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If medications are necessary, this M focuses on using age-friendly medications that do not affect a person’s care goals, their mobility, and their mentation. Many older adults are on 5 or more prescription medications. This can be difficult to manage, expensive, and increases the risk of harmful side effects or drug interactions. It is important for providers to be aware of polypharmacy, or more medications than are clinically necessary, for their older patients.

The objectives of the presentation are: Describe warning signs that nurses can observe that could indicate a medication problem. Describe 3 common problems in geriatric medication usage. Describe two techniques that can be used to assess an older patient’s understanding of the goal of treatment. Describe four steps that nurses can use to educate older patients on safe medication usage.

REACH offers geriatrics educational resources that have been developed by faculty and staff at the Florida State University College of Medicine’s Department of Geriatrics, colleagues at other FSU colleges, community partners and healthcare professionals who are dedicated to improving the care of the older adult population, and older adults.

Source: Resources & Education for Aging, Community, and Health (FSU REACH), 2023
https://reach.med.fsu.edu/medication/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-1