A nurse always reviewed the medications taken by elderly clients on ea

A nurse always reviewed the medications taken by elderly clients on each home visit. Which of the following best explains the rationale for the nurse’s action? (Select all that apply.)

a. Age-related changes and polypharmacy make elderly clients vulnerable to drug interactions and dangerous adverse reactions.
b. Elderly clients are known to sue if medications taken do not make them feel better, and lawsuits are to be avoided, if possible.
c. Folk or herbal medicines are often the same as the generic medications prescribed by health care providers, so elderly often have overdoses.
d. Older adults are known to consume many over-the-counter medications, as well as folk or herbal remedies.
e. The elderly are known to be particularly noncompliant with pharmaceutical prescriptions.
f.
With the high prevalence of chronic diseases, elderly clients are taking a large number of medications.

ESSAYBID ANSWER

ANS: A, D, F
The high prevalence of chronic diseases in the elderly population causes this group to use a large number of medications. Older adults consume slightly more than one third of all prescription drugs and spend billions annually on medications. Older adults also consume many over-the-counter medications, as well as “folk” or herbal remedies which are not typically prescribed by health care providers. The elderly population is vulnerable to the effects of drugs because of normal aging changes and age-related differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Polypharmacy may also make older adults vulnerable to drug interactions and dangerous adverse reactions. It is unlikely that elderly clients will seek legal action if a medication does not make them feel better. The elderly are not known to be any more noncompliant with taking medications than the other segments of the population.