The Role of Memory Strategies in Medication Adherence Among the Elderly

Abstract

Research shows that older adults use memory strategies as a compensatory mechanism for coping with age-related memory loss. This research investigated the type of memory strategies used by older adults living independently in the community in adhering to their prescription medications. Older adults reported greater use of internal memory strategies and a preference for event-based over time-based prescription medication instructions. Depression and memory anxiety were significant predictors of type of medication adherence strategies used among the elderly. Health status and social support were not major determinants of the type of medication adherence strategy used.

A Study of Medication-Taking and Unobtrusive, Intelligent Reminding

“…14,17,18 The widely used Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS, Aardex Ltd.) provides excellent information about adherence, but has several shortcomings. The MEMS cap is difficult to open for arthritic hands, [19][20][21] and it does not accommodate the use of pill boxes for sorting medications into daily doses, 22 as are commonly used by the elderly 23 or when taking multiple drugs. 22 MEMS also does not report adherence in real-time, so rapid intervention cannot take place.…”

“…12,[24][25][26] In general, multimodal methods that incorporate behavioral feedback However, most successful interventions appear to require active intervention by a human monitor, and in general, simple time-based prompting is not as effective as reminders that are behaviorally integrated into a person's daily activities. 23 With this in mind, we hypothesized that a system which generates reminders at an opportune time to take the medication will lead to improved adherence as compared to time-based reminders. To examine this hypothesis, we have developed a medication tracking and reminding system that allows both measurement of adherence, and real-time, context-aware reminders.…”

Developing a Model of Medication Adherence among Filipino Elderly

“…Nonadherence leads to recurrent hospitalization, more serious health problems compromising the already frail health of the elderly, increased cost to society, and higher morbidity and mortality rates (Doggrell, 2010;Bainbridge & Ruscin, 2009;George, Elliot, Stewart, 2008;Tabor & Lopez, 2004;Branin, 2001).…”

Ambient Technology to Assist Elderly People in Indoor Risks

“…Third, the MEMS cap is difficult to open for arthritic hands [85,86]. Fourth, MEMS do not accommodate the use of pill boxes for sorting medications into daily doses, as commonly done by elderly people [87]. Finally, the price may be prohibitive for individual patient use, particularly when multiple medications are involved [67].…”