Doctors Orders
About 50 percent of patients fail to correctly follow Doctors orders: Forget to take pills, alter doses, and take breaks.
Noncompliance—the medical term for neglecting to abide by a doctor's orders, results in up to one-quarter of all hospital and nursing home admissions.
Difficulty of a regime is part of the problem. For seniors, who tend to be forgetful, more drugs are prescribed, or more directions, such as diet, that are too complex for them to follow are given.
Time The average doctor's visit clocks in at less than 20 minutes, leaving little time for discussion. And when patients do ask questions, they are usually interrupted within 18 seconds. With little explanation, tricky regimens may not be followed correctly. Many times, patients simply don't understand the doctor's orders. Additionally, they do not remember everything that was said during the visit.
Unpleasant side effects are another reason. Rather than call the doctors office, they will simply stop taking the medication.
Recovery Coaching helps the senior develop a structure they can live with. Create and script questions and concerns to ask the Doctor. Coaches introduce simple tools such as using a Medication Journal, to help remember what the medication is for, and even have the nurse/doctor/pharmacist fill in the directions. This creates independence through understanding. Coaches help find creative ways to for the Senior to manage their life and support their health.
Literacy/Comprehension/Vision
Research indicates that low literacy is associated with high levels of noncompliance. One study of low-literacy patients found that a majority had never told their spouses that they could not read, and nearly one in five had never told anyone. Forty percent said they felt ashamed about their reading problem. For Seniors, they are no longer able to get around problems resulting from poor literacy, comprehension or vision problems that they have successfully hidden in the past. Recovery Coaching takes the time to observe and discover what root problem may actually be causing problems.
Journaling creates Structure
Recovery Coaching introduces techniques for remembering complicated information. The Medication Journal, for many becomes an invaluable tool. It is a log of all their medications, and instructions. Small enough to carry easily, or fit in a purse. When ever they visit a doctor or pick up a prescription, their journal comes with them. Doctors/Nurses and Pharmacists are happy to help fill in the information! Families and friends can assist the Senior in understanding the prescription or regime. Multiple medications from different pharmacies is no longer an issue as all are listed together in one location that the pharmacists are helping to maintain.
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