Glossary · Medication Adherence
Definition

What is medication adherence?

The extent to which a patient takes their medications as prescribed — at the right dose, at the right time, and for the right duration. Poor medication adherence in seniors is a major cause of preventable hospitalizations.

About 50% of medications for chronic conditions are not taken as prescribed. In seniors, common reasons include forgetfulness, confusion about which pills to take, intentional skipping (due to side effects or cost), difficulty opening bottles, and managing complex multi-drug regimens. The consequences are severe: medication non-adherence causes an estimated 125,000 deaths and 10% of all hospitalizations annually. Daily check-in calls that include a simple "Did you take your morning medication?" question provide a gentle, non-intrusive way to monitor adherence without the cost of a daily nurse visit.

Related terms

Polypharmacy— The simultaneous use of multiple medications by a single patient, typically five or more.Cognitive Decline— A gradual reduction in cognitive abilities — memory, reasoning, attention, and language — that goes beyond normal age-related changes.

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