Medication Abuse

Caregivers often assist with providing prescription and non-prescription medications to seniors.  Medication abuse is misusing medications on purpose or by accident. Medication abuse can have serious health complications for older adults.

Examples of medication abuse include:

• the misuse of medications, prescriptions or mood altering substances on purpose or by accident;
• over-medication; or
• not providing adequate or appropriate medication when needed or when prescribed.

Signs of Medication Abuse

• reduced mental or physical activity;
• depression;
• making inconsistent statements; or
• appearing confused.

NOTE: Some of these indicators may be present and the older adult is not being abused. These are only possible signs of abuse.

For more information, please view CPLEA’s Let’s talk: Elder abuse resource manual.