Medication nonadherence is a growing concern in the United States. Unfortunately, those who are most susceptible to medication nonadherence are senior citizens with complex medication regimens. For caregivers, it is more important than ever to know the statistics behind adherence, the role it plays in the well-being of your loved ones, and what you can do to increase the likelihood that they are taking their medications as prescribed. We’ve created a handy infographic to help you sift through all of this information and equip you with actionable insights to facilitate a discussion about medication management with your loved ones.
Providers, pharmacies, insurers, patients and families all agree that better medication adherence can improve care and reduce costs. The numbers are striking: Non-adherence can account for up to 50% of treatment failures, around 125,000 deaths, and up to 25% of hospitalizations each year in the United States contributing $100 billion in preventable costs1,2 Despite existing efforts, adherence rates lag around 50% when it is broadly recognized that 80% adherence is considered clinically important. With a mutual commitment to innovation and teamwork, everyone in the healthcare ecosystem can enjoy the financial, safety and quality of life benefits that will result from improved medication adherence.
Caring for a loved one can bring the two of you closer together. It can also be profoundly stressful. Caregivers receive little social support, and it takes a toll on their well-being. Nearly 60 percent of California’s Caregiver Resource Center’s clients show symptoms of depression. Another study found that 41 percent of people who cared for a spouse with Alzheimer’s had depressive symptoms. Caregiving can can even affect your physical health; seventeen percent of caregivers say their health is fair or poor, compared to just 10 percent in the general population.
Nearly 90 percent of seniors over the age of 65 hope to age in place, spending the next 10 years or longer in their homes. Most seniors envision restful, meaningful retirements filled with good health, new activities, and visits from family and friends. Too often, medical conditions turn this vision into something far less idyllic. Missed medications, endless prescriptions, too many trips to the doctor, and accidental medication overdoses pose serious dangers to seniors’ health and well-being.