In the labyrinth of modern healthcare, a silent crisis looms large: the over-medication of our elderly population. This issue, often overshadowed by more visible healthcare challenges, has profound implications for the well-being of seniors, the efficiency of healthcare systems, and the economic burden on societies. As we peel back the layers of this complex problem, we’re confronted with a stark reality: our well-intentioned efforts to care for the elderly may be causing more harm than good. It’s time to question the conventional wisdom that more medication equates to better health and explore the far-reaching consequences of our current practices.
Contents
Overview:
- Over 40% of older adults take five or more prescription medications daily.
- Nearly 20% of seniors take ten or more drugs.
- 750 older adults are hospitalized daily due to medication-related issues.
- Projected unnecessary costs of $62 billion over the next decade due to medication-related problems.
- Deprescribing and AI-driven tools show promise in combating over-medication.
- A paradigm shift in chronic care management is urgently needed.
