Medical Management
According to the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (2018), medication
management
is described as focusing on the needs of the client, ensuring that drug
therapy is safe, effective, and suitable through collaboration with
clients and their healthcare teams.
Medication management involves more than just carrying out the technical
duty of giving medication. It is a repetitive process that involves
using nursing knowledge, skill, and judgment to guarantee safe
medication use
Collaboration between nurses and pharmacists across different fields shows potential for enhancing medication handling for elderly individuals. Pharmacists focus on managing medications for safe and effective use, while nurses are skilled in offering guidance on diseases and monitoring medication adherence and symptoms. Nurses and pharmacists can collaborate to create personalized medication management plans for elderly patients, ensuring safe and effective medication utilization.
Providing
older adults in senior housing communities with access to medications
and treatments is an important factor to consider. While certain
treatments may be offered at no charge or paid for by insurance, others
may necessitate payments from personal funds. Medicaid and Medicare
frequently do not provide complete coverage for prescription drug
expenses, causing financial difficulty for elderly individuals with few
resources. Ensuring older adults have affordable access to essential
medications and treatments is crucial for promoting their health and
well-being.
In summary, a multi-faceted approach is needed to tackle
medication management challenges and provide essential care for older
adults. By encouraging collaborations across disciplines, supporting
adherence to medications, and lobbying for affordable medication and
treatment access, we can enhance the health and quality of life of
elderly individuals, enabling them to age gracefully with dignity.