderly to have sufficient supply of drugs when travelling. He/she should carry the drugs with him in their original container and not pack them in the luggage.
We hope this information was helpful. Feel free to ask your questions in the comment section below.
