January 5, 2016 by
Seniors have a lot on their plates, medication-wise. According to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, “On average, individuals 65 to 69 years old take nearly 14 prescriptions per year; individuals aged 80 to 84 take an average of 18 prescriptions per year.” While these numbers seem staggering, with nearly 92% of older adults having at least one chronic condition and 77% having at least two, the amount of medications that seniors take per year tends to make sense.
Many feel however, that our focus as a society has been far too often on medical interventions, and far too infrequently on the type of care needed to improve quality of life. With as many as 12 million Americans requiring assistance with activities of daily living, one of At Home Independent Living’s goals as advocates for seniors in the Syracuse area is to help educate those in the medical realm on the benefits professional home care can provide.
According to Howard Gleckman, contributing writer for Forbes.com, “Rather than doing that third scan on the same body part, we could better spend our dollars on home delivered meals or an adult day program for an otherwise homebound senior.”
Better communications between doctors, seniors and their families is essential to ensure that quality of life is not being sacrificed in favor of aggressive medical procedures, but instead, that appropriate care is provided according to the patient’s wishes and goals. Read more of Gleckman’s perspective on seniors and medical treatment.
At Home Independent Living’s award-winning elderly care experts work closely with clients, their families, and their physicians in the Syracuse area in order to ensure that each client’s care plan is designed for optimum health and independence. Our dedicated caregivers can also provide medication reminders so that our clients maintain proper mediation compliance. Contact our Syracuse home care team today to learn more about our senior care services.