Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ_Boston
3-4 meds?
I'll tell you from actual experience as an RN at TVRH that people who are inpatients at the hospital average MUCH more than 3 home meds. It's rare if anyone over the age of 50 has 2 or less. Many, many have 10 or more!
I'm not saying it's wrong or right - just letting you know my experience over the past 8 months at TVRH.
|
Thanks for your insight on this topic. It doesn't match up with the information that was given at the first USF lecture. Perhaps it's because people who get admitted to the hospital have greater health issues than the average person who doesn't need hospitalization.
My opinion: I see a progression that starts with the standard American diet. Poor diet, like smoking, can take several decades to bring about poor health. So, when some health issue developes, people don't see it as a failure on their part because all they did was eat the standard diet like everyone else. So why change anything? Most people continue eating the same diet.
With the same diet, it's only a matter of time before another drug gets added for something else. At age 65, 9 out of 10 people take at least one medication. By around 70 it might be 2. By age 75 the average is 3 to 4 medications, and 5 or more is not uncommon.
It's not unlike smoking, drinking or gambling addiction, in that it starts with one and then progresses (i.e., one cigarette, one drink or one gamble). So when we hear about 10 to 15 medications, it's just further evidence of the future direction for the average drug taking senior.