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Survey: Many seniors don’t take their medicine

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, April 20, 2005

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A recent national survey shows nearly 40 % of low-income seniors do not take all of the medications prescribed to them due to several factors, including higher drug costs. The findings have implications for hospitals that try to reconcile patient medications.

The survey was commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Tuft-New England Medical Center, and the Commonwealth Fund.

The findings show seniors a significant number of the elderly take five or more medications for chronic illnesses. Generally, seniors with no prescription drug coverage were less likely to take all of their medicines, while they were more likely to pay more than $100 per month in medication costs. Overall, 27 % of seniors and 33 % of low-income seniors have no prescription coverage.

More than half of the seniors reported having medications prescribed by more than one doctor, and a third said they used more than one pharmacy to fill prescriptions.

Perceived effectiveness of drugs, side effects, and the belief that the medications are not necessary also contributed to noncompliance by seniors, according to the report. To read the complete press release, click here.

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