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.
