MEDICATION ERRORS IN THE

ELDERLY
NAME KOROTOUMOU CAMARA
ID:2212020022
 INTRODUCTION

MEDICATION ERRORS CAN BE DEFINED AS “… ANY PREVENTABLE EVENT THAT

MAY CAUSE OR LEAD TO INAPPROPRIATE MEDICATION USE OR PATIENT HARM
WHILE THE MEDICATION IS IN THE CONTROL OF THE HEALTHCARE
PROFESSIONAL, PATIENT, OR CONSUMER.
MEDICATION ERRORS IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION ARE A
SIGNIFICANT CONCERN IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS. OLDER ADULTS
ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO MEDICATION ERRORS DUE TO FACTORS
SUCH AS MULTIPLE CHRONIC CONDITIONS, POLYPHARMACY,
COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, AND AGE-RELATED PHYSIOLOGICAL
CHANGES.
CAUSES OF
MEDICATION ERRORS
IN THE ELDERLY:

• POLYPHARMACY: THE
USE OF MULTIPLE
MEDICATIONS
INCREASES THE RISK
OF ERRORS,
INCLUDING DRUG
INTERACTIONS,
DUPLICATE THERAPY,
AND INCORRECT
DOSING
• AGE-RELATED PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES:
OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCE CHANGES IN
METABOLISM, RENAL FUNCTION, AND DRUG
DISTRIBUTION, WHICH CAN AFFECT
MEDICATION EFFECTIVENESS AND
INCREASE THE RISK OF ADVERSE EFFECTS
COMMUNICATION GAPS: INADEQUATE
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS, PATIENTS, AND CAREGIVERS CAN
RESULT IN MISUNDERSTANDINGS, INCORRECT
MEDICATION INSTRUCTIONS, OR MISSED
MEDICATION CHANGES
 CONSEQUENCES OF MEDICATION
ERRORS IN THE ELDERLY:
• ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS: MEDICATION ERRORS CAN LEAD TO ADVERSE DRUG
REACTIONS, WHICH CAN BE SEVERE AND RESULT IN HOSPITALIZATION OR EVEN
DEATH
• FUNCTIONAL DECLINE: INAPPROPRIATE MEDICATION USE CAN WORSEN
EXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS, IMPAIR FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES, AND DECREASE
QUALITY OF LIFE IN OLDER ADULTS
• LOSS OF TRUST: MEDICATION ERRORS CAN ERODE TRUST BETWEEN PATIENTS,
CAREGIVERS, AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, LEADING TO DECREASED
ADHERENCE TO MEDICATION REGIMENS AND RELUCTANCE TO SEEK MEDICAL
CARE
 PREVENTION OF MEDICATION ERRORS
IN THE ELDERLY:
• MEDICATION RECONCILIATION: CONDUCTING A
COMPREHENSIVE MEDICATION REVIEW AND
RECONCILIATION PROCESS CAN HELP IDENTIFY
DISCREPANCIES, REDUCE POLYPHARMACY, AND
ENSURE ACCURATE MEDICATION LISTS
• PATIENT AND CAREGIVER EDUCATION:
PROVIDING CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE
MEDICATION INSTRUCTIONS, INCLUDING
DOSAGE, TIMING, AND POTENTIAL SIDE
EFFECTS, CAN EMPOWER PATIENTS AND
CAREGIVERS TO MANAGE MEDICATIONS SAFELY
 CONCLUSION:

• MEDICATION ERRORS IN THE ELDERLY POPULATION POSE

SIGNIFICANT RISKS TO THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
• UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THESE
ERRORS IS CRUCIAL FOR IMPLEMENTING PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES.
BY ADDRESSING FACTORS SUCH AS POLYPHARMACY, AGE-RELATED
CHANGES, COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT, AND COMMUNICATION GAPS,
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS CAN WORK TOWARDS ENSURING SAFE AND
EFFECTIVE MEDICATION MANAGEMENT FOR OLDER ADULTS.