Medications and the Elderly.. in the day in the week of Geriatric Care Manager in Bergen County

I recently worked with a Geriatrician who also held a pharmacological degree and shared some vital information that I am grateful for. The information was based around the topic of discussion about a client of mine that I had brought to him for a medical evaluation. His very brief but profound statement regarding the use of medications and the elderly was the following- “Less medication is better”. I for one agree with this statement based on numerous published literature and my own nursing experiences both in patients in an ICU setting as well as working with Elderly at home.
Numerous issues contribute to this conclusion including the aging organs (kidneys and liver) ability to metabolize the medication and rid the body of it as well as the individual’s hydration and mobility status to name a few. How frequently have we as nurses and Care Managers seen the adverse outcome of medication changes unknowingly?
As a Geriatric Care Manager this is a vital component to our Client’s Care Management along with evaluating drug interactions and remembering that even with adverse effects identified as infrequent they may and can occur more frequently with some specific medications and the elderly. More on this topic is to come.