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FACT SHEET #8 B.C. COALITION TO ELIMINATE ABUSE OF SENIORS FACT SHEET #8

MEDICATION ABUSE

Both over-medication and under-medication are harmful. Seniors often change doctors (thinking a new doctor will prescribe a better pain killer or be more understanding). Seniors may go to different pharmacies. Family members caring for a senior may use medication to have them go to bed earlier, be more “cooperative” or easier to care for.

Seniors often share medications with their spouse, or a close friend, not understanding the full implications of this. Some of the confusion seniors show may be due to medication rather than normal aging.

Indicators of medication abuse should be considered when behaviour or mental status changes suddenly, fluctuates, or when the senior is either excessively drowsy or very agitated. This may also be considered if there is poorly controlled pain.

SCENARIO #1
Sandra, a mother of four children, also cared for her aging father who had Alzheimers. In order to manage she sometimes gave him extra medication to make him drowsy and less demanding. As time went on she began to give her father his medication more often, as it made her life so much easier.

SCENARIO #2
David regularly visited his father in the care facility and noticed that he slept much more than he had at home, and when awake appeared more disoriented. David mentioned his concern to the care facility who said that his father’s doctor had prescribed the medication he was being given. David called the doctor who reduced the dosage and, within a few days, there was a marked improvement.

SCENARIO #3
Joyce was constantly in severe pain due to an old back injury. In order to try to control the pain she began doubling her medication as well as taking “over-the-counter” medication. Joyce had fallen several times lately, not realizing that it could be due to the over-medication she was taking.

 

CONTINUUM FOR MEDICATION ABUSE

OVER-MEDICATION

  • A senior may change doctors and take medication
    prescribed by both physicians
  • A family member or care-giver may give medication to a
    senior to make him/her more “co-operative” or “easier to care for”
  • A senior may use a spouse’s prescription, not understanding
    the implications of doing this
  • A senior may forget a prescription has already been taken, and take the same prescription again
  • A senior could become addicted to a prescription and take more it
    often than prescribed, or take double amounts, etc.
  • A normal adult dose prescribed by a physician may be too heavy for the senior

UNDER-MEDICATION

  • A senior may forget to take the prescription
  • A senior may insist that the prescription has already been taken
  • A care-giver is not aware of a senior’s medical needs
  • A senior runs out of a prescription and forgets to have it renewed
  • A family member or care-giver withholds necessary medication, or frequently does not administer it when needed

FACT SHEET #8 B.C. COALITION TO ELIMINATE ABUSE OF SENIORS FACT SHEET #8
333 - 6TH STREET - NEW WESTMINSTER, BC V3L 3A9
Telephone: (604) 521-1235
Fax: (604) 515-0201
FUNDED BY:
THE LEON AND THEA KOERNER FOUNDATION AND THE HAMBER FOUNDATION

 

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This page last updated October 25, 2000.
Copyright (c) 1996 BC Institute Against Family Violence.