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Are Elders Overmedicated?
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"As people get more frail and old, physicians tend to do more, when often we should do less." So says Dr. David Dosa, a geriatrician at Brown University, who found that elderly patients in hospitals or nursing homes often receive excessive and unnecessary medication.
Dr. Dosa and his colleagues reviewed medical records of residents of two Rhode Island nursing homes and found that 40% of the patients treated with antibiotics for urinary tract infections shouldn't have received them. And even where appropriate, physicians were using the wrong antibiotics. This can have serious implications because overuse of antibiotics can allow superbugs to take over, which are much more difficult to treat. Some of the emphasis on overtreatment comes from families asking doctors for more treatments.
In another study, researchers from the University of South Florida found that 71% of Florida nursing home residents received psychoactive medications - antidepressants, anti-psychotics, or dementia drugs. Most weren't taking these medications before they arrived at the facilities, and most hadn't been diagnosed with psychiatric problems. Only 12% received nondrug therapies. Simply put, pills have become the simple and quick treatment.
Reputable home care agencies have trained and certified caregivers who collaborate with families to help monitor and manage medications. The agency case manager can also speak with a client's doctor to better understand the client's conditions. Read more at tinyurl.com/overmedicated.
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Dear Katy
By Kate Dougherty, Certified Senior Advisor
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Dear Katy - Can caregivers provide minor medical care? T.D., Palo Alto, CA
Dear L.M. - Non-Medical Care is best described as assistance with activities of daily living. This includes personal care (bathing, dressing, assistance to the bathroom), light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and transportation. Home caregivers cannot do anything that would be described as clinical or invasive. Most importantly, they cannot administer any medications. If the client requires insulin or other injections, the injections would have to be administered by the client or a trusted member of the family. Also, a caregiver should not be monitoring vitals such as blood sugar, blood pressure, etc.
Dear Katy- How does a home care agency deal with professional caregiver burnouts? N.U., Layton, UT
Dear M.S. - This is one of the advantages of working with an agency. Each caregiver gives his or her schedule to the Staffing Manager, and then it is conveyed to each client and the client's family. When time-off is needed, a replacement caregiver will be arranged. Typically, an agency will try to make replacements as consistent as possible. If a caregiver is asking for time-off, an agency will do its best to first contact caregivers who a client has used (and liked) in the past. The client or the client's family has the option to interview the selected replacement.
(Submit your questions to kdougherty@professionalhc.com
Follow her on twitter.)
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6 Tips: Prevent Medication Problems
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Become Active - Take part in every decision about your health. Research shows patients who are involved in their care get better results.
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Make Your Doctor Aware - Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you have had to medicines in the past. Tell your doctor about the other medications you take.
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Read and Review - Make sure you can read and understand your doctor's handwriting. Be sure your pharmacist can read it too.
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Picking up Medication - When you pick up your medication, ask the pharmacist if the medicine is the correct one.
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Side Effects - Be sure to understand all the side effects and which medications/foods/drinks you are not allowed to consume during the treatment.
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Ask Questions - Medicine labels are difficult to understand. Asking questions will eliminate unnecessary errors.
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Talking Pill Bottle
The talking Rx provides an easy solution for following physician orders and instructions on medications.
More Info
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Astrology.com
Find out your Mayan or Chinese astrology sign and see what it reveals about you.
More Info
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... 215 people reach the age of 100 everyday in the U.S.?
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