To minimize the possible complications of polypharmacy among older adult patients, the nurse assesses this population for which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
a. Number of physicians providing medical care
b. Location of pharmacies where prescrip-tions are filled
c. Presence of chronic illnesses
d. Tendency to borrow medication from family or friend
e. Use of over-the-counter medication to self-medicate
A, B, C, E
Older adults are especially vulnerable to polypharmacy because many have one or more chronic conditions requiring several medications for management. To complicate matters, patients may see more than one provider for the same health problem and may have prescriptions filled at more than one pharmacy. Additional contributors to polypharmacy include the use of over-the-counter and alternative medicines or supplements in the treatment of conditions. As a result, the patient may end up taking duplicate drugs, similar drugs from the same drug class, and drugs that are contraindicated when taken together. Borrowing medications is not usually an issue.
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