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By Pamela D. Wilson, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG, The Care Navigator
Many adults I work with often complain about the quantity of medications their physicians prescribe. Admittedly, many take five to ten different medications on any given day. Many previously healthy persons often say that they do not want to take pills or become "pill poppers". This becomes an issue especially when the medications prescribed are important to maintaining physical and mental health. The question we forget to ask is how did we get in this situation in the first place? It could be heredity but more likely it's because we were lax in taking care of our physical or mental health in the first place. No one wants to admit we chose to NOT exercise, to NOT eat healthy, to NOT manage our weight, thus we find ourselves in a situation we don't like.
Some individuals simply become stubborn and refuse to take their medications. Others prefer a more holistic approach which eliminates taking prescribed medications that are really needed. However the choice to take or not take medications relies solely with the individual. We are allowed to make bad choices, how do you think we find ourselves in this situation in the first place. However, we must realize that now in this situation, taking medication is one way to ensure our health does not become worse or to ensure we can at least continue living the way we've always lived.
Medication compliance, taking medications as prescribed and at appropriate times, is extremely important. For adults with short term memory loss remembering if they took medications can be difficult. Sometimes a calendar or check off system can be implemented to allow the individual to remain independent but ensure that medications are taken. Other times it's important to hire an advocate who can make sure medications are available and a system for administration is in place. Other times family members can assist. But those of you reading this article will tell me, you're not sure that you need help or that you want anyone minding your business. There comes a time for all of us that we need to use the intelligence God gave us and realize that if we are to remain independent we do need an advocate or a system to help us.
Not taking medications as prescribed often results in unnecessary trips to the emergency room. Medication non-compliance, or not taking medications properly, is one of the top causes of accidental death in the United States especially for older adults. And if there are frequent trips to hospital emergency rooms, your ability to take care of yourself will be questioned. Is this a place you wish to find yourself?
On another note, if you are seeing more than one physician, it is important to provide information to each physician about all the medications taken so there are no negative drug interactions. Each physician must know what the other physician is prescribing. The easiest way to make sure your doctor knows what medications you are taking is to make a written list of medications and over the counter products used and to place this list in a purse or wallet. When you visit the doctor, the office can make a copy for their files. In some cases, frequent trips to the doctor's office are necessary for medication monitoring.
The importance of medication compliance in maintaining the health of mature adults cannot be stressed enough. Often, balancing the cost of an advocate, organizer or paid caregiver to help maintain your long term health is a wise consideration. If medications are not being taken properly it is also very likely that other things are going by the wayside.
Copyright © 2009 Pamela D. Wilson All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, transmitted or otherwise copied for public or private use without prior written permission from the author. Website: www.thecarenavigator.com
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Adults Caring For Themselves 
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