Organizational Leadership Strategies

Falls in the elderly due to polypharmacy and possible approaches

Polypharmacy refers to the use of multiple medicines by the elderly especially those above sixty years. Most times, it involves the use of more than five regular drugs. Alternatively, it is sometimes referred to as unnecessary prescriptions or purportedly excessive medication. Polypharmacy has not yet achieved a universal definition. This problem has been persistent across forty percent of the elderly population that reside in their own homes (Menaker, 2010).

Polypharmacy might be appropriate: most times, it tends to be inappropriate. Polypharmacy is associated disadvantages such as an increase in adverse reaction towards drug intake, prescribing cascade, higher costs and drug vs. drug interaction. Polypharmacy leads to a decrease in life quality, cognition and mobility. The use of multiple medications is common even in fair illness and does not indicate poor treatment. Studies have repeatedly shown that an...
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