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Special Considerations of Adherence in Older Adults

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Improving Patient Treatment Adherence

Abstract

Optimizing medication adherence is a significant challenge for clinicians caring for older adults, particularly those with multiple chronic health conditions. Nearly half of all adults aged 65 or older take five or more medications regularly; however, adherence to chronic pharmacological therapies is often poor [1]. Overall, 40% of older Medicare beneficiaries reported one or more forms of medication non-adherence in the previous year [1]. Older patients are often more susceptible to the outcomes of poor adherence including worsening symptoms of disease and disease severity, increased hospital admissions, costs, and mortality [2, 3]. Older adults face many of the barriers to adherence discussed in previous chapters; however, age-related physical or cognitive impairments, multiple chronic health conditions, and/or complex treatment regimens frequently create distinct challenges related to adherence in this population. The aims of this chapter are to discuss special considerations related to medication adherence in older adults and to offer practical advice for improving medication adherence in this population.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geriatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    S. Nicole Hastings MD, MHS

  2. Christiana Health Care System, Newark, DE, USA

    Janine C. Kosmoski Pharm.D

  3. Department of Clinical Research, Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA

    Jason M. Moss Pharm.D (Geriatric Pharmacy Fellow)

  4. Durham Veterans Affairs Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Jason M. Moss Pharm.D (Geriatric Pharmacy Fellow)

Authors
  1. S. Nicole Hastings MD, MHS
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  2. Janine C. Kosmoski Pharm.D
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  3. Jason M. Moss Pharm.D
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Correspondence to S. Nicole Hastings MD, MHS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University Medical Center, Erwin Road 2424, Durham, 27705, North Carolina, USA

    Hayden Bosworth

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Hastings, S.N., Kosmoski, J.C., Moss, J.M. (2010). Special Considerations of Adherence in Older Adults. In: Bosworth, H. (eds) Improving Patient Treatment Adherence. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5866-2_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5866-2_14

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