As time goes by: issues for older people with their medication use

Objective: To explore the impact of medication use on the lives of older people. Method: A convenience sample of self-selecting participants from five community-based groups was used. Four focus groups were held in a large regional city and one in a small rural town. Participants (11 men and 15 women) were a cross-section of people aged 60 years and older. Results: Many participants reported a sense of their life being controlled by when and how they needed to use medication. They experienced lifestyle impacts and struggled to deal with sometimes debilitating side-effects. Formerly routine activities such as ease of mobility and travel had become challenges to their autonomy and independence. Information given by general practitioners, pharmacists and pamphlets accompanying medication was helpful but, nevertheless, often incomplete. Packaging was reported to be often not 'user friendly' and prescribing was sometimes done in a way that could create waste and confusion. Conclusions: Embarking on medication regimens can impact significantly on lifestyle, and erect barriers to a positive experience of ageing through exacerbating loss of control in life situations.